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                                            ENGROSSED SENATE BILL 6572

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State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1994 Regular Session

By Senators Wojahn, Gaspard, Franklin, Winsley and Oke

Read first time 01/31/94.  Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Making an appropriation to purchase and renovate the Sprague Building.

          AN ACT Relating to making a capital appropriation for the Sprague Building; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  Human services needs in Pierce county are outpacing existing and projected resources at an alarming rate.  The human services sector urgently needs to maximize its efficiencies and effectiveness if it is to meet the most critical of these needs.

          In 1988, the citizen volunteer board of united way of Pierce county adopted its second century plan, recommending, in part, that a community service center be developed so that a portion of the human services sector could operate more efficiently.

          After months of study by United Way's board, staff, and dozens of community volunteers, United Way board of directors decided to purchase the historic Sprague Building located at 1501 Pacific Avenue and convert it into the Betye Martin Baker community service center.  The fifty thousand square foot facility will house united way, a mix of nonprofit human services agencies, and a child care center for use by tenants and surrounding businesses.

          The momentum toward community-basing of services, ongoing attempts to develop "one-stop shopping" human services centers in communities across the state, and the important role nonprofits play in ensuring healthy community human service systems support the United Way board of directors decision to develop this center.

          The building will serve as a focal point for human services needs and providers.  Because long-term costs will be fixed, United Way will be able to offer tenants long-term, below-market rental rates.  Centralized services and systems, for example, telephones, photocopiers, conference rooms, and a resource library will further allow tenants to maximize operating efficiencies.  The moneys saved through operating efficiencies can then be aimed at delivering direct services to people and families with the greatest human services needs.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  The sum of eight hundred fifty-five thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1995, from the state general fund to the department of social and health services as a fifteen percent matching grant for the purpose of purchase and renovation of the Sprague Building, Tacoma, Washington.  The building shall be owned and shall be occupied by nonprofit, human service organizations whose services provide a benefit to the citizens of Washington.  The department of social and health services shall enter into negotiations with the United Way of Pierce County to secure state office space in the Sprague Building for the delivery of human services in Pierce County.

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