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2018-03-22 Grants discussion with Melanie See1 Grants discussion with Melanie See March 22, 2018 9:30 a.m. Present: Lewis County Commissioner Jackson, Lewis County Commissioner Stamper, Grants Coordinator Melanie See of Sen. Cantwell’s office, Legislative Assistant Matt Bobbink of Sen. Cantwell’s office, LC Public Works Administrative Assistant / Grants Robin Saline, LC Central Services Director Steve Walton, LC Fair Manager Tamara Hayes, Morton Police Chief Roger Morningstar, LC Interim Risk Manager Tawni Shepherd, LC Facilities Manager Doug Carey, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) Chief Bruce Kimsey, LSCO Chief Dusty Breen, United Way Executive Director Debbie Campbell, LC Budget Manager Becky Butler, LC Public Disclosure Manager Casey Mauermann, Winlock Mayor Don Bradshaw, Morton Clerk of the Board Tammy Clevenger, LC Discover Lewis County representative Isaac Freeman, LC Assessor Dianne Dorey, LSCO Chief Chris Sweet, LC Public Health and Social Services Director Danette York, LC Community Health Services and Contracts Coordinator Katie Strozyk, LC Noxious Weed Control Manager Bill Wamsley, Chehalis City Manager Jill Anderson, LC Public Health and Social Services Deputy Director JP Anderson, Public Works Director Erik Martin, LCSO Sheriff Rob Snaza, Cowlitz County Commissioner Dennis Weber, Barb Scott of Valley View Health Center, Sherri Guenther of the LCSO, Sandy Lupo of LSCO, Casey Peters of Lewis County Public Health and Social Services Guests: Various audience members Recorder: Rieva Lester Commissioner Jackson called the meeting to order. Attendees introduced themselves. Melanie See gave a PowerPoint presentation on grants (slides included). Melanie discussed the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA). She said the CFDA contains detailed program descriptions for 2,270 federal assistance programs. She said the breakdown is as follows: • 530 (roughly 40 percent) are for the Department of Health and Human Services • 290 (roughly 22 percent) are for the Department of the Interior • 280 (roughly 21 percent) are for the Department of Agriculture • 122 (roughly 9 percent) are for the Department of Justice • 118 (roughly 9 percent) are for the Department of Housing and Urban Development Melanie discussed places to look for grants, including CFDA, Beta.SAM.gov, Grants.gov, agency websites, the Department of Commerce and the Foundation Center. 2 Melanie discussed the attributes of a strong grant proposal, such as: • Matches purpose and directed activity of the grant program • Non-federal match • Demonstration of need, including hard numbers • Supported by the community • Past record of successful execution of grants • Readiness to implement the project • Capability to track funds • Defined measures for success Melanie said her office can help with the following: • Grant searches • Letters of support • Inquiries to federal agencies • Inquiries on problems with existing grant awards • Proposal reviews Melanie gave an update on the fiscal year 2018 appropriations as well as the Omnibus. She said the House and Senate had released a draft funding bill the previous day. She said it would extend Secure Rural Schools for two years and expand the low-income tax credit, add $10 billion in infrastructure funding and add $3.3 billion in increased funding to fight the opioid epidemic. Bill Wamsley asked how to broaden the net for matching funds. Melanie suggested partnering with the state. Melanie said the Trump administration is trying to ease the match requirements for rural areas. Cowlitz County Commissioner Weber discussed the potential shutdown of the narcotics taskforce due to a languishing grant. Melanie said Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicated it won’t provide awards until it deals with sanctuary city lawsuits. She said law enforcement groups’ coordinated efforts may help. She volunteered to get him in contact with Ryan Shay in Cantwell’s D.C. office. Melanie discussed handouts from the Congressional Research Service. Commissioner Jackson asked if there was anywhere Lewis County could go to seek grant funding for its planned 911 center. Melanie suggested looking at the USDA Rural Development Community Facilities program for loans and / or grants for the building. She also discussed the TIGER grant, and the Infra program (formerly known as the Fast Lane program). She said equipment also could be eligible for grant funding through the DOJ and Homeland Security. Commissioner Stamper said the income survey has been a barrier for Packwood’s sewer system. He asked if there were any efforts to address income surveys. Melanie said she would speak with Dena Horton about it. Morton Clerk of the Board Tammy Clevenger said the income survey also has hampered Morton’s efforts at securing funding. Commissioner Jackson said the timber market is hot but that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) hasn’t taken advantage of it. He asked if there is help available elsewhere. Melanie said she could put him in touch with Megan in Sen. Cantwell’s D.C. office. 3 Morton Police Chief Roger Morningstar discussed the need for his force to extend its service area regarding School Resource Officers. Melanie discussed formula funding and said she would be happy to follow up with him regarding his grant application. Commissioner Weber asked about the opioid crisis. He asked how the smaller areas can get access to resources and funding. Commissioner Weber asked if existing state grants can be bundled and then leveraged. Melanie said she believed interconnected projects can be used to demonstrate prioritization. Mayor Bradshaw asked if there would be start-up grants available for starting police services from scratch. He said he is rebuilding his police department and asked if there would be funding available. Melanie said most of the federal law enforcement grants are designed for specific programs and may not give flexibility for a startup. Melanie said she’d be happy to put him in touch with someone from the D.C. office. Meeting adjourned at 10:17 a.m.