Building Communities Fund 2022 Report (Washington Commerce, December 2022)
Summary
The Building Communities Fund 2022 report, a biennial report per RCW 43.63A.125 from the Community Capital Facilities Unit of the Washington State Department of Commerce, dated December 2022. The executive summary states that the program grants 25% matching funds to nonprofit organizations for acquiring, constructing or rehabilitating facilities used for the delivery of social or health services. It states that the Building Communities Fund Advisory Board recommends 51 projects totaling $33,833,886 for consideration by the governor and the Legislature. The report includes a BCF Equity Assessment and appendices on managing capital appropriations, program administration and past projects.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
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“Building Communities Fund 2022 Report (Washington Commerce, December 2022).”
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Building Communities Fund
2022 report
Biennial report per RCW 43.63A.125
December 2022
COMMUNITY CAPITAL
FACILITIES Report to the Legislature
Director Lisa Brown
V3.2
Acknowledgments
Washington State Department of Commerce
Mark K. Barkley, assistant director, Local Government Division
Tony Hanson, deputy assistant director, Local Government Division
Beth Robinson, BCF supervisor, Community Capital Facilities Unit
Keith Yates, program manager, Building Communities Fund Program
Jeremy Walker, management analyst, Research Services
Special thanks to the Building Communities Fund Advisory Board for its unpaid services in reading and
evaluating the 53 eligible applications Commerce received.
Washington State Department of Commerce
Addeline Craig
360-688-0041
Addeline.Craig@commerce.wa.gov
COMMUNITY CAPITAL FACILITIES
1011 Plum St. SE
P.O. Box 42525
Olympia, WA 98504-2525
www.commerce.wa.gov
For people with disabilities, this report is available on
request in other formats. To submit a request, please
call 360-725-4000 (TTY 360-586-0772)
[click to add the TITLE OF THE REPORT IN THE FOOTER]
Table of Contents
Executive summary...................................................................................................................................... 2
Recommended projects ............................................................................................................................... 6
Next steps ................................................................................................................................................. 12
Recommendations ..................................................................................................................................... 12
Appendix A: Managing capital appropriations............................................................................................. 13
Appendix B: Program administration .......................................................................................................... 15
Appendix C: Building Communities Fund past projects ............................................................................... 19
2022 BUILDING COMMUNITIES FUND REPORT 1
Executive summary
Authorizing legislation
RCW 43.63A.125 established the Building Communities Fund (BCF) in 2008, directing the Department of
Commerce (Commerce) to administer the program. The program grants 25% matching funds to nonprofit
organizations for acquiring, constructing or rehabilitating facilities used for the delivery of social or health
services. It is financed through the sale of state bonds.
In the 2021-23 biennium, the Legislature changed the match requirements for the project list submitted for
consideration in the 2023-25 biennium, as follows:
100% of the total cost for projects up to $100,000
75% of the total cost for projects that exceed $100,000, up to $250,000
50% of the total cost for projects that exceed $250,000, up to $500,000
25% of the total costs for projects that exceed $500,000.
Recommended projects
The BCF Advisory Board recommends 51 projects totaling $33,833,886 for consideration by the governor and
the Legislature.
BCF Equity Assessment
The BCF program continued to build upon its 2021 program evaluation by conducting further research and
beginning to develop new tools and processes based on the previous findings and recommendations.
Key findings
Pre-development costs pose a significant barrier to building communities.
Applying for a BCF grant requires significant pre-development operational costs, especially for by-and-for,
Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) led organizations, and small rural organizations. A lack of
funding to conduct the necessary pre-development work, such as project and fundraising feasibility plans,
impedes these organizations from accessing BCF. Most of these organization's staff are direct service
providers and also perform administrative duties, such as internal auditing and evaluation and human
resources, as well as business activities, such as grant writing, marketing, and outreach and engagement. This
was also found in the 2021 analysis.
The tiered approach had benefits, but did not address the needs of mid-
range nonprofits and tribal governments.
The tiered match requirements added during the 2021 legislative session were intended to assist
disadvantaged and lower-capacity organizations and alleviate barriers to access associated with the
traditional 25% match requirement. Although tiered matching was recommended as a solution to address
barriers to access from the 2021 BCF equity assessment, the tiered match approach did not accomplish the
intended purpose.
2022 BUILDING COMMUNITIES FUND REPORT 2
The traditional project for large or small organizations through this program includes a funding portfolio, or
project budget, ranging from $2 million to $30 million. These funding portfolios far exceed the tiered approach,
which make the current tiers ineffective.
A majority of the projects requested more than $100,000. Only 16% of grantees received 100% match for
funding requests of less than $100,000. Projects that did receive 100% match were sponsored by larger
organizations or had experience navigating program funding requirements and had received state funds in a
prior biennium.
