Clark County seeks council direction to pursue $200,000 CDBG grant and federal earmark requests for 701 E. Main (Sea Mar) building

Clark County staff on March 26 asked the county council for direction on a county-owned building at 701 East Main Street in Battle Ground that houses programs operated by Sea Mar Community Health Centers, and received council direction to move ahead with a short-term Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application and to pursue congressional directed spending for larger repairs.

Michelle Shister, director of Internal Services, told the council the county purchased the property in 1993 with CDBG funds and currently leases it to Sea Mar on a month-to-month basis. She said the county’s 2019 MENG facilities analysis estimated about $1,700,000 in repairs and maintenance would be needed between 2019 and 2029. Shister said the building serves 1,200 to 1,300 clients per month through WIC and maternity-support services.

On the grant question, Rebecca Royce, program coordinator in community services, explained HUD guidance: the county may, in limited circumstances, execute a special sale and transfer a CDBG-funded property to a nonprofit for $1, provided the buyer agrees to a covenant that the facility will serve low-income residents for a specified period. Royce…