PORT ANGELES — The remodeling of the Armory Mall downtown for a low-income dental services clinic and training program can proceed after the City Council on Tuesday night agreed to pay the final $120,000 of the cost.
The money will come from $140,000 in state money that has sat unused in a city account since 1986.
“Thank you so much,” said Timothy Hockett, deputy director of Olympic Community Action Programs, as a group of supporters in the audience broke into applause.
Olympic Community Action Programs, or OlyCAP, requested the $120,000 to remodel part of Armory Square Mall, 228 W. First St., Port Angeles that will be used for a low-income dental service program.
The program will create a partnership among OlyCAP, Pierce College in Tacoma and Peninsula College to provide dental services to low-income patients along with a dental hygiene degree program.
“This is the last piece to make this absolute vision of a low-income dental service program become a reality,” Hockett said.
Needed money
The clinic has received all the money it needs for the remodeling and most of the money it needs for equipment to operate at least 11 years in the location, Hockett said.
In addition to the city’s funds, the program also has received funding for equipment from the Washington State Dental Service Foundation, Pierce College, Washington State Dental Society, Ben Cheney Foundation and Washington Oral Health Foundation.
The program has received remodeling money from First Federal Savings and Loan and Olympic Medical Center, both based in Port Angeles.