The tiered match requirement specifically helps small projects, but doesn't address the barriers for
disadvantaged or low capacity organizations to receive assistance for large projects (such as projects greater
than $500,000) that require 75% match. The average funding request for consideration in the 2023-25 budget
cycle was $1.1 million. In addition, more than 80% of requests are in communities with high environmental
health disparities, which demonstrates the critical place of program to invest in vulnerable communities that
need thriving social and health facilities.
If the goal is to reduce barriers to access for disadvantaged and lower capacity organizations, there are
opportunities to address them. For example:
Lower match requirements could be set for organizations that meet a definition of disadvantaged or low
capacity based on clear criteria, such as organizational size, geographic location, by-and-for organizations,
and organizations that have not received previous state grants.
Match could be set as a goal instead of a requirement. Projects with higher match amounts could be
evaluated and ranked higher on the recommended projects list, but having a lower match amount wouldn't
disqualify a project from applying or receiving a funding recommendation
Smaller and mid-range projects often need to make the decision whether to reduce project budgets for an
increase in match funding or maintain the original budget to assist the feasibility of project delivery to the
community. The outcomes of this include:
Organizations reducing project budget to receive maximum match that may not produce projects that
maximize the state's investment and the intended public benefit.
Smaller organizations that require more financial assistance to complete larger projects continue to have
issues with capital campaigns based on the tiered approach and their project budget.
Increase in requests from larger organizations for smaller projects that they have funding capacity to
complete.
Many organizations do not attempt to apply for Building Community Funds
because of high pre-development costs.
During the 2022 outreach and engagement effort many organizations did not consider it feasible to apply for
BCF funds due to the high cost of predevelopment: project feasibility study, fundraising feasibility plan,
operations plan, LEED certification and real-estate consultation services are all costs that smaller
organizations do not have to even apply for a BCF grant.
The Building Communities Outreach Tool is an effective tool for strategic
outreach.
The 2021 report found that the traditional mass mailings and "word of mouth" method were not effective in
reaching out to underrepresented communities. The Building Communities Outreach Tool was developed in
2022 BUILDING COMMUNITIES FUND REPORT 3
2022 and is a direct response to the recommendation that the BCF program step up engagement with these
communities. The tool combines best practices from equity frameworks and LEAN business approaches to
conduct effective outreach. From December 2021 to February 2022, a new employee member was hired and
conducted extensive outreach and engagement through workshops that showed the effects of providing
technical assistance and building community relationships
The tool helped double the number of by-and-for and BIPOC organizations' interest in BCF and presents many
opportunities to expand the reach of BCF and similar programs. Through these additional outreach and
engagement opportunities, 15 rural organizations with less than 20 employees were able to participate in the
workshops. They would not have been to participate if this event was held in-person in a larger city. A total of
34 BIPOC led and/or By-and-For organizations participated and mentioned that they also may not have been
able to participate in other forums due to strains on staff time.
There are many underserved and rural areas across the state where carefully planned outreach and
engagement can continue to increase the number of BCF applications, especially for BIPOC-led and by-and-for
organizations. The tool helps staff locate areas of the state where BCF funding has not been traditionally
available and helps them market the BCF program to organizations in the area, while offering a heightened
awareness regarding each organization and who they might serve.
Virtual workshops provide more opportunities for rural, BIPOC-led, and by-
and-for organizations to participate in outreach and engagement.
While digital divides still exist in Washington, especially for rural and BIPOC communities, virtual workshops
provided employees the opportunity to engage with more organizations and allowed more equitable access to
information. Adopting new tools of engagement allowed for more effective question and answer sessions and
provided an opportunity for BCF to better market itself. Many organizations referred other organizations to
apply after they attended a virtual workshop.
Translation services are critical to equitable outreach and engagement.
Translation services have been used for live transcription during virtual workshops in Spanish and Somali, as
well as some written translation. However, funding must be requested each biennium for the specific program,
which constrains strategic planning and maintenance of existing documents in other languages.
BCF staff have limited capacity to engage with the large number of
organizational inquiries and needs.
While initial engagement and outreach was a success, this posed a new challenge for BCF staff. Inquiry calls
increased by over 300% for the two program staff. BCF is continuously improving its processes and website
information to provide clarity, but many of the questions are nuanced in nature and could not be addressed by
staff conducting the initial outreach or standard FAQ documents. BCF staff are also responsible for eligibility
review, which takes time and is part of their regular job duties. This limited number of employees also makes it
challenging to implement all of the recommended changes and continuous improvement projects.
Next steps for Commerce
Develop and invest in the Building Communities Outreach Tool and the staff who use it.
Implement "compensation for participation" stipends that assist in recruiting low-income or
underrepresented community members of state boards, commissions, councils, committees, and other
similar groups.
