1. Councilmember Goings appointed to state Transportation Improvement Board
Pierce County Councilmember Calvin Goings has been appointed to the state Transportation Improvement Board as a representative of Washington’s 39 counties. The appointment was made by Washington State Department of Transportation Secretary Douglas B. MacDonald.
Goings said transportation has been a personal priority since his tenure as vice chair of the Washington State Senate Transportation Committee. “I witnessed the TIB’s important role in identifying and funding critically needed local transportation projects,” he said.
“I welcome the opportunity to be involved in this important work as a board member.”
Recently sworn in for his second and final term, the 31-year-old Puyallup resident serves on the County Council leadership team as Executive Pro Tempore. He is the youngest person in county history to hold this key position; he also serves on the council’s powerful Rules Committee.
Pierce County Executive John W. Ladenburg applauded Goings’ appointment. “Calvin is extremely knowledgeable of transportation issues, not only locally but also in the Puget Sound region and across the state. He will be an effective board member,” Ladenburg said.
Pierce County has received millions of dollars from the TIB for road improvement projects in recent years. Last November the board awarded $15.9 million to the county and eight cities within the county, including $8 million for projects on Pacific Avenue and 112th Street East, both in the unincorporated area.
Revenue for the grant funding comes from the three cents of the statewide gas tax dedicated by the Legislature to projects selected by the TIB. During 2004, local governments across the state completed or were working on 500 projects funded in part by TIB grants.
TIB’s primary purpose is to administer state funding for local government transportation projects. Projects are funded by utilizing TIB revenue in combination with local matching funds and private sector contributions. The agency is directed by Stevan Gorcester, who was a Pierce County transportation manager in the early 1990s.
2. Pierce County Arts Commission announces grant recipients
The Pierce County Arts Commission announced the 2005 recipients of the community grants and arts education grants. Each year, the Arts Commission reviews applications and allocates funding to community-based arts and cultural programs. The selection process focuses on programs that address the needs of unincorporated Pierce County and also seek to fulfill the commission’s goals of increasing access to the arts, and developing the arts industry as a significant tool for community development. The commission granted a total of $41,600 to 21 organizations.
The organizations that were awarded grants are listed below:
– African American Museum for Painting Culture: community grant of $1,000
– Boys & Girls Clubs for fine arts program: community grant of $3,000
– Broadway Center for African Legacy Tour: arts education grant of $1,000
– City of Milton Arts Commission for sidewalk chalk art: community grant of $400
– Dance Theatre Northwest for Nutcracker outreach: community grant of $3,500
– Lakewood Sister Cities for International Festival: community grant of $1,000
– Museum of Glass for Creativity Station: community grant of $2,000
– N.W. Music Mentors for Share the Music: arts education grant of $1,500
– Pierce County Library Foundation for teen writing contest: arts education grant of $3,000
– Pierce County Parks & Recreation for Reflections on Ice: community grant of $2,500
– Roosevelt Dancers for after school program: arts education grant of $1,000
– Scandinavian Cultural Center for Hans Christian Andersen: community grant of $2,500
– Tacoma Art Museum for school tour program: arts education grant of $1,500
– Tacoma Concert Band for 2005 season: community grant of $1,000
– Tacoma Little Theatre for Summer Theatre Institute: community grant of $1,500
– Tacoma Opera Association for 2005 education programs: community grant of $2,500
– Tacoma Symphony for Simply Symphonic: arts education grant of $5,000
– Town of Steilacoom for summer concert series: community grant of $1,500
– Two Waters Arts Alliance for Artists in Schools: arts education grant of $3,700
– VAU/Tapestry Singers for community outreach services: community grant of $1,000
– Washington-Hoyt PTA for school arts plan: arts education grant of $1,500.
