Walter M. Steed & Associates

Capability to Perform

Introduction

Walter M. Steed & Associates (WMS&A) provides planning, development, grant writing, project administration and construction administration services to cities, counties, housing authorities, medical facilities, and developers throughout the Pacific Northwest.

With the highly competitive nature of funding programs, it can be necessary to secure funding from multiple sources. A typical project might involve:

Additionally, it is often necessary to coordinate issues such as land acquisition, environmental compliance and accessibility standards, to work with a client to raise matching funds, and to work with engineers, architects, attorneys, and contractors.

For the past 24 years WMS&A has focused its efforts on assisting clients in procuring funds and assisting these clients through the maze of issues associated with the construction of significant infrastructure and building projects.

Offices

Phone: (208) 883-0123
Fax: (208) 882-7184

WMS&A maintains offices in order to best serve our Idaho, Washington, and Oregon clients:

Principal office:

• 1345 Ridgeview Drive, Moscow, Idaho 83843

Branch office:

• Grangeville, Idaho

Why choose WMS&A for your project?

Commitment     Availability     Response     Effort

• We are as committed to the success of your project as you are.
• We have the availability you will want, not only during the planning phase, but during construction. We will be there when you call.
• We respond to your funding agency, architect, and contractor’s needs to keep your project moving forward, freeing you up for your day-to-day business.
• We will make whatever effort is necessary to plan your project with you, and to work with all agencies involved to give you the best opportunity to have your project succeed.

Experience

Overview

WMS&A has provided grant and project administration for construction projects funded through public agencies for communities, counties, medical facilities, public housing authorities and developers. Project responsibilities have included planning, budgeting, coordination, application writing, construction administration, and inspection of over 80 projects totaling in excess of $125 million. Projects have consisted of water and sewer systems, streets, downtown revitalization, housing, public use buildings, and assisted living centers. In addition, we have assisted private developers with planning, approvals, coordination, re-zoning and construction management of subdivision and housing projects.

Community Development Block Grant Experience

Since 1989 our firm has been certified annually by Idaho Commerce & Labor as a grant administrator for Community Development Block Grant projects. Even more importantly, during that same time WMS&A had an over 95% success rate in competing for and securing Block Grant funds.

Our experience with block grant funds is extensive. As an independent consulting firm, we have provided grant writing and/or project administration for over sixty Block Grant projects consisting of sewer, street, water, community buildings, medical facilities, and housing projects.

In addition to writing the initial grant application, WMS&A works with each client to develop a full funding package, prepare the required addendum, present, with the client, the project to Idaho Commerce & Labor in Boise, and prepare all required paperwork during construction.

Total Project Funding Package Experience

While Community Development Block Grant funds are usually considered the final piece to fund a project, there is the need to put together a total project funding package. Recently, the average project funded by Idaho Commerce & Labor has had no more than 40% Block Grant funds, leaving the client and their grant administrator to find the other 60%. We work with clients to develop a total funding package, which often includes Block grant funds and USDA-Rural Development grants and/or loans. Sometimes other sources are available, including Department of Environmental Quality and Department of Water Resource funds.

Project Administration Experience

The ultimate goal of our clients is to build a project. Not only does WMS&A work with each client to put together a funding package and to secure those funds, but to be an active member of the construction project. While other grant writers taper off their role during construction, it is our philosophy that a successful construction project requires diligent administration to make sure that the requirements of each agency are being met, such as:

• Signage and posting requirements
• Davis-Bacon wage determination
• Labor monitoring (employee interviews, EEO requirements, wage rates, etc.)
• Payroll review
• Job creation documentation
• Requests for funds
• Project closeout

Although it is certainly possible for our clients to coordinate each funding agency's requirements, WMS&A takes it upon itself to ensure that each activity commences as it should to make sure that funds keep flowing to the cities, engineers, architects, and contractors. By doing so, you and your staff are free to pursue day-to-day business.

Prior to our Block Grant work, during the 1980’s we administered the funding and construction of thirty-one HUD low income new housing projects totaling over 500 units and $30 million in value; many of which contained subdivision type cluster housing consisting of sewer, water and street work. For all of these projects we wrote grant applications, provided design and specification writing input, handled bidding and contractor selection as well as construction administration and inspection services through completion and acceptance.

Like Community Development Block Grant projects, all of these required administration of Davis-Bacon wages for contractors and subcontractors. By selecting WSM&A, you would be assured that you are represented by a firm that understands not only document preparation, but construction, and what is required to bring your project to successful completion.