2022 BUILDING COMMUNITIES FUND REPORT 4
Recommendations
State funding technical assistance capacity building grant dollars for pre-development projects.
Replace tiered approach with an increased match of 75% for all grantees on the recommended project list.
2022 BUILDING COMMUNITIES FUND REPORT 5
Recommended projects
Table 1: 2023-25 Building Communities Fund Recommended Project List
Rank Organization Name / Application Title Recommended
100% State Funds Tier
1 Kitchen Spokane Expansion of Public Food Business Incubator $100,000
2 The Moore Wright Group Expanding Capacity for Workforce Development $98,500
3 Feast Collective Capital Expansion $100,000
4 Unbridled Spirit 7 Unbridled Spirit: Outdoor Program Space $68,131
5 Boys and Girls Clubs of Thurston County Yelm Boys & Girls Club Remodel $100,000
6 Boys and Girls Clubs of SnoCo S. Everett/Mulkilteo Building Communities $100,000
7 Boys & Girls Clubs of Skagit County Sedro-Woolley Club Renovation $100,000
8 Cascade Community Healthcare United Learning Center $100,000
75% State Funds Tier
9 Methow Valley Community Center Associationnn Energy Retrofit $135,000
10 Northeast Youth Center HVAC replacement for ECEAP Classrooms $187,500
11 Centro Latino SER -Jobs For Progress $89,872
12 ReCyclery of Jefferson County ReCyclery Improvement $143,914
13 Southeast Youth & Family Services SEYFS Renovations $187,250
14 YWCA Clark County Community Office Repairs and Renovation $101,250
15 Sea Mar Community Health Centers Sea Mar CHC - Concrete $186,386
16 Sea Mar Community Health Centers Sea Mar CHC - Elma $187,471
17 Makah Indian Tribe of the Makah Indian Reservation Community Gymnasium $159,754
18 Lumen Early Learning Center Expansion $185,250
50% State Funds Tier
19 CCS of Western WA Snohomish Family Center Improvements $205,556
2022 BUILDING COMMUNITIES FUND REPORT 6
Rank Organization Name / Application Title Recommended
20 Global Neighborhood Global Neighborhood Building Expansion $229,301
21 Bare Necessities/ The church on 304th Benston Hall $247,000
22 Helping Hands Behavioral Health Clinic $250,000
23 Making A Difference Foundation Eloise's Cooking Pot Food Bank Capital Remodel $242,500
25% State Funds Tier
24 Snoqualmie Indian Tribe Childcare and Development Center Phase II $200,000
25 HopeWorks Social Enterprises Culinary Training Academy $635,268
26 Bellevue Boys & Girls Club Teen Center Building Renovation $318,122
27 Community Youth Services CYS Marina View Building Renovation $100,000
28 Africatown Community Land Trust William Grose Innovation Center $250,000
29 Friends of Youth Landing Youth Service Center $297,200
30 Children's Home Society of Washington North Seattle Family Support Center $1,089,500
31 Carl Maxey Center Carl Maxey Center Remodel - Phase 3 $350,000
32 University Heights Center Community Kitchen, Safety, and Accessibility $250,000
33 Comprehensive Mental Health of Tacoma Pierce County $2,445,500
34 Nisqually Indian Tribe Nisqually Health and Wellness Center $6,000,000
35 Asian Pacific Cultural Center Asia Pacific Cultural Center Renovation $1,082,000
36 YMCA Pierce and Kitsap Counties Scott and Sis Names Family YMCA $3,000,000
37 Eritrean Association in Greater Seattle Eritrean Community Center Expansion $312,200
38 Step By Step Family Support Center Step By Step Early Learning Center $2,622,136
39 Christian Aid Center Community Meal Program $672,174
40 NEW Health Programs Association NEW Health Newport Capital Expansion $823,027
41 Willapa Community Development Assn. Veteran Housing and Resource Center $493,349
42 FamilyWorks Food Bank Renovation $425,000
43 Cham Refugees Community Cham Community Center $2,050,000
2022 BUILDING COMMUNITIES FUND REPORT 7
Rank Organization Name / Application Title Recommended
44 Puyallup Food Bank Puyallup Food Bank Facilities $558,166
45 Refugee Artisan Initiative RAI Maker Space + Cultural Center $777,968
46 Lake Stevens Community Food Bank Association Lake Stevens Food Bank $675,000
47 FamilyWorks New Family Resource Center Construction $325,000
48 FISH Food Pantry Renovation in Kittitas County $472,990
49 Community Health Care New Puyallup Health Center $2,000,000
50 Refugee Women's Alliance ReWA/LIHI MLK Renton $1,000,365
51 Peninsula Senior Activity Center Addition and Remodel $1,104,286
Total $33,833,886
2022 BUILDING COMMUNITIES FUND REPORT 8
2023-25 Building Communities Fund recommended project map
The map of 2023-25 BFC recommended projects is available online. The list by state legislative district (LD) is
below.
