“The grants we have received from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, and now the Medina Foundation along with the $60,000 of local support from the Kitsap Credit Union, Bremerton Housing Authority, Rice Fergus Miller Architects, former Senator Betti Sheldon, and Mayor Cary Bozeman, and with the gifts and pledges from KCR Board members, staff and friends has given us a great start to this campaign,” said KCR Executive Director Larry Eyer.

For more than 40 years, KCR has provided services to low-income families and individuals. Today, there are 25,000 people living in poverty in Kitsap County with the highest concentration in Bremerton. KCR’s continuing ability to provide services is in jeopardy due to escalating rents, potential displacements, and building deficiencies. The solution is for KCR to have its own facility and eliminate the expense and deficiencies of operating in four different sub-standard locations.

The non-profit is planning to build a three-story 22.000 square foot certified “Green” office building on property located at 8th and Warren in downtown Bremerton, which will put many of its services under one roof.

The cost of the project is $6.25 million. Grants from Kitsap County and the City of Bremerton, Washington State and the federal government — and a $2.5 million loan — will cover all but approximately $1 million of the cost.

“The $1 million capital campaign will give us the money we need to build the new facility,” said Eyer. “Local support is essential in meeting the challenge contained in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant. They will send us $400,000 if we are able to raise the remainder to reach our goal. We are confident that our friends and supporters will help us succeed.”.