OLYMPIA — The Washington State Archives, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State, awarded 27 grants to local government agencies for digital imaging, technology tools, and record management programs through the Local Records Grant Program for 2025-26.
Since its inception in 2005, the program has provided more than $4.5 million to hundreds of government entities throughout the state. This year, towns, cities, counties, school districts, health departments, prosecutor’s offices, and library districts will share in $506,112.
“The Local Records Grant Program helps local government agencies upgrade technological resources for records management and better respond to requests for public records,” Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said. “This is a vital resource to preserve and protect records to local governments with tight budgets across the state.”
The Pierce County Rural Library District and the town of Mansfield received $50,000 and $3,240 grants respectively for improving digital imaging.
“The Washington State Archives grant represents a vital step forward in our efforts to preserve the historical legacy of the Town of Mansfield,” said Tricia Sima, Mansfield clerk/treasurer. “This support will enable us to safeguard important records and ensure that the town’s rich heritage remains accessible and intact for generations to come.”
"The Pierce County Library System is incredibly grateful to receive this generous grant," said Pierce County Library Executive Director Gretchen Caserotti. "This grant will significantly enhance our ability to store and provide access to the hundreds of thousands of records the public may request. This funding is critical to our commitment to being a trusted resource for the communities we serve."
The city of Carnation received a $20,000 grant to help preserve and organize documents and make them more accessible for the public.
"Incorporated in 1912, The City of Carnation has over a century of rich history and documentation that must be carefully preserved,” said City Manager Rhonda Ender. “This grant allows us to manage and organize our archive in a way that is easily accessible and to protect public records for years to come."
The Washington State Archives collects and preserves the state’s historical records and makes them available to the public with branches in Bellevue, Bellingham, Cheney, Ellensburg, and Olympia.
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Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State oversees areas within state government including managing state elections, registering corporations and charities, and governing the use of the state flag and state seal. The office operates the State Archives and the State Library, documents extraordinary stories in Washington’s history through Legacy Washington, and administers the Combined Fund Drive for charitable giving by state employees and the Productivity Board state employee suggestion program. The Secretary of State oversees the state’s Address Confidentiality Program to help protect survivors of crime and the Civic Engagement Program to increase governmental trust and participation for all Washingtonians.