CONTACT:  Susan Melnyk, Chief Communications Manager, (360) 867-2097 or susan.melnyk@co.thurston.wa.us

Partnerships Bring New State and Federal Funding Home to Thurston County
Officials are focused on partnership funding strategies to combat economic downturn.

OLYMPIA – Thurston County officials today announced the state legislature has earmarked a half-million dollars in funding for the County’s Regional Justice Center project marking a key win in the Board’s commitment to bring state and federal funding to the community.

This award is the latest in a series of successful grant wins — including $1.25 million for a new agriculture center at the County Fairgrounds — totaling millions in outside investment for the County.

“We’re pursuing every state and federal dollar available to support our community,” said Thurston County Commissioner Carolina Mejia who also serves as Co-Chair of the Washington State Association of Counties Legislative Steering Committee. “By sharing Thurston County’s story across the state, we’re building a strong network of partnerships—from labor and the Attorney General’s Office to the State Bar Association and our legislative delegation. This work doesn’t happen in silos—and those relationships are delivering real results for our infrastructure, public safety, and economic future.”

The County’s new “partnership first” strategy is a direct response to a challenging fiscal reality: while costs for services are rising and the community is growing, the County’s primary funding sources are not keeping pace. 

While the County is responsible for collecting property tax, only about 8 percent stays with the County to support programs and services through the general fund. The rest goes to the state and local cities, school, fire, and library districts.   

As the costs of providing public safety, infrastructure and health services continue to rise, a structural gap between the revenue available and expenses continues to be uncovered for jurisdictions across the country. The Board of County Commissioners, elected offices, and staff across the county worked for months to streamline operations to focus on essential services, remove vacant positions, and reduce or freeze budgets for every office and department to balance the 2026 budget. As revenue projections continue to fall across the state, additional efforts will need to be made this year.

“Counties are in a unique position – our state and federal government require us to implement certain regulations locally – so we're responsible for providing services that do not necessarily come with the funding needed to support them,” said Thurston County Manager, Leonard Hernandez. “By focusing on external partnerships and internal efficiencies, we are continuing to deliver high-quality, high-impact results. I’m so proud of our Board’s commitment to advocating for our community, and our staff’s ongoing dedication to serving the community they love and call home. When the doors stay open, and the service level remains high, know that your County’s staff found ways to make it happen.”

Officials say by utilizing special one-time grant awards from funding partners for projects like the Regional Justice Center and Ag Center at the Fairgrounds, the Board is preserving the limited general fund for daily operations. 

Recent County grant award wins include:

Fairgrounds Evacuation & Agriculture Center ($1.25 million) – Championed by U.S. Representative Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), this project will replace aging barns at the Thurston County Fairgrounds with a modern, 20,000 square foot facility that will serve as a year-round venue for youth agriculture training and markets, and a vital livestock evacuation center during regional emergencies.

Salmon Recovery & Watershed Health ($2.9 million) Represents awards from both the Washington Department of Commerce and Washington Department of Ecology. 

Regional Justice Center ($500,000) – The Washington State Legislature’s 2026 Supplemental Capital Budget included a $500,000 appropriation for the RJC.

To learn more about your County’s projects and budget, visit ThurstonCountyWa.gov.