Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
A pending grant has been approved for the city of Colfax to aid in the school district's effort to fund improvements to the athletic complex.
City hall was informed last Friday that the town was named for a $250,000 Washington State Recreation Conservation Office grant, slated to be used for restrooms at Schmuck Park, and bleachers, turf and/or goalposts at the Colfax High School athletic complex. Funds would also contribute to the plan to replace the track next summer.
Part of the matching grant funds may be in-kind, such as volunteer labor and city Public Works crews building infrastructure for the subsequent track work.
The amount in matching “funds” is not a deciding point to the grant.
“We get the grant regardless,” said City Administrator Mike Rizzitiello. “Likely it's the full $250,000.”
The money designated for the track is separate, while at the same time it will count as matching funds.
“Basically, the track money is a match to get the ancillary facilities done,” said Rizzitiello.
The primary project the grant will fund is new restrooms to be installed at Schmuck Park, right across from the athletic complex – expected to be completed in the next two years.
The money will be available starting in January. The grant requires the funding to be used by 2017, although extensions are allowed.
The grant funds will be issued via payments on project invoices through which will be submitted to the state.
As for the track fundraising, the current total is $207,800, including $130,000 committed from the school district, $37,800 raised by C-Town Project and a $40,000 grant from Whitman County .09 sales tax funds for economic development. .
Infrastructure work to be done by the city for the track next summer will include extending a water main, and extending the sewer system line to the park for restrooms to be completed later.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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