Table 2. Recommended projects list by county and state legislative district
Project County LD
Kitchen Spokane Expansion of Public Food Business Incubator Spokane 4
The Moore Wright Group Expanding Capacity for Workforce Development Grays Harbor 19
Feast Collective Capital Expansion Spokane 3
Unbridled Spirit 7 Unbridled Spirit: Outdoor Program Space Whatcom 42
Boys and Girls Clubs of Thurston County Yelm Boys & Girls Club Remodel Thurston 2
Boys and Girls Clubs of SnoCo S. Everett/Mulkilteo Building Communities Snohomish 38
Boys & Girls Clubs of Skagit County Sedro-Woolley Club Renovation Skagit 39
Cascade Community Healthcare United Learning Center Lewis 20
Methow Valley Community Center Association Energy Retrofit Okanogan 12
Northeast Youth Center HVAC replacement for ECEAP Classrooms Spokane 3
Centro Latino SER -Jobs For Progress Pierce 27
ReCyclery of Jefferson County ReCyclery Improvement Jefferson 24
Southeast Youth & Family Services SEYFS Renovations King 37
YWCA Clark County Community Office Repairs and Renovation Clark 49
Sea Mar Community Health Centers Sea Mar CHC - Concrete Skagit 39
Sea Mar Community Health Centers Sea Mar CHC - Elma Grays Harbor 24
Makah Indian Tribe of the Makah Indian Reservation Community Gymnasium Clallam 24
Lumen Early Learning Center Expansion Spokane 3
CCS of Western WA Snohomish Family Center Improvements Snohomish 38
Global Neighborhood Global Neighborhood Building Expansion Spokane 3
2022 BUILDING COMMUNITIES FUND REPORT 9
Project County LD
Bare Necessities/ The church on 304th Benston Hall Pierce 2
Helping Hands Behavioral Health Clinic Snohomish 38
Making A Difference Foundation Eloise's Cooking Pot Food Bank Capital Remodel Pierce 27
Snoqualmie Indian Tribe Childcare and Development Center Phase II King 5
HopeWorks Social Enterprises Culinary Training Academy Snohomish 38
Bellevue Boys & Girls Club Teen Center Building Renovation King 48
Community Youth Services CYS Marina View Building Renovation Thurston 22
Africatown Community Land Trust William Grose Innovation Center King 37
Friends of Youth Landing Youth Service Center King 45
Children's Home Society of Washington North Seattle Family Support Center King 46
Carl Maxey Center Carl Maxey Center Remodel - Phase 3 Spokane 3
University Heights Center Community Kitchen, Safety, and Accessibility King 43
Comprehensive Mental Health of Tacoma Pierce County Pierce 27
Nisqually Indian Tribe Nisqually Health and Wellness Center Thurston 2
Asian Pacific Cultural Center Asia Pacific Cultural Center Renovation Pierce 29
YMCA Pierce and Kitsap Counties Scott and Sis Names Family YMCA Pierce 28
Eritrean Association in Greater Seattle Eritrean Community Center Expansion King 37
Step By Step Family Support Center Step By Step Early Learning Center Pierce 25
Christian Aid Center Community Meal Program Walla Walla 16
NEW Health Programs Association NEW Health Newport Capital Expansion Oreille 7
Willapa Community Development Assn. Veteran Housing and Resource Center Pacific 19
FamilyWorks Food Bank Renovation King 43
Cham Refugees Community Cham Community Center King 37
2022 BUILDING COMMUNITIES FUND REPORT 10
Project County LD
Puyallup Food Bank Puyallup Food Bank Facilities Pierce 25
Refugee Artisan Initiative RAI Maker Space + Cultural Center King 46
Lake Stevens Community Food Bank Association Lake Stevens Food Bank Snohomish 44
FamilyWorks New Family Resource Center Construction Seattle 43
FISH Food Pantry Renovation in Kittitas County Kittitas 13
Community Health Care New Puyallup Health Center Pierce 25
Refugee Women's Alliance ReWA/LIHI MLK Renton King 37
Peninsula Senior Activity Center Addition and Remodel Pacific 19
2022 BUILDING COMMUNITIES FUND REPORT 11
Next steps
Develop and invest in the Building Communities Outreach Tool
Commerce will continue on the current efforts of updating the BCF outreach tool to make it more useful,
intuitive and sustainable to meet program needs. There are many GIS efforts underway around diversity, equity,
and inclusion work. The organization data collected from the BCF research can be integrated with other GIS
layers to create a more powerful tool. This work requires more investment in IT and analyst time, in both new
positions and designated work.
