The Port of South Whidbey has once again received an extension for a grant funding significant capital and infrastructure projects on the Whidbey Island Fairgrounds.

This week, Island County commissioners voiced support for lengthening the timeline for the port to use up funds from the Rural County Economic Development grant awarded in 2018. The original award was $688,610.

According to a memo from Angi Mozer, the port’s executive director, $656,000 has been spent on associated projects and $236,000 in reimbursements has been received from the county. So far, money from the grant has funded the installation of three-phase power on the property, the improvement of the Pole Building’s interior and the Coffman Building’s exterior and the construction of a new restroom that serves the campgrounds, among other things.

With the extension, the port is hoping to finish a number of other projects, including meeting room renovations in the Coffman Building, water and electric hookup replacements for the campground, the development of a solution for electric radiant heating in the Pole Building and drainage improvements throughout the property.

As Mozer told the commissioners during their Wednesday work session, the port has encountered a few obstacles this year that have hindered progress on the projects. The port’s on-call engineer has experienced delays in providing their services and Mozer suspected that she did give them a large workload. Another issue was the fairground director’s absence due to a five-month medical leave that extended through the summer, the busiest time of year for the fairgrounds.

Since the grant agreement is set to expire Dec. 31, 2024, Mozer asked for a six-month extension to June 30, 2025. Commissioner Jill Johnson did her one better by suggesting it should instead extend to Dec. 31, 2025, giving some wiggle room to wrap up the projects that could potentially experience further delays.

“I trust your project management skills,” Johnson told Mozer. “What I don’t trust is the shovel in the ground.”

The other commissioners agreed with her. The item will appear on the commissioners’ consent agenda for official approval at a future meeting. This will be the grant contract’s fifth amendment.