PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County, Port Townsend and state elected leaders joined Olympic Community Action Program and U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development officials on Thursday in celebrating a $800,000 USDA check that will help OlyCAP purchase its three Port Townsend office buildings.
Jon DeVaney, USDA Rural Development’s Washington State director, handed the enlarged check to OlyCAP representatives including an excited Tim Hockett, OlyCAP executive director, who said it would help bring mortgage expenses down and allow $100,000 annual savings to be passed on to the needy.
“Saving $100,000 a year is a good way to get more money to the poor,” said Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, who attended the check delivery at the OlyCAP administrative offices with fellow 24th legislative district colleagues Rep. Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, and Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim.
The 24th District covers Jefferson, Clallam and a part of Grays Harbor counties.
Also attending was Port Townsend Mayor Michelle Sandoval, City Manager David Timmons, and county Commissioner John Austin, as well as representatives of First Federal.
OlyCAP is the North Olympic Peninsula’s largest nonprofit community services agency.
It administers a variety of programs supporting low-income families and individuals in Jefferson and Clallam counties.
These include emergency services, oral health care, Meals on Wheels, Head Start, home care services, the Encore! Adult Day Care Center in Port Angeles, home weatherization and housing rehabilitation.
Funding for the $2.1 million purchase of the office buildings was arranged through loans from USDA and First Federal, as well as a state Community Services Facilities Award of $400,000.
“Port Townsend and Jefferson County were very supportive of our applications to the state for funding,” Hockett said, crediting Darla O’Connor, community programs manager from the OlyCAP Mount Vernon area office, who worked with First Federal to see the project through.
Sandoval praised First Federal, saying the company was “strong because it is a local lender.”
USDA funds will provide a long term, low-interest base for a major part of the total purchase.
USDA’s participation allows First Federal to extend a flexible mortgage package that can be paid down as OlyCAP’s capital campaign proceeds.
The purchase, which has also received $200,000 in support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will help OlyCAP achieve the annual reduction in expenses.
DeVaney said USDA Rural Development’s mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural residents.
