County health agency plans to issue grants

Spokane County’s new Health Sciences & Services Authority intends to issue grants exceeding $900,000 this autumn.

The authority was created by the 2007 Legislature. It’s a novel way of funding local health priorities, said Spokane attorney Nancy Isserlis, who heads the board. She announced the group’s first request for proposals, aimed at bolstering the region’s abilities for bioscience research. The board will review applications in hopes of issuing a $675,000, two-year grant.

The authority has captured about $1 million in local sales tax revenues since its inception that otherwise would have gone to the state general fund.

A second round of grant proposals will be solicited in about a month. Those grants will be used for local health services projects.

Isserlis said the board wants the tax money spent on community projects as soon as possible.

The board, which met for the first time last fall, has nine members, three each appointed by the governor, county commissioners and Spokane’s mayor. Other members are Patricia Butterfield, Jeff Collins, Earl Martin, Alethea McCann, Mari Thomas, Wendy Schneider and Roger Woodworth. One seat is vacant.