https://agr.wa.gov/about-wsda/news-and-media-relations/news-releases?article=33951
(source link)
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has a new round of grants available for hunger relief organizations working to address critical needs across Washington.
The application period for the second round of Food Assistance Resiliency Grants will open on Monday, April 18 with completed applications due Friday, June 10. The period of performance (contract period) is from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.
Up to $16 million will be available for distribution to eligible hunger relief organizations, including those that do not currently have contracts with WSDA food assistance programs.
The grants are managed by the WSDA Food Assistance Program, which designed the grant program with input from a diverse advisory committee with representation from across the state. Grant funding will prioritize:
Recommendations of the Washington State Hunger Relief Capacity Report, conducted in partnership with the University of Washington and Harvest Against Hunger.
Organizations with leadership that includes Black, Indigenous and other people of color, and organizations with strong partnerships in these communities.
Rural, less dense regions and underserved communities
Statewide representation
The grants are meant to support the work of eligible hunger relief organizations such as meal programs, food banks, food pantries, delivery programs, and more, in response to COVID-19. Funding objectives include:
Collaborations – To implement or strengthen regional systems, such as new county partnerships, inter-regional collaboration, and food hubs.
Local purchasing – To strengthen local systems, invest in local businesses and local agriculture.
Service operation efficiencies and expanded capacity – To support staffing, equipment, capital improvement projects, and other vital resources needed to continue and expand services as needed.
Client experience enhancement – To support equity, client choice models, home and expanded delivery options, increased client access, culturally relevant foods, as well as software, translation, and other concepts or innovations that improve the client experience.
Grant categories include:
Equipment and installation costs up to $4,999.99 – through our partnership with Harvest Against Hunger, up to $400,000 worth of eligible equipment and installation projects will be funded.
Contracted hunger relief organizations – at least 30 percent of awards will be to organizations who currently participate in WSDA Food Assistance programs.
Regional Distribution Organizations – at least 20 percent of awards will be to organizations qualifying as RDOs with projects related to those functions.
Hunger relief organizations not currently contracted with WSDA Food Assistance – at least 30 percent of awards will be to organizations that do not currently participate in WSDA Food Assistance programs.
The percentages are subject to change to meet funding priorities and based on final applications. Awards may range from less than $5,000 to more than $100,000. For projects $5,000 and more, there is no maximum project size limit. Some applicants may be offered a partial award.
Applications will be translated into the following languages: Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Ukrainian, Somali, Korean, Chinese Mandarin, and Tagalog. Please contact FoodAssistanceGrants@agr.wa.gov if other languages and other documents require translation.
Visit agr.wa.gov/Grants for more information.
The Resiliency Grants Program is funded through the state legislature and the federal Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery fund, as part of the American Rescue Plan Act adopted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant program also contributes to WSDA’s ongoing Focus on Food Initiative, which focuses on strengthening Washington’s food system at the regional level and ensuring safe, nutritious food is effectively produced and distributed throughout our state.
IN OTHER WASHINGTON STATE NEWS:
Risky business: New WSDA program protects gardens, farms, and environment from prohibited plant sales.
Skyrocketing online sales since the start of the pandemic put further pressure on a known potential pathway for invasive plants and plant diseases to enter our state: illegal plant sales.
https://wastatedeptag.blogspot.com/2022/04/illegalonlineplantsales.html
IN-PERSON OPEN HOUSE PLANNED APRIL 12 FOR JAPANESE BEETLE ERADICATION.
GRANDVIEW – The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is hosting an open house on Tuesday, April 12, from 5 to 7 p.m. to share information about its plans to eradicate the invasive Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica).
https://agr.wa.gov/about-wsda/news-and-media-relations/news-releases?article=34957
CONSUMER ALERT: Watch out for charity scams seeking to profit from the crisis in Ukraine.
Do your research before donating, report suspicious behavior — scammers may take advantage of influx of donations amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Former Asotin County judge Scott Gallina pleads guilty to assault with sexual motivation.
