The state Department of Commerce has announced that 14 cities around the state will receive $876,000 to address housing affordability, which includes $200,000 for three local cities.
This is the third round of grants awarded by the agency’s Growth Management Services program that may be used to help develop housing action plans, municipal code changes, subarea planning and environmental reviews — actions intended to encourage more house building and greater variety of housing types, the agency said in a news release.
The awards included $100,000 to Battle Ground for a housing action plan; $50,000 to Ridgefield for municipal code changes; and $50,000 to Woodland for a housing action plan and municipal code changes.
“The rising cost of housing is weighing on our economy, burdening struggling families and leaving our most vulnerable people outside,” Commerce Director Lisa Brown said in the news release. “These grants will help strengthen communities by helping them plan for more diverse and affordable housing across Washington state.”
