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Council hears BlueBridge pitch; agrees to permit Ephrata PD to join community debit‑card program
Summary
BlueBridge founder Brian presented a community-funded program that gives officers reloadable debit cards to assist people in crisis. The council moved to allow the Ephrata Police Department to participate; onboarding costs are covered by a state grant and BlueBridge will match local seed donations up to $2,500.
Brian, co‑founder and CEO of BlueBridge, told the City Council about a community program that issues small, reloadable debit cards to officers so they can buy food, gas, car seats or other immediate help for people they encounter. BlueBridge said an initial state grant covers onboarding costs and provides up to $2,500 in matched seed funds; additional funding is expected via community donations and local fundraising (QR-code donations, civic clubs).
BlueBridge described pilots in multiple Washington communities (Moses Lake, Wenatchee, Pullman and others) and offered use examples: in Moses Lake an officer paid to repair a flat tire so a vehicle lived‑on‑property resident could move, resolving a safety and property issue; in Wenatchee an officer purchased a car seat for a new mother who otherwise could not afford a seat to take her baby home.
The chief of police told the council the program has been straightforward to operate in jurisdictions that have adopted it and emphasized the separation of funds and reporting BlueBridge provides. Council members asked about startup costs and long‑term funding; BlueBridge and the chief said the grant pays a roughly $2,500 onboarding fee and will match up to $2,500 in seed funds the agency raises, and that public awareness and social media postings usually generate ongoing donations.
Council members discussed whether participation required city funding. BlueBridge and staff said there is no upfront financial obligation by the city beyond facilitating the relationship; the program requires initial seed donations (matched by the program) and ongoing local fundraising if the community desires to sustain the fund. Council moved and voted to permit the Ephrata Police Department to participate in the BlueBridge program and to authorize staff to return with any implementing agreements or next steps.
BlueBridge said it provides fundraising pages for each participating agency so donations go to that agency’s BlueBridge fund, and the organization handles onboarding, reporting and card controls. Councilmembers said they welcomed the practical, hands‑on examples of how small purchases can remove obstacles and help community relations.
