Title
RESOLUTION NO. 2256: CREATION OF NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COVERING COWLITZ AND WAHKIAKUM COUNTIES
COUNCIL STRATEGIC INITIATIVE ADDRESSED:
Strengthen economic conditions and create new opportunities
CITY ATTORNEY REVIEW: REQUIRED
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
Staff for the CWCOG have been working on the creation of a new two-county
(Cowlitz and Wahkiakum) economic development district to replace the existing
three-county district (which also includes Lewis).
Among other things, an economic development district allows the region to
receive planning grants to develop, maintain, and implement a comprehensive
economic development statement (CEDS), and the region’s participants to
apply for and compete for funding from the U.S. Economic Development
Administration for public works grants and economic adjustment programs.
The public works grants enable communities to update or revitalize their
infrastructure to attract new industry or encourage business expansion. The
city received such a grant about ten years ago to help pay for the extension of S
Weber Avenue in the Mint Farm Industrial Park, and staff are currently
considering applying for such grant to help pay for the extension of Beech
Street east of Oregon Way if an LID is created for that purpose.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Motion to approve resolution no. 2256 the creation of a new two-county
economic development district to replace the existing three-county district.