C-W projects are expected to receive CDBG funding

Two local projects have been selected for funding by the Urban County Policy Board. Now they await approval by the Board of Clark County Councilors. Improvements to Franklin Street, in Camas, and the community center, in Washougal, were both ranked highly by the UCPB and are expected to receive funding through the Community Development Block Grant program. Jim Hodges, project manager with the City of Camas, expects the total cost of the Franklin Street improvements to be about $469,000. Of that, the CDBG amount would be $225,000. The city match, $244,000, will come primarily from a water/sewer utility fund, and some money for staff engineering and administration will come from the general fund. Changes to Northeast Franklin Street, between Northeast 15th and Northeast 19th avenues, would include upgrades to the existing water and sewer utilities, improvements to make ramps compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and reconstruction of the existing road surface. The replacement of the heating and air conditioning system and roof, as well as retrofitting the kitchen in the Washougal community center is expected to cost $600,000. The CDBG amount would be $149,700, and the city match would be $100,000. The project is expected to receive $300,000 from the state. Washougal City Administrator David Scott said Monday, funding exists in the State House and Senate versions of the budget, awaiting final approval. The community center project could also receive $50,000 from the Meals on Wheels program. Clark County Housing and Community Development Manager Pete Munroe said the Franklin Street project is an infrastructure project, while the Washougal Community Center kitchen is a social service project. The Urban County Policy Board consists of County Councilor David Madore and all of the mayors in Clark County, except Tim Leavitt, of Vancouver. The UCPB scored the projects and made a recommendation to the county councilors. The funding of the C-W projects is scheduled for the Board of Clark County Councilors to consider for finalization during its meeting, Tuesday, May 12, at 10 a.m., on the sixth floor of the Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St., Vancouver. The Department of Housing and Urban Development, through the CDBG Program, allocates funds to eligible cities through a competitive proposal process.

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