Many local governments use grants to fully or partially pay for a variety of projects, programs and services, and Washington is no exception.

The city plans to apply for Community Development Block Grants. Before the city can apply for such grants, it must conduct two public hearings. The first of the two required hearings was conducted by the City Council during its meeting Monday. The second will be conducted at a place, date and time to be determined later.

The first hearing explains the CDBG program and allows the public to express views regarding the planning of the community-development program. The second hearing will be more project specific, with an explanation of the project for which the city will seek funding.

No one from the public spoke at the first hearing.

Kevin Richards, the planning, economic development and community services director for the Mid-East Commission, told the council there are several types of CDBG grants available. They include infrastructure, economic development and downtown redevelopment.

“CDBG infrastructure grants are intended to improve the lives of low- to moderate-income individuals,” Richards said.

“The grant funds for community development block grants for downtown redevelopment are limited to a minimum of $300,000 and a maximum of $500,000,” Richards said.

Because Beaufort County is a Tier 1 county (among the most economically stressed counties in the state), Washington is not required to match any CDBG funds it might receive, but evidence of commitment of all funding sources for a proposed project must be submitted with the grant application.

Councilman Doug Mercer asked Richards if there are several sources for the grants, and Richards confirmed that’s the situation. “The reason I made that point is that with two or three difference sources you can apply, and if you don’t get it one place, you might get it somewhere else,” Mercer said.

An example of CDBG funding is the $500,000 Downtown Redevelopment Fund grant to help convert a building in downtown Washington into a brewery/restaurant was awarded last week, city officials began preparing for such a facility about three years ago.

New Vision Partners LLC, the grant recipient, has plans to reuse the building that once housed Fowle & Sons General Merchandise. According to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the three-story building, vacant for 40 years, will house Castle Island Brewery. There has been at least one previous attempt to put a brewery of some type in the building.