Grandview downtown in line to get $550K

GRANDVIEW, Wash. -- The city of Grandview will receive a Community Development Block Grant for downtown renovation.

The federal grant, worth $550,000, was announced Tuesday in a news release from Gov. Chris Gregoire's office.

Grandview will put its share of the money toward a $3.76 million "Grandview Downtown Alive" revitalization project that will widen sidewalks and adorn them with lighting and benches.

Officials expect the project will create or retain 12 jobs during the construction, according to the news release.

The city of Grandview also is using money provided by the state and Yakima County for the downtown improvements. It will spend $30,000 of its own money toward water and sewer repairs in the area.

The city will begin accepting bids as early as January and possibly start construction in early spring, said John Myers, city treasurer.

The downtown is one of several civic improvement projects on the table in this town of 9,100.

The city is partnering with the Grandview campus of Yakima Valley Community College to build a jointly owned $4 million library and has recently added playground equipment and pathways to its Country Park Events Center.

Leaders plan to apply for another block grant for a community center at the park.

Through the Community Development Block grants, the state Department of Commerce has awarded nearly $4 million in federal Recovery Act funds to six rural communities, according to the governor's office.

Overall, the state agency is administering $200 million in stimulus money.