New Chelan County grant program awards $740,000 to local agencies

WENATCHEE - The Chelan Board of County Commissioners recently awarded nearly $740,000 in grant funding to local agencies that support economic development in Chelan County.
 The Cascade Public Infrastructure Fund, or CPIF, is a grant program that was created earlier this year to help finance public projects that facilitate the creation or retention of businesses and jobs in the county.
 The newly established grant program had its first call for projects this spring. Commissioners awarded grants to six agencies: Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority, Lake Chelan Reclamation District, the Peshastin Water District and the cities of Cashmere, Leavenworth and Wenatchee.
 Those projects awarded grant dollars are:
 City of Cashmere: The city was awarded $50,000 to help with the extension of water and wastewater services to an undeveloped lot in downtown Cashmere. In 1998, the city purchased the site on Railroad Avenue from Burlington Northern Railroad to provide parking for downtown Cashmere. The site later contained a warehouse for loading tree fruit onto trains; however, it was demolished. Development of the now vacant land in the warehouse-industry business district will provide space and an opportunity for a small business to relocate and expand.
 Lake Chelan Reclamation District: The reclamation district was awarded $100,000 to use toward planned improvements to its Lift Station No. 2, which provides sewer service to the entire Manson area. The reclamation district also plans to add a pump at the lift station to better service the ongoing population growth in the Manson area.