Public Infrastructure Fund grant match will restart East Chelan projects

CHELAN—The city received a $300,000 grant from the county .09 Cascade Public Infrastructure Fund to help the city move forward with its East Chelan projects, which have been delayed due to water issues.

The Cascade Public Infrastructure Fund was approved by the Chelan County Board of Commissioners in 2021. It is a grant program for public facility projects serving economic development in the county. It is funded by existing revenues from the sales-and-use tax on public facilities in rural counties.

Mayor Erin McCardle made the grant announcement at the August 27 meeting of the city council.

McCardle said the .09 grant will match the city’s $300,000 for the Washington Street booster pump station.

“Just so everyone has a sense of what that means for Chelan, all projects in East Chelan are on pause right now,” said McCardle. “We are waiting for water and this booster pump upgrade will provide water.” 

McCardle said the funds will also allow affordable housing opportunities to proceed. 

“This would have been a requirement of Anderson Road at some point,” said McCardle. “Now that water item is checked off the list.”

“We have 20 acres in Willmorth that we are working with the county on to identify how many acres are buildable that would also need water and that can move forward,” McCardle said.

The booster pump upgrade will also enable commercial opportunities, apartment units, and the $11 million EMS building to stay on track.

“It will have quite a bit of positive impact in our community,” said McCardle. “A huge thanks to the county.”

The Chelan City Council meets at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month in city hall, 135 E. Johnson Avenue.

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media