Implement compensation for participation in advisory boards
During the 21-23 BCF report, Commerce identified that the BCF advisory boards required a re-evaluation and
expressed a plan to diversify the board based on the communities we serve. Efforts to diversify and expand the
board are hindered by fiscal restraints, mostly financial. Advisory boards are made up of volunteers that steer
the program review by adopting sound, ethical and legal governance and financial management policies to
ensure nonprofits have adequate resources to carry out capital funding requirements. With the passage of
Chapter 245, Laws of 2022, we will execute our plan for compensation for participation stipends during the
next application cycle scheduled for the fall of 2024.
Recommendations
The Building Communities Fund is one of the state’s most targeted programs for helping communities develop
capital facilities that meet the needs of vulnerable or underserved populations. In order to broaden access, the
Legislature should consider:
Funding technical assistance capacity building grant dollars for pre-development.
Implement community and economic development responsibilities to our process per RCW 43.330.050
Additional funding will allow Commerce to build on the ongoing technical assistance while granting $1
million to the lowest capacity organizations so they can better compete for state capital funding by
providing financial resources to address capacity barriers, such as hiring a consultant, project manager,
grant writer, and others.
Replace tiered approach with increase match to 75%.
Through the 2021 Listening Tour and the BCF outreach tool implementation process, stakeholders' top barrier
to accessing capital resources stems from financial barriers. An increase in match for other competitive
programs such as Building for the Arts (BFA), a similar program to BCF, was shown to reduce inequities in
access.
2022 BUILDING COMMUNITIES FUND REPORT 12
Appendix A: Managing capital appropriations
Overview:
Agencies administering capital budget appropriations must adhere to many state laws, rules, and guidelines.
Many projects must also meet additional state and/or federal statutory requirements. In addition, many capital
budget appropriations require reports to the legislature and other program specific administration. This
document describes only the general requirements for administering a capital budget appropriation.
Table 1. Select Administrative and Statutory Requirements
General Administration Additional Statutory Requirements
Statutory Requirements
OFM/Capital Budget Requirements
Historic Preservation & Tribal Consultation
Allowable Costs
Executive Order 21-02
Staffing costs up to 3%
Federal Section 106
Program Costs
Environmental
Financing
SEPA
Taxable/Non-taxable
NEPA
Reappropriations
Growth Management
Land acquisition/Site Control
Urban growth area
Real estate transactions
Critical Areas
Deeds of Trust
Local project review
Ownership or 15-yr lease - intended use
Wage Determination
Technical Assistance
Prevailing Wage
Contracting
Davis Bacon (federal)
Attorney General Review
Energy
Audits
LEED Standards
Commerce's Community Capital Facilities
The Community Capital Facilities Unit is a key ingredient in Commerce's overall mission to make communities
stronger. In the 2021-23 biennium, the Legislature appropriated over $315 million dollars to Commerce across
the five funds managed in this Section. The Section used 14 staff to meet the administrative requirements of
459 projects. In addition, staff manages an additional 200 to 400 projects in re-appropriations. Total dollar
value of projects managed by staff in any one biennium can therefore be $650 to $850 million dollars
Keys to successful projects: Why good project administration is
essential
Site control
Project grantees must either own the impacted property or have a long-term lease
A grantee received a direct appropriation to construct a monument on land it did not control. All capital budget
appropriations over $250,000 require the state to maintain a security interest by placing the state on the deed
or creating a leasehold deed of trust. In this project, the grantee did not want to enter into a lease agreement.
Commerce worked with legislative budget staff and OFM to transfer ownership of the project to the local
government that owned the project site.
2022 BUILDING COMMUNITIES FUND REPORT 13
Executive Order 21-02
All capital construction projects and land acquisition projects require cultural and historic review
A community received a capital budget appropriation to renovate a building. Later, the community decided to
construct a facility next to the planned renovation. This triggered a new requirement to conduct a cultural
resources review with the relevant tribal government. Commerce staff continued to support the renovation
while supporting the new construction with assistance on Governors Executive Order 21-02 Cultural Review.
Growth Management Act (GMA)
Certain state funded projects require the local government to be in compliance under the Growth Management
Act.
A local government received a legislative proviso from the Public Works Assistance Account. Staff noticed that
the local government was out of compliance with certain provisions of the Growth Management Act and
coordinated an extension to allow the project to move forward.
Final considerations
The most common delay of capital budget appropriations is the need to have all non-state funds raised before
the project can even begin. Coordination and consultation with affected tribes is another milestone that can
take time. Early coordination is key.
Each project must also be managed in accordance with OFM and Capital budget and accounting requirements.
Commerce staff have extensive professional background in project and contract management and receive
annual training to manage capital budget appropriations efficiently and effectively.
