SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. – Spokane County Commissioners celebrated the opening of the Thrive Center, July 21, 2022, for displaced Ukrainian citizens fleeing violence in their home county. The transformed hotel serves as a new transitional home to incoming Ukrainians arriving in the U.S. or as a place for families to wait for loved ones still fighting in Ukraine.
Spokane County partnered with Thrive International as the subrecipient to a $1.7M in WA Commerce grant to provide the umbrella administration for allowable reimbursements for resettlement expenditures. Assistance for incoming refugees can include, but is not limited to, paying for rent and housing needs, transportation, healthcare needs, employment needs, food, clothing and other essential items or services.
Spokane County is home to roughly 50,000 Slavic citizens, including many Ukrainians. Recognizing the urgent financial need of refugees escaping the atrocities of war and a desire to keep as many families together as possible during this crisis, the Spokane County Board of Commissioners moved quickly to secure a grant award from the Washington State Department of Commerce of Tier 1 funding intended for this purpose.
Mary Kuney, Chair of the Spokane County Board of Commissioners, stated “Spokane County recognizes the hardships that these refugees are facing during this crisis. With these funds we hope that those who choose to find sanctuary in our County will be one step closer to finding peace and experience the generosity and kindness that Spokane County is known for.”
Ninety percent (90%) of the awarded funds will be used for direct needs and support personnel assisting refugees in navigation as they arrive in Spokane. For more information about this effort or for those in need of assistance, please visit https://thriveint.org.