PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County Commissioners identified priority projects for the remaining federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars, but specific projects and exact amounts haven’t yet been decided.
The county has $834,718 remaining in federal relief dollars and, after putting out a request for proposals in January, it received 48 requests totaling more than $3 million.
Commissioners had previously individually scored each of the projects in terms of priority, and the aggregated scores were presented at Monday’s regular meeting.
“These scores are not how we are going to decide on funding,” said District 3 Commissioner Greg Brotherton. “They’re a tool we are going to use.”
Commissioners provisionally approved funding for 17 of the 48 projects, many of which received less money than was requested.
The project that emerged as commissioners’ top priority was an early learning center at the 7th Haven affordable housing project in Port Townsend to be run by Olympic Peninsula YMCA. That project received its requested $100,000.
“Kids got a bump from me,” District 2 Commissioner Heidi Eisenhour said. “Anything that was going to impact the lives of kids in our community.”
Commissioners approved $50,000 for the Quilcene Community Center to build a commercial kitchen —$100,000 was requested — and $35,000 to continue to the Jefferson County Rural Library District’s digital navigator program.
A planning and permitting request for $50,000 for a bicycle pump track for the Jefferson County Fairgrounds was approved, as was a $20,000 request from the Jefferson Interfaith Action Coalition for the winter welcoming shelter in Port Townsend.
The Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building will receive $80,000 to construct student housing, and $20,000 will go to the Quilcene Community Center for work on designing a skate park. Both had requested $100,000.
Olympic neighbors was approved for $24,000 for an adult housing program, and $40,000 will go to the Humane Society of Jefferson County for a truck to tow a mobile veterinary surgical trailer.
Jefferson Healthcare will get $50,000 of a requested $100,000 to build a commercial kitchen at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, and the Jefferson County Public Works Department will receive $100,000 of a requested $200,000 for embankment improvements along Shine Road.
Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County was approved for $80,000 for its project on Mason Street, and the Olympic Housing Trust will also receive $80,000 for concrete work for its Dundee Hill project. The Port of Port Townsend will receive $50,000 for phase one of its flood protection and waterwalk project. All three of those organizations had requested $100,000.
The Peninsula Trails Coalition will receive $20,000 for a trailhead and viewpoint along the Olympic Discovery Trail near Discovery Bay, and the Jefferson Community Foundation will also get $20,000 for a scholarship summit.
Lastly, the Port Townsend Marine Trades Association will receive $15,000 to maintain new office space for the next five years.
Commissioners said they prioritized projects which created lasting capital improvements, were able to leverage other funding dollars and had not previously received federal relief dollars.
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Reporter Peter Segall can be reached at peter.segall@peninsuladailynews.com.
