EPHRATA — During the Aug. 6 regular Ephrata City Council meeting, the city approved six resolutions addressing a variety of issues including contracts, street maintenance, transportation and communication. Two of those involved grants that would make improving transportation and managing growth easier.  

TIB Grant  

Council approved the acceptance of a grant in the amount of just more than $496,000 with a city match of funding of slightly more than $55,000 to fund a roughly $552,000 project to improve infrastructure along Basin Street. The Grant funding comes from the Washington Transportation Improvement Board.  

According to city documents, the improvements will include removal and replacement of some concrete for the sidewalk, addition of two flashing crosswalk signals, drainage improvements, pressure washing and some islands along the street to improve safety. Design is not finalized though, and combined with engineering will cost about $61,000.  

Curb improvements will include upgrades at the intersections of Basin Street with Division Avenue West, First Avenue NW, Second Avenue NW and Third Avenue NW as well as the sidewalks between those intersections.  

The project has been dubbed the Basin Street Pedestrian Improvement Project.  

Housing availability  

Council also approved a resolution for the city to apply for grant funding that would help increase access to middle-income housing in Ephrata, or assist developers in applying for grants in alignment with the city’s comprehensive plan. Under the program through the Department of Commerce, developers could be eligible for grants to offset the costs of extending city utilities to apartments and subdivisions within the city. 

“For some of the things we would do city staff would provide the technical support to developers in completing the applications. But once the applications are submitted, staff would review and grade all or they would be the one grading all submittals and provide recommendation to council to decide if we want to go forward with applying, because the city does have to be the applicant for these grants, and there are some eligibility requirements,” said Community Development Director Ron Snell.  

He added that 25% of the homes added to the city would need to meet affordable housing guidelines for grant eligibility.  

Comprehensive coverage of additional projects approved in whole or in part during the meeting will be released after further reporting.