Two Grays Harbor organizations will receive substantial funding as part of $39 million in grants announced today by the state Department of Commerce to 18 health care providers across Washington, adding needed spaces to help people with a wide variety of behavioral health issues. These grant funds will help create 341 additional beds, including providing safe places for people to stay upon discharge from the state’s two psychiatric hospitals.

Locally, Lifeline Connections of Aberdeen, as an acute detox facility, will receive $1,298,499 to fund an additional 14 beds.

Also, Great Rivers Behavioral Health Organization, which has facilities in Cowlitz, Grays Harbor and Lewis counties, will receive $1,749,500 to fund an additional 32 beds as crisis diversion or stabilization facilities.

The grants align with Gov. Jay Inslee’s five-year plan announced in May to modernize and transform the state’s mental health care systems by shifting away from large institutions to smaller, community-based facilities.

”This funding builds on actions that the Legislature and I have taken over the past several years to transform behavioral health,” Gov. Inslee said. “It will address a fundamental need to grow capacity for care in community settings, where patients can be closer to families, friends and support systems.”

The grants were awarded through a competitive process conducted by Commerce, the Department of Health, the Department of Social and Health Services, and the Washington State Health Care Authority. The state’s funds are for construction and equipment costs associated with establishing the additional facilities, and the projects must maintain them for at least 10 years. The state’s $39 million investment will leverage another $46 million in total construction investment from other public and private sources.