Goldendale Sentinel Editorial
Grant proposal etiquette reveals civilized county
When asked last week about grant proposals submitted for community development projects, Klickitat County economic development director Mike Canon said: “The thing that stood out this year is the amazing amount of cooperation between communities on these proposals.”
What a nice thing to hear – and one not necessarily common to the process of seeking out competitive grant monies.
In other areas, city councils often spend hours bickering over whose project is worthiest and which ought to get what. As opposed to these communities in the state and country that tend to waste their breath fighting with one another, it seems Klickitat County residents are synced up about what matters most to them.
Where they differ they do so in a civilized manner.
Thursday night, when each group sent a representative to speak on behalf of their project, the atmosphere was friendly. At times it was even sprinkled with laughter as people joked about the zones in most dire need (among them a fire station with possibly enough space heaters to present a fire hazard.)
There were almost 40 proposals put forward, of which only about half will receive any money. Of those that do, even less will receive the full request amount.
Yet rather than spend the night arguing, people were supportive of one another and came in with the objective of getting things done that will matter most to the community.
In our opinion, the display illustrated yet another reason to be proud of Klickitat County and glad to live in the place we do.
|
