Spokane County to provide $40,000 toward eight wildfire rebuilds; Innovia match raises total to $80,000

Spokane County commissioners voted to approve consent-agenda items that include county funding to finish eight homes being rebuilt for survivors of last year's Grama Road and Oregon Road wildfires.

County staff and community groups said the request before the board asks the county to contribute $40,000 toward construction materials and finishing work, with Innovia Foundation providing a matching $40,000 contingency, bringing the project total to about $80,000. The funds would finish interior work such as cabinets, flooring and other "finish" items to make the homes habitable.

The request drew multiple speakers during the open public forum. Jeri Johnson, who identified herself as a board member of Reimagine Medical Lake, said the Spokane Region Long Term Recovery Group helped coordinate funding, procure home-building kits and recruit volunteers. "The Spokane Long Term Recovery Group has done an incredible job…