N. Idaho Finalists For Grants Named

Boundary County and the cities of Plummer, Boundary, Lewiston, and Kendrick are finalists for Idaho Community Development Block Grants, the Idaho Department of Commerce announced Monday.

Boundary County wants $500,000 for water system improvements and Lewiston is asking for $500,000 for street improvements. Kendrick is seeking $476,050 for water and street work and Plummer wants $180,000 for sewer projects.

These five entities are among 24 applicants that the Idaho Economic Advisory Council invited to submit full-blown applications for about $4 million.

The money ultimately comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. A final decision on the recipients is made in March.

Four other North Idaho communities were turned away. The West Shoshone Hospital District asked for $500,000 to renovate the hospital at Kellogg. Burke, located north of Wallace, wanted $426,000 to improve its water system.

Sandpoint applied for $500,000 for water system improvements. Tensed was seeking $163,000 for street paving.

“The good news for those who didn’t make it this year is there’s always next year, said Jan Blickenstaff of the Idaho Department of Commerce. “Most of the successful applicants are back for the second or third time.” , DataTimes