 Planners’ Monthly Newsletter – February 2026
This month: Grant awards, ATNI, short course survey and more!
Latest CHIP grants will support 70 new projects
In January, Commerce announced $54.5 million in new grant awards to support affordable housing projects statewide.
The awards from the Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP) will support 70 projects in 22 counties. CHIP grants pay for water and stormwater infrastructure and reimburse waived connection fees.
The grants will help to create roughly 4,500 new affordable housing units. Projects receiving CHIP funding must remain affordable for 25 years. Read the full CHIP announcement.
Photo: Officials in Sequim celebrate award of a CHIP grant to support 50-unit affordable housing project in partnership with Clallam County Habitat for Humanity.
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Commerce awards $3 million to support salmon recovery
Commerce recently awarded $3 million in grants to 12 local and tribal partners to integrate salmon recovery into long-term community planning.
These grants empower local jurisdictions to integrate salmon recovery directly into their long-term planning and ensure that the work of habitat protection is built into the blueprints of our growing communities.
Read the full salmon recovery announcement.
Making connections at ATNI
Earlier this month, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) gathered in Portland to advance critical conversations on tribal planning, climate resilience, clean energy, economic development and more. Tribal leaders, advocates, and partners came together to share knowledge, strengthen collaboration, and build a brighter future for native communities across the region.
Commerce staff participated in sessions to listen and share information on relevant programs and funding. We’re proud to support this work and continue to foster strong relations with tribal nations.
Photo: Bridget Ray, left, Tribal Coordination Manager in Growth Management Services (GMS) and Jonas Greene, Tribal Coordinator for the Washington State Broadband Office (WSBO), attended the ATNI event this month.
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Take our Short Course survey!
Commerce presents the Short Course on Local Planning to provide an overview of land use and comprehensive planning laws in Washington.
If you’ve taken the Short Course, we encourage you to take a quick, three-question survey. The submissions are anonymous and will help us improve the Short Course. We appreciate your time.
Also consider joining us for an upcoming Short Course. All courses are free and open to the public.
Upcoming Short Courses
Submit MFTE annual report by April 1
It’s time to submit an annual report on the multifamily tax exemption (MFTE) program!
Every jurisdiction should complete the short online reporting form whether or not the jurisdiction currently has an MFTE Program. Those jurisdictions who issued final certificates of tax exemption will also complete a detail sheet. The reporting deadline is April 1.
If you have any questions about the reporting process, please contact Katherine Mitchell at Katherine.Mitchell@commerce.wa.gov.
 Growth Management staff update
Ryan Shea
Ryan Shea joins Commerce as the Local Permit Review Program Specialist responsible for administering the statewide Local Permit Review program. His role focuses on helping communities navigate permitting and planning challenges.
Ryan has served as a planner in Idaho and Washington, most recently the City of Spokane. He holds degrees in international affairs and urban and regional planning from Eastern Washington University.
Based in Spokane with his wife and son, Ryan enjoys Sichuan cooking, disc golf, and gaming. He looks forward to collaborating with jurisdictions across Washington and contributing to planning policy discussions.
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From our partners
MRSC: Parks and recreation planning under the GMA
Looking to update your parks, trails, or open space plans? Our partners at the Municipal Research & Services Center are out with their latest guide on the Growth Management Act, this time delving into the parks and recreation element.
MRSC’s guide covers steps to prepare a parks element, best practices for equity and sustainability, and includes examples from around the state.
Read the full article at the MRSC website.
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Grant funds for park planning to open for applications in mid-2026
The Recreation and Conservation Office’s Planning for Recreation Access (PRA) program provides grants for outdoor recreation planning projects in both rural and urban areas of Washington that have a high need for park development or renovation.
Applications for 2026 are expected to open in May.
Funding can be used for:
- Comprehensive park planning efforts
- Single facility planning (including site design, construction planning, and permitting)
No matching funds are required for this program.
PRA is intended to provide communities with the planning resources necessary to improve outdoor recreation facilities in their communities and to be successful in future funding efforts through RCO construction grants.
Questions? Contact Edison Velez with RCO’s Technical Assistance Team at Edison.Velez@rco.wa.gov.
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WGS: Celebrating 10 years of the lidar program
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Washington State Lidar Program. Since 2015, the Washington Geological Survey has collected, analyzed, and distributed lidar data for our state. Today there is full statewide lidar coverage available publicly, with some exceptions.
Read more: Celebrating Lidar Milestones
Questions? Contact Lidar Manager Abby Gleason at Abigail.Gleason@dnr.wa.gov.
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Upcoming events
PAW annual conference set for April
The Planning Association of Washington will host its annual conference April 22 to 24 at Campbell’s Resort in Chelan.
The theme of this year’s conference is “Pathways to Possibility: Planning, Policy, and Practicality.” Registration is open now with early bird rates available through March 10.
Visit PAW’s website for more information.
Periodic Update Workshops
Commerce routinely hosts workshops on specific elements of the periodic update process. These workshops provide valuable opportunities for local jurisdictions to understand and meet the requirements of the periodic update. Please consider joining us for an upcoming workshop to learn more about planning in Washington.
Upcoming workshops
2027 Series - Climate Workshop
Regional Planners’ Forums
Commerce presents the Regional Planners’ Forums in partnership with the Planning Association of Washington and Washington Chapter of the American Planning Association.
These forums offer a free opportunity for planners, officials and community members to talk informally about local issues, share ideas and receive updates from state and federal agencies.
Upcoming Planners’ Forums
Northwest Planners’ Forum
- 9 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25
Tribal Planners’ Forum
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