2022 BUILDING COMMUNITIES FUND REPORT 14
Appendix B: Program administration
Distressed communities
The Building Communities Fund (BCF) was established in 2008, replacing the Community Services Facilities
Program established in 1997. This report is submitted to meet the requirements of RCW 43.63A.125
subsections (3) and (4).
BCF directs Commerce to identify qualified community and social service capital projects in distressed areas
of the state and to evaluate and submit a ranked list of these projects to the governor and Legislature. These
facilities must be used to deliver nonresidential community services, such as social service centers and
multipurpose community centers, including those serving a distinct or ethnic population.
A distressed community must include at least one of the following characteristics:
A county that has an unemployment rate that is 20 percent above the state average for the previous
three years
An area within a county that the department determines to be a low-income community, based on the
low-income community designations in the U.S. Department of the Treasury-Community Development
Financial Institutions Fund’s new markets tax credit program
A school district in which at least 50 percent of local elementary students receive free or reduced-price
meals
In addition, RCW 43.63A.125 directs Commerce to:
Establish a competitive process to solicit and evaluate applications from nonprofit organizations
Evaluate applications in consultation with a citizen advisory board using objective criteria
Submit biennially to the governor in the department’s capital budget request a ranked list of the
qualified eligible projects
Submit biennially a summary report that describes the solicitation and evaluation process
Develop and manage contracts as well as monitor project expenditures and grantee performance
Develop accountability and reporting standards for grant recipients; at a minimum, the department must use
the process, including issues encountered and recommendations for improvements listed in RCW 43.63A.125
(2)(b) to evaluate the progress of each grant recipient
Submit a biennial report to the appropriate fiscal committees of the Legislature beginning Jan. 1, 2011.
For the project list submitted for consideration in the 23-25 biennium, BCF will pay as follows:
A) One hundred percent of the total cost for projects up to $100,000;
B) Seventy-five percent of the total cost for projects that exceed $100,000, up to $250,000;
C) Fifty percent of the total cost for projects that exceed $250,000, up to $500,000.
D) Twenty five percent of the total costs for projects that exceed $500,000.
The BCF is also allowed to make an additional award of up to 10 percent of the total granted amount for
projects that face “exceptional circumstances,” as defined in the statute. In addition, if the Legislature
2022 BUILDING COMMUNITIES FUND REPORT 15
appropriates operating funds for BCF, up to $3 million of those funds can be used for technical assistance
grants to interested parties. The BCF is financed through the sale of state bonds.
Grantee eligibility criteria
In the 2023-2025 cycle, BCF staff reviewed 73 submitted applications to ensure they met eligibility thresholds.
Guidelines stipulate that applicants must:
Be registered in the state as a nonprofit organization
Have a legally constituted board of directors
Agree to enter the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification process or apply
for and receive an exemption
Certify that state prevailing wages will be paid
Have control of the project site through ownership or lease agreement
Submit an executed joint operating agreement if applications are a partnership
After completing a preliminary review to determine eligibility, program staff forwarded 21 applications
to the BCF Advisory Board for review.
Project eligibility criteria
To be forwarded to the governor for funding consideration, projects must acquire, construct or rehabilitate a
nonresidential facility used to deliver community services (such as social service and multipurpose community
centers), including those serving a distinct or ethnic population. Projects must also be located in a distressed
community or serve a substantial number of low-income or disadvantaged people.
Projects must meet at least one of the following criteria:
Be located in a distressed county, as defined by the state Employment Security Department
Be located in an area designated as a low-income community in the U.S. Department of the Treasury-
Community Development Financial Institutions Fund’s new markets tax credit program
Be located in a school district in which at least 50 percent of local elementary students receive free or
reduced-price meals
The board used the 10 evaluation benchmarks set forth in statute as a template for evaluating applications. To
be forwarded to the governor for funding consideration, applicants had to demonstrate to the board’s
satisfaction that their project met all of the following 10 criteria:
1) The project will increase the range, efficiency or quality of the services provided to citizens.
2) The project will be located in a distressed community or will serve a substantial number of low-income or
disadvantaged people.
3) The project will offer a diverse set of activities that meet multiple community service objectives. That could
include, but is not limited to, providing social services, expanding employment opportunities for or
increasing the employability of community residents, or offering educational or recreational opportunities
separate from the public school system or private schools as long as recreation is not the sole purpose of
the facility.
4) The project will reflect a long-term vision shared by residents, businesses, leaders and partners for the
development of the community.
5) The project will require state funding to accomplish a discrete, usable phase of the project.
6) The project is ready to proceed and will make timely use of the funds.
2022 BUILDING COMMUNITIES FUND REPORT 16
7) The project is sponsored by one or more entities that have the organizational and financial capacity to
fulfill the terms of the grant agreement and maintain the project into the future.
