MOSES LAKE - Ephrata and Wilson Creek are among 33 local government agencies throughout Washington to receive grants for preserving and improving access to public records.

Ephrata was awarded $8,700 and Wilson Creek $2,950, which will be used to digitize and microfilm the cities' legal and historical records, such as minutes, ordinances and resolutions.

These records will be digitized and made accessible through the Washington State Digital Archives, after which the original records can be transferred to archives to ensure permanent preservation, according to Secretary of State Sam Reed.

Nearly $200,000 in grants were disbursed by the Washington State Archives Local Records Grant Program in cooperation with the Archives Oversight Committee, which consists of local government officials throughout the state.

Award applicants were selected on a competitive basis from a list of 104 applications requesting an estimated total of $887,000.

"For the past 10 years, this grant program has helped nearly 250 local government entities preserve records for future generations, and we're very pleased to continue our support of these fine projects," Reed stated.

Other grant award recipients are: Bellingham, Bingen, Bucoda, Port of Camas-Washougal, Carnation, Castle Rock School District 401, Cathlamet, Dayton School District, Eatonville School District 404, Entiat, Fairfield, Issaquah School District, Lynden, Mabton, Marcus, Moxee, Napavine, North Bonneville, North Olympic Library System, Pasco, Pierce County Fire District 6, Republic, Selah School District, Skagit Conservation District, Tacoma School District, Union Gap, Washtucna, Wenatchee, Whatcom County Fire District 18, Yacolt and Yakima.