Washington County Minibus is receiving a six-figure grant to improve their bus storage and administrative facilities.

The Iowa Transportation Commission approved Tuesday $1.5 million to support six public transit projects. Washington County Minibus is receiving $472,456 to build a new facility, which they had previously applied for two years ago. The organization applied for a Public Transit Infrastructure Grant through the East Central Iowa Council of Governments. The grant required an agreement between the City of Washington and ECICOG, so the city council approved an agreement during a special meeting Tuesday that will put the lease for the building between the city and ECICOG for 30 years. After 2051 the deed will transfer from ECICOG back to the minibus. Council Member Danielle Pettit-Majewski says a new facility has been a topic of the Minibus’ board of directors for as long as she has served on the board. This grant program is made available annually by the Iowa General Assembly, and a transit system can apply to have up to 80% of their project funded through the program.