State board approves $5.2 million for development projects in six counties
Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) invests $5,216,500 in low-interest loans and grants to support community, economic and rural broadband development in Adams, Benton, Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis and Thurston counties.
OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) today approved $3,456,279 in loans and $1,760,221 in grants for economic development, public infrastructure development and economic feasibility studies targeting business growth, job creation and rural broadband development.
- Adams County – $50,000 grant to the city of Othello for a study to examine the development of a market district/food makers’ incubator in downtown Othello. CERB funds are matched by $16,667 in local resources.
- Benton County – $50,000 grant to the Port of Benton for a storm water master planning study to determine how the Horn Rapids Industrial Area can be developed to handle the large amount of surface water from planned industrial uses. CERB funds are matched by $50,000 in local resources.
- Clark County
- $733,029 loan and $286,971 grant to the Port of Ridgefield for the Wisdom Ridge Business Park Phase I project. This project consists of design and construction of a 20,000-square-foot flex building and site development for two future building sites. CERB funds are matched by $2,457,608 in local resources.
- $473,250 loan and $473,250 grant to the Port of Ridgefield for the Discovery Corridor Phase I project. This project consists of the construction of approximately 25.5 miles of aerial and buried fiber to serve the city of Ridgefield. CERB funds are matched by $315,500 in local resources.
- Cowlitz County
- $50,000 grant to the Port of Woodland for the Martin Bar Industrial Conceptual Site Study. This study will assess two industrial lots, Martin Bar North and South, for potential industrial and marine terminal development. CERB funds are matched by $349,000 in local resources.
- $2.25 million loan and $750,000 grant to the Port of Woodland for the Centennial and Rose Way Infrastructure and Building project. This project consists of construction of roadways, utilities (sewer, water, power and fiber) and a port building at the Centennial and Rose Way Industrial Parks. The port’s committed private partner, Columbia Precast Products, is investing $1.5 million in the project. CERB funds are matched by $5,787,551 in federal and local resources.
- Lewis County – $50,000 grant to the Lewis County Public Utility District #1 for its broadband planning study to assess current infrastructure and business practices, and to determine timeline, priority list and project scope for further broadband development. CERB funds are matched by $16,667 in local resources.
- Thurston County – $50,000 grant to the Nisqually Indian Tribe for the Nisqually Broadband Regional Feasibility Project – Proposal 2. This study will review the potential viability of a fiber-optic Open Access Network (OPN) in the towns of Rainier and Tenino and surrounding areas. CERB funds are matched by $16,667 in local resources.
“Getting communities the economic development infrastructure they need to be competitive is a top priority for CERB. These projects will help businesses expand and create new jobs, and provide greater opportunities for the citizens of Washington state,” said CERB Chair Randy Hayden.
“CERB funding has played an important role in strengthening communities and Washington’s regional economies for more than 35 years,” said Dr. Lisa Brown, director of the Washington State Department of Commerce. “These low-interest infrastructure loans and grants approved today support a diverse group of local plans and public-private partnerships for growth.”
The release of CERB funds to these projects is contingent upon each applicant completing specific pre-contract requirements, such as finalizing other funding sources and obtaining necessary permits.
Since 1982, CERB has committed nearly $176 million to local jurisdictions across the state, an investment generating more than 36,000 jobs, and private capital investment of a $5.7 billion ($36 to $1) return on CERB investment.
As Washington’s strategic economic development resource, CERB is focused on creating private sector jobs in partnership with local governments by financing infrastructure improvements. These improvements encourage new business development and expansion. In addition to funding construction projects, CERB provides limited funding for studies that evaluate high-priority economic development projects.
Learn more about CERB at www.commerce.wa.gov/cerb.
CERB Contact:
Janea Delk, CERB Executive Director and Tribal Liaison, (360) 725-3151
Local Contacts:
City of Othello: Shawn Logan, Mayor/City Administrator, (509) 488-5686, slogan@othellowa.gov
Port of Benton: Diahann Howard, Interim Executive Director, (509) 375-3060, dhoward@portofbenton.com
Port of Ridgefield: Ethan Perry, Brand Affinity Architect, (360) 903-8674, eperry@portridgefield.org
Port of Woodland: Jennifer Wray-Keene, Executive Director, (360) 225-6555, jkeene@portofwoodland.com
Lewis County Public Utility District #1: Chris Roden, Manager, (360) 750-2435, chrisr@lcpud.org
Nisqually Indian Tribe: Joe Cushman, Planning and Economic Development Director, (360) 480-0536, Cushman.Joe@nisqually-nsn.gov