HUD awards $44 million to Spokane County for 2023 wildfire recovery

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced this week that Spokane County will receive $44,000,000 in Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery funds to help rebuild after wildfires in 2023, federal and county officials said.

HUD regional administrator Andrew Lofton called the allocation a commitment to recovery and said the funds are intended to help renovate homes, repair infrastructure and support local businesses. “The $44,000,000 designated for Spokane County will help restore homes, repair critical infrastructure, and support local businesses that are faced unprecedented challenges,” Lofton said.

The award is intended for long-term recovery and will flow to the county only after a multi-step process that county and HUD officials outlined at a public announcement. That process begins with a county-led needs assessment and community engagement, including outreach to affected tribal populations, officials said. The…