Washtucna to receive state record preservation grant

Secretary of State Sam Reed announced on Aug. 3 that 33 local government agencies throughout Washington are receiving grants totaling $200,000 to help them meet their responsibilities for preserving and improving access to public records.

Among the list is the Town of Washtucna, which will receive $2,650.

The grants come from the Washington State Archives, Local Records Grant Program in cooperation with the Archives Oversight Committee. The Archives Oversight Committee consists of local government officials throughout the state.

The grants are used to digitize and microfilm the important legal and historical records of the state. These awards were selected from a list of 104 applications requesting an estimated total of $887,000.

“For the past 10 years, this grant program has helped nearly 250 local government entities preserve records for future generations, and we’re very pleased to continue our support of these fine projects,” said Secretary of State Sam Reed.

Other grant recipients include Bellingham, Bingen, Bucoda, Port of Camas-Washougal, Carnation, Castle Rock School District No. 401, Cathlamet, Dayton School District, Eatonville School District No. 404, Entiat, Ephrata, Fairfield, Issaquah School District, Lynden, Mabton, Marcus, Moxee, Napavine, North Bonneville, North Olympic Library System, Pasco, Pierce County Fire District No. 6, Republic, Selah School District, Skagit Conservation District, Tacoma School District, Union Gap, Wenatchee, Whatcom County Fire District No. 18, Wilson Creek, Yacolt and Yakima.

The Local Government Records Grant Program assists local governments to meet their responsibilities for preserving and improving access to public records.

The 2011-13 Local Records Grant Program will focus on the preservation and access of the following archival records:

• Minutes

• Ordinances

• Resolutions

The program will focus on getting records digitized and made accessible through the Digital Archives. The original records may then be transferred to archives to ensure permanent preservation.

Applications were reviewed and grants awarded on a competitive basis.