PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson County commissioners have approved $586,550 in grants to local nonprofits and community service providers.
The three commissioners unanimously approved $158,800 in community service grants and $427,750 in hotel-motel tax revenue grants Monday.
The smaller of the two grant funds, the Community Service Grant, goes to local nonprofits that provide community service to Jefferson County residents.
The grant funding for these community groups was approved in the county’s 2017 budget.
This year, the Port Townsend Senior Association received $13,620. The Jefferson County Fair Association got $4,910. Olympic Community Action Programs received the largest grant at $137,150, and the Gardiner Community Center received the smallest at $3,120.
The Hotel Motel Grant Fund is funded by the county’s lodging tax. The grants were recommended last month by the lodging tax advisory committee, according to County Commissioner David Sullivan.
“The committee is made up by the generators of the tax fund like Kalaloch Lodge and Port Hadlock, and the recipients like the Jefferson County Historical Society,” Sullivan said.“They give their recommendations every year, and we really appreciate the work they do to put this together.”
This year’s $427,750 was distributed among 11 recipients.
The Jefferson County Historical Society will receive $64,076 this year, with another $65,000 specifically for the Gateway Visitor’s Center.
The Quilcene Historical Museum will receive $15,985 for 2017 and the Quilcene Fair and Parade Association was allotted $3,500.
Centrum received $20,000. The Forks Chamber of Commerce was allotted $29,535, while $7,714 will go to Jefferson County Public Works to complete the Olympic Discovery Trail, and $28,140 will go to Jefferson County Parks and Recreation. Washington State University’s Jefferson County Extension will get $5,000 to help with the annual Farm Tour.
The Tourism Coordinating Council was awarded $135,000, while $53,800 will go to the North Hood Canal Chamber of Commerce.
“The tax is spent to increase tourism and to organizations that preserve the historical or cultural aspects of Jefferson County,” Sullivan said.
All of the grants were approved Monday as part of the commissioners’ consent agenda, with no discussion.
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Jefferson County Editor/
