Penn Cove Water Festival:
Native American Canoe Races
This unique festival brings thousands of people to Whidbey Island to enjoy Native American canoe races and entertainment, and to learn about Native American culture and the importance of the waters to the regional community. Grants fund race sponsorships, pay for entertainment and children’s activities, provide environmental education opportunities, and cover all marketing and public outreach costs.
OutCast Productions:
State Support for Arts
ArtsWA, the Washington State Arts Commission, has provided a number of grants to support this small theater on Whidbey Island. OutCast Productions has a mission to produce theater with a social conscience. They strive to bring productions that encourage critical thinking about social issues. The goal is to provoke a dialogue about such issues as oppression, human rights, politics, and the psychological and emotional worlds of human beings at large.
Special Olympics of Washington:
Island County ARPA Funds
Special Olympics Washington is the leader in sports, wellness, and community building, empowering children and adults with intellectual disabilities on and off the playing field. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, programs have pivoted to keep communities safe, and help Special Olympics athletes battle the negative impact of isolation and lack of physical activities. Funding from ARPA will support the programs impacted by COVID-19 as they look to rebuild and recover services offered prior to the pandemic.