# East Wenatchee Negotiates Grant County Jail Housing

East Wenatchee is negotiating an agreement to house about 10 inmates per day at Grant County’s new Ephrata correctional facility, potentially starting in 2027 after the city’s current jail-services agreement with Chelan County expires on December 31, 2026. The current agreement costs approximately $1.1 million annually; East Wenatchee estimates the proposed arrangement could cost about $825,000 per year and save roughly $275,000, or 25%. Rates and terms, including tiered rates for medical and care needs, remain under negotiation. No agreement has been finalized, and the article reports no open solicitation.

- The potential 2027 transition creates a near-term budgeting and service-continuity issue for East Wenatchee as its existing agreement approaches expiration.
- Procurement staff should evaluate the proposed rate structure and compare the projected cost and savings with the current jail-services and transportation costs.
- Contractors should not treat this as an active bid opportunity: the arrangement is still being negotiated between local governments, with no solicitation reported.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Public Safety
**Published:** November 05, 2026

### Government Entities
- City of East Wenatchee
- Grant County
- Chelan County
- Grant County Sheriff's Office

### Sources
- [Grant County Could House East Wenatchee Inmates in 2027 | Columbia Basin | yoursourceone.com](https://www.yoursourceone.com/columbia_basin/grant-county-could-house-east-wenatchee-inmates-in-2027/article_d8df0551-8a02-41db-9d3d-13003ef06e86.html) - Source ONE News