Information

Type: Deliberation

Department: BOCC - Board of County Commissioners

Directors' Update: May 22, 2024

Business Meeting: May 28, 2024

Summary:

Approve $350,000 grant to Economic Alliance for personnel

Publications:

Cover Letter To: Todd Chaput, Economic Alliance: todd@lewiscountyalliance.org Richard DeBolt: richard@lewiscountyalliance.org

Additional Copies To:

Resolution

WHEREAS, the Lewis County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) wishes to approve funding in the amount of $175,000 annually for two years -- for a grand total of $350,000 -- to finance personnel in the economic development office of Lewis County Economic Alliance, an associate development organization (ADO) engaged in economic development in Lewis County as the term is defined in RCWs 82.14.370(3)(a) and 82.14.370(3)(c)(iii); and

WHEREAS, Economic Alliance's development effort is known as "operations and implementations of economic development"; and

WHEREAS, the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is a list of projects maintained by the Lewis County Economic Alliance as per RCW 82.14.370; and

WHEREAS, via prior resolutions and this resolution, the BOCC adopts the CEDS as Lewis County's officially adopted county overall economic development plan for the purposes of RCW 82.14.370; and

WHEREAS, Economic Alliance’s application for funding of “operations and implementations of economic development" has been recommended for approval and listing in the CEDS by the Distressed Counties/Rural Economic Development Public Facilities Advisory Committee, the committee created to recommend projects for listing in the CEDS; and

WHEREAS, the Distressed Counties/Rural Economic Development Public Facilities Advisory Committee recommends approving a grant in the amount of $175,000 per year for two years for funding totaling $350,000; and

WHEREAS, Economic Alliance’s application is supported by the attached Grant Agreement prepared by Economic Alliance pursuant to the CEDS, and the agreement is incorporated herein by reference; and

WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the citizens of Lewis County that the funds requested by Economic Alliance be authorized in order to finance personnel in the economic development office of Lewis County Economic Alliance, to support operations and implementations of economic development, which bolsters economic development in Lewis County.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the BOCC (1) approves the “operations and implementations of economic development” project as a public facility for purposes of RCW 82.14.370 and amends the CEDS list to include that project in the county’s overall economic development plan; and (2) authorizes Lewis County to enter into the attached Grant Agreement with Economic Alliance to finance personnel in its economic development office to support operations and implementations of economic development with funding totaling $350,000 -- $175,000 per year over two years -- using monies from the “Distressed Counties Fund,” all in accordance with RCW 82.14.370 and applicable law; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the grant will begin in Q2 2024 and extend through Q1 2026.

DONE IN OPEN SESSION this