Skagit County hears public comment on $64,000 CDBG public‑services grant for East County

Skagit County Public Health opened a public hearing June 10 to report outcomes from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) public‑services award and to seek comment on an application for the 2025–26 grant cycle.

Madeline Anthony of Skagit County Public Health said the county has amended the program in recent years and intends to apply for the next cycle. "We had a similar award over the last 3 years, around 63,000 annually. This upcoming year, our award will be $64,000," Anthony said.

The funding supports a partnership with East County Community Action and the East County Resource Center in Concrete. Sandy Finney, chief strategy officer at Community Action, described the populations served and noted the concentration of need in upriver communities: "There's a higher level of poverty, a higher level of disability, [and] a pretty high level of unhoused population as well," she said. Finney said Community Action used CDBG funds for housing intakes, coordinated entry, basic needs and diversion services.

Stephanie, a Community Action staff member who participated remotely, gave examples of recent client outcomes. "In the past year, we've assisted 3 people in getting housed. And 2 of those have been elderly that we've assisted getting into subsidized housing," she said. She also reported the program used diversion funds to prevent homelessness and that the congregate lunch program has continued to serve people in East County.

County staff and Community Action reported service data for the 2022–24 grant reporting period: the East County Resource Center provided services to more than 1,200 people over that three‑year span (about 700–800 unduplicated people per year); roughly 27.3% of service recipients were unhoused, approximately 30% were renters and about 25% were homeowners; and roughly 37% of clients had a disability and were on Medicaid. Finney said nearly half of those served in East County were at about 50% of the federal poverty level.

Commissioners closed the public hearing by motion and vote. Commissioner Wiesen moved to close the public hearing on the CDBG public‑services application; the motion carried 2–0. County staff told the board a resolution to authorize submittal of the application would likely be prepared in the coming week.

Why it matters: the state CDBG public‑services program provides modest, flexible funding to non‑entitlement counties for services that assist low‑income households. County officials described the award as a small but important part of a braided funding approach that helps maintain basic needs supports and housing navigation services in East County.

The county left the record open for general public comment during the hearing but took no additional action beyond closing the hearing and directing staff to prepare the application resolution.