8) The project will fill an unmet need for community services.
9) The project will achieve its stated objectives.
10) The project is a community priority as shown through tangible commitments of existing or future assets
made to the project by community residents, leaders, businesses and government partners.
Application solicitation process
The BCF solicitation process consists of five main elements: email announcements, email listserv, web links,
outreach and engagement workshops, and application workshops.
Commerce curated an email list of organizations that might have an interest in applying for funding through
BCF, and each received BCF application notices. In cases where umbrella organizations did not release their
proprietary mailing lists to Commerce, each organization agreed to distribute BCF information in its regular
newsletter to members. Participating organizations included:
Community Action Agencies
Association of Washington Cities
Washington State Association of Counties
Nonprofit organizations listed with the Office of the Secretary of State
Commission on African American Affairs
Commission on Hispanic Affairs
Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs
Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs
Indian tribes in Washington state
YMCAs and YWCAs
Boys & Girls Clubs
Existing Commerce mailing lists of community nonprofit organizations (approximately 7,000)
All organizations or individuals who contacted Commerce concerning the BCF program or were referred by the
Office of the Governor, the Office of Financial Management or the Legislature
The BCF webpage on the Commerce website offers information about BCF, including application guidelines,
forms and a link to the online application. For outreach, staff conducted an online application workshop in
June, 2022 with 250 people in attendance. The 2023-2025 BCF application timetable:
Applications available: June 1, 2022
Online workshop: June 15, 2022
Applications due to Commerce: Aug. 5, 2022
Board Hearings September 29, 2022
Role of the BCF Advisory Board
The BCF statute directs Commerce to develop and administer a competitive grant process. A key component
is reviewing applications in consultation with a citizen advisory board. The BCF Advisory Board, which
Commerce recruited and appointed, consists of volunteers with expertise administering or advocating on
behalf of community nonprofit organizations throughout the state. The board also helps develop program
policy, review applications and recommend projects for the governor and Legislature to review.
2022 BUILDING COMMUNITIES FUND REPORT 17
The 2023-2025 Advisory Board convened in October 2022 to review and rank applications. The board used the
10 evaluation benchmarks set forth in the statute to evaluate the applications. Project applicants also
participated by completing a phase II questionnaire that assist board in identifying any new potential changes
or progress made toward projects during the review period.
At the conclusion of the work session, a ranked list of 51 qualified eligible projects totaling $33,833,886 was
approved for submittal to the governor for consideration in the 2023-2025 capital budget. The Legislature will
make the final determination regarding which projects, if any, will be included in the capital budget.
2022 BUILDING COMMUNITIES FUND REPORT 18
Appendix C: Building Communities Fund past projects
BCF projects from 2009-2023 are available on the BCF historic map.
Projects from the 2011-13 biennium to present are listed below.
10-year BCF awardees
Biennium Project Title District
11-13 Serenity House of Clallam County 24
11-13 Boys & Girls Clubs of King County 31
11-13 YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties 23
11-13 Jewish Family Service 43
11-13 Low Income Housing Institute 36
11-13 The Salvation Army 3
11-13 Share 49
11-13 Navos 34
11-13 Kitsap Community Resources 26
11-13 Transitional Programs for Women dba Transitions 3
11-13 Boys & Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin 13
11-13 Village Green Foundation 23
11-13 Community Action Council of LMT 22
11-13 United Way of Kitsap County 26
11-13 ARC of Spokane 3
11-13 Dynamic Family Services 33
11-13 University District Food Bank 43
11-13 Community Health Care 28
11-13 YWCA Yakima 14
11-13 SafePlace 22
11-13 Allen Renaissance, Inc. 27
11-13 Kent Youth and Family Services 33
2022 BUILDING COMMUNITIES FUND REPORT 19
Biennium Project Title District
13 - 15 Interfaith Community Health Center 42
13 - 15 LaCrosse Community Pride 9
13 - 15 Gay City Health Project 43