ASOTIN — Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today that former Asotin County Superior Court judge Scott Gallina has pleaded guilty to two counts of assault with sexual motivation — one count in the third-degree and one in the fourth-degree — in the wake of 2019 allegations that the former judge sexually assaulted two court employees. The plea deal, offered with the support of the victims, avoids a trial against the former judge.
AG Ferguson announces partnership with FCC in anti-robocall initiative.
SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced a new partnership with the Federal Communications Commission, establishing critical information sharing and structures for cooperation in investigating robocall scams.
Find Ventures and Department of Commerce announce Equitable Innovations Accelerator Cohort.
Ten tech startup founders will form the inaugural cohort and receive up to $100K in philanthropic funding.
Skagit Valley Farm receives $267,000 penalty for irrigating 348 acres without a water right.
OLYMPIA –
The Washington Department of Ecology has issued a $267,000 penalty to Skagit Valley Farm for irrigating 348 acres of vegetable crops in the lower Skagit and Samish watersheds without water rights.
Salmon fishing to close April 9 in Marine Area 5 (Sekiu and Pillar Point) following high angler success.
OLYMPIA – Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fishery managers today announced a salmon fishing closure in Marine Area 5 (Sekiu and Pillar Point) to support conservation objectives. The closure goes into effect April 9.
WORLD NEWS HEADLINES:
Ukraine: UN condemns deadly attack on train station, dozens of civilians killed.
In eastern Ukraine, a reported Russian missile attack on a railway station that’s killed dozens of civilians including children, has been condemned by the United Nations. Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement, that the strike - and others against civilians and civilian infrastructure - were "gross violations" of international law.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/04/1115842
Rights chief highlights urgent need for action over thousands missing in Syria.
Twelve years into the war in Syria, thousands of families “remain in the dark” when it comes to the fates of their missing relatives, UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet told the General Assembly on Friday.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/04/1115872
Ukraine war drives international food prices to ‘new all-time high’
Global food prices have reached “a new all-time high,” the head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization said on Friday, “hitting the poorest the hardest.”
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/04/1115852
UN General Assembly votes to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council.
The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on Thursday calling for Russia to be suspended from the Human Rights Council.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/04/1115782
Additional State Department Designations Targeting Russian State-Owned Defense Shipbuilding Enterprise--US STATE DEPT.
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield’s Interview with Margaret Besheer of Voice of America--USUN
Austin Lays Out Reasoning Behind DOD Budget Request.
At $773 billion, the fiscal 2023 Defense Budget Request is huge, but that doesn't mean that painful choices are not necessary, defense leaders told the Senate Armed Services Committee today.--DOD
NEWS from OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO DC:
Cantwell Announces $370 Million for Washington state Transit Agencies
34% increase in transit funding from last year; includes $110M for King County Metro, $78M for Sound Transit.
Cantwell Calls for Investigation of Anomalies in West Coast Petroleum Markets at Hearing
Cantwell calls on FTC to investigate trading practices behind suspicious West Coast pump prices.
Senator Murray Statement on Biden Admin Extending Student Payment Pause After Her Push For Action
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement on the Biden administration’s announcement that it will extend the student loan payment pause until August 31.
Senator Murray, Surgeon General Murthy Push to Address Youth Mental Health Crisis
Senator Murray: “As a mom and a grandma, it breaks my heart to know so many kids are shouldering so much stress, anxiety, trauma, and more—which is why, as a Senator, I am working hard every day to get our kids the support and the care they need to heal.”
NATIONAL and BUSINESS HEADLINES:
Statement from the President on Delivery of Air Defense Systems to Ukraine--WH
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke Delivers Remarks at the National Action Network Annual Convention’s Women’s Empowerment Luncheon.--DOJ
Florida’s BayCare Health System and Hospital Affiliates Agree to Pay $20 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations Relating to Impermissible Medicaid Donations
BayCare Health System Inc. and entities that operate four affiliated Florida hospitals (collectively BayCare) have agreed to pay the United States $20 million to resolve allegations that BayCare violated the False Claims Act by making donations to the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County (JWB) to improperly fund the state’s share of Medicaid payments to BayCare. The four hospitals are Morton Plant Hospital, Mease Countryside Hospital, Mease Dunedin Hospital and St. Anthony’s Hospital.--DOJ
Education Department Continues Push to Invest in Highly Effective Educators and Address Teacher Shortage.
