Island County Commissioners are considering many different ideas on how to spend the $16.5 million of taxpayer dollars given to the County thru the federal governments American Rescue Plan Act. Commissioner Jill Johnson suggested giving $9 to $10 million to Habitat for Humanity for purchasing property and putting in infrastructure where affordable housing could be built. Janet St. Clair liked the idea. Commissioner Melanie Bacon suggested using the money on a Freeland sewer system. The commissioners all agreed that a priority is to create a community service grant program for nonprofit groups, particularly those that work to alleviate barriers to the workforce. For more details, see the story by Jessie Stensland in the Whidbey News-Times.