13 - 15 YWCA Pierce County 27
13 - 15 University Heights Center for the Community 43
13 - 15 Brigid Collins Family Support Center 42
13 - 15 SafePlace 22
13 - 15 Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners 6
13 - 15 Associated Ministries of Tacoma-Pierce County 37
13 - 15 Friends of Youth 45
13 - 15 Behavioral Health Resources 22
13 - 15 Ryther 46
13 - 15 PROVAIL 46
13 - 15 Vadis 31
13 - 15 New Life CDA 23
13 - 15 MLK FAME Community Center 37
15 - 17 Seattle Tilth 37
15 - 17 Alternatives to Hunger DBA Bellingham Food Bank 42
15 - 17 Hopelink 48
15 - 17 Community Action of Skagit County 40
15 - 17 Centerforce 29
15 - 17 Eritrean Association in Greater Seattle 37
15 - 17 Tonasket Emergency Food Bank 7
15 - 17 Pierce County AIDS Foundation 29
15 - 17 Entiat Valley Community Services Food Bank 12
15 - 17 Market Foundation 43
2022 BUILDING COMMUNITIES FUND REPORT 20
Biennium Project Title District
15 - 17 Opportunity Council 42
15 - 17 FareStart 37
15 - 17 Blue Mountain Action Council 16
15 - 17 El Centro de la Raza 37
15 - 17 Women and Children's Free Restaurant & Community Kitchen 3
15 - 17 Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services of Whatcom County 42
15 - 17 International Community Health Services 32
15 - 17 Casa Latina 37
15 - 17 Centerstone 37
15 - 17 Puget Sound Regional Services 37
15 - 17 LASA 29
15 - 17 Seattle Indian Health Board 37
15 - 17 YMCA of Snohomish County 38
15 - 17 Navos 34
15 - 17 Valley Cities Counseling & Consultation 47
15 - 17 Young Men's Christian Association of Pierce and Kitsap Counties 31
15 - 17 Community Home Health and Hospice 17
15 - 17 Auburn Youth Resources 30
15 - 17 Sea Mar Community Health Centers 49
17 - 19 Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County 7
17 - 19 Cocoon House 38
17 - 19 Mercy Housing Northwest 46
17 - 19 Skagit Valley Family YMCA 40
17 - 19 Edmonds Senior Center 21
17 - 19 Opportunity Council 42
17 - 19 Filipino Community of Seattle 37
2022 BUILDING COMMUNITIES FUND REPORT 21
Biennium Project Title District
17 - 19 Amara 37
17 - 19 YMCA of Yakima 14
17 - 19 Northwest Indian College 42
17 - 19 Lydia Place 42
17 - 19 Tacoma Community House 27
17 - 19 Peace Community Center 27
17 - 19 North Kitsap Fishline Food Bank 23
17 - 19 Martha & Mary Health Services 23
17 - 19 Ryan's House For Youth 10
17 - 19 Share 49
17 - 19 Country Doctor Community Clinic 43
17 - 19 CDM Caregiving Services 49
17 - 19 Friends of Youth 5
17 - 19 Helping Hands Food Bank 39
17 - 19 Catholic Community Services of King County 42
17 - 19 Bridgeview Housing 49
17 - 19 Aging in PACE Washington 37
17 - 19 YMCA of Greater Seattle 33
17 - 19 Brigid Collins House 40
17 - 19 Step By Step Family Support Center 25
17 - 19 YMCA of Greater Seattle 43
17 - 19 Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound 35
17 - 19 Congregations for the Homeless 41
17 - 19 First Place Scholars 37
17 - 19 HopeWorks Social Enterprises 38
19 - 21 Seattle Theatre Group 43
2022 BUILDING COMMUNITIES FUND REPORT 22
Biennium Project Title District
19 - 21 Music Center of the Northwest 36
19 - 21 Seattle Symphony Orchestra 43
19 - 21 Broadway Center for the Performing Arts 27
19 - 21 Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network 23
19 - 21 Nordic Heritage Museum Foundation 36
19 - 21 Imagine Children's Museum 38
19 - 21 Seattle Opera 43
19 - 21 KidsQuest Children's Museum 48
19 - 21 Central Stage Theatre of County Kitsap 23
19 - 21 Roxy Bremerton Foundation 26
19 - 21 Port Angeles Waterfront Center 24
19 - 21 Fort Worden Foundation 24
19 - 21 Sea Mar Community Health Centers 11
21 - 23 Chief Seattle Club 36
21 - 23 Asian Pacific Cultural Center 29
21 - 23 Community Youth Services 22
21 - 23 Coastal Community Action Program 19
21 - 23 Seven Acres Foundation 12
21 - 23 Eritrean Association in Greater Seattle 37
21 - 23 Ethiopian Community in Seattle 37
21 - 23 HealthPoint 11
21 - 23 Sea Mar Community Health Centers 36
21 - 23 Reliable Enterprises 20
21 - 23 NEW Health Programs Association 7
21 - 23 Nisqually Indian Tribe 2
21 - 23 Rainier Valley Food Bank 37
2022 BUILDING COMMUNITIES FUND REPORT 23
Biennium Project Title District
21 - 23 Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe 39
21 - 23 Sea Mar Community Health Centers 11
21 - 23 Lewis County Seniors 20
21 - 23 Volunteers of America of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho 3
21 - 23 White Center Community Development Association 34
21 - 23 NATIVE Project 3
21 - 23 YouthCare 43
2022 BUILDING COMMUNITIES FUND REPORT 24
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