The U.S. Department of Education is continuing to take action to support and invest in the teaching profession and address the teacher shortage many schools and districts across the country face. The Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) grant program is now accepting applications for efforts that increase the pipeline of highly effective educators.
Statement by Commerce Secretary Raimondo on Senate Leaders’ Announcement of Expected Conferees to the Bipartisan Innovation Act Conference Committee.
American Businesses See Challenges and Opportunities in the U.S.-Mexico Relationship
There are few partners as vital as Mexico, the United States' top trade partner. Strengthening our partnership will benefit both nations.---US Chamber of Commerce
CORRECTED: US DEPUTY SECRETARY OF LABOR VISITS MEXICO TO DISCUSS WORKER RIGHTS, ENDING CHILD, FORCED LABOR; ANNOUNCES $28M IN INVESTMENTS TO SUPPORT PROJECTS--US DEPT. of LABOR
https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/ilab/ilab20220404
Justice Department Secures Permanent Injunction Against Georgia Tax Return Preparers
A federal court in the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, has permanently enjoined two tax return preparers doing business in Lawrenceville, Georgia, from preparing federal income tax returns for others. --DOJ
MORE NEWS HEADLINES FROM OTHER SOURCES:
Men Accused of Impersonating DHS Agents Have Possible Ties to Iranian Intelligence--PJ MEDIA
A Big Vaccine Mandate Win for Biden
The Fifth Circuit Court reinstated the president’s mandate covering 2.1 million federal workers.--Patriot Post
https://patriotpost.us/articles/87527-a-big-vaccine-mandate-win-for-biden-2022-04-08
All the Big Guy’s Bag Men
As the Biden gang’s corruption is exposed, the kingpin shouldn’t feel too secure in his seat of power.--American Spectator
https://spectator.org/biden-burisma-big-guy-bag-men/
Where liberals look to divide: Culture, COVID-19 and the Constitution--Washington Times
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/apr/8/where-liberals-look-divide-culture-covid-19-and-co/
Secret Service agents embroiled in bribery scheme protected Bidens--Washington Examiner
Nationalism Belongs in the American Conservative Tradition--National Review
https://www.nationalreview.com/2022/04/nationalism-belongs-in-the-american-conservative-tradition/
Liberal Double Standard: Ketanji vs. Kavanaugh--Daily Signal
https://www.dailysignal.com/2022/04/08/liberal-double-standard-ketanji-vs-kavanaugh/
U.S. Has ‘Received Very Little Cooperation From Beijing and Moscow’ on N. Korea Aggression--CNSNEWS
LOCAL MEETINGS:
CLALLAM COUNTY MEETINGS:
Clallam County Commission Work Session for 4/11/22
https://clallam.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=1310
Clallam County Board meeting for 4/12/22
https://clallam.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=7312
Clallam County Board of Health meeting for 4/12/22
Port of Port Angeles Commission meeting for 4/12/22
https://www.portofpa.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04122022-586
City of Sequim Council meeting for 4/11/22
https://www.sequimwa.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2576
City of Forks Council meeting for 4/11/22
https://forkswashington.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Agenda_20220411.pdf
Clallam PUD Commission meeting for 4/11/22 (pt1)
https://clallampud.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/4-11-22-WEB-Packet1-Agenda-Consent.pdf
PUD pt 2
https://clallampud.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/4-11-22-WEB-Packet2-Business.pdf
JEFFERSON COUNTY MEETINGS:
Jefferson County Commission meeting for 4/11/22
https://media.avcaptureall.cloud/meeting/12f6e4c7-7220-4a2c-9acb-59ba7386833b
PORT TOWNSEND CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL BUSINESS MEETING AGENDA FOR 4/11/22
https://cityofpt.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=4&event_id=1954
Port of Port Townsend
1st Monthly Commission Meeting Agenda
Wednesday, April 13, 2022, 1:00 p.m.
https://portofpt.com/event/apr-13-port-commission-meeting/
