Tumwater City Council proposes distributing federal grant money to local organizations 

The Tumwater City Council recommended hundreds of thousands of dollars in allocations from a fund to help local organizations with community development activities. 

The council’s recommendations will eventually be forwarded to the Thruston County Board of County Commissioners.

The money comes from the Community Development Block Grant Program, an annual HUD process to support states, cities and counties. 

Assistant City Administrator Kelly Adams said the program focuses on providing housing and a suitable living environment by expanding economic opportunities, primarily for low- and moderate-income people. 

The proposed beneficiaries include Homes First, with the council recommending $218,476 for the nonprofit organization. 

According to its grant application, Homes First would use the money to acquire and rehabilitate a three-bedroom home to provide housing for a single family of survivors of domestic abuse. 

The council also recommended allocating $236,872 for South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity and $136,872 for Rebuilding Together Thurston County. Both organizations plan to use the money for their own Critical Home Repairs programs, which help eligible homeowners with the cost of home repairs. 

The three groups are the biggest beneficiaries. Other proposed recipients include Boys and Girls Clubs of Thurston County, OlyMAP, Senior Services for South Sound, Thurston County Food Bank and TOGETHER! 

The Tumwater Budget and Finance Committee developed the recommendations during a meeting on April 24, where each applicant gave a 10-minute presentation. 

Adams noted staff will forward the recommendations to the Public Health and Social Services Department of Thurston County.

Health and social services staff will then prepare an action plan, hold a 30-day public comment period, and eventually submit the plan to the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners for review before the plan goes to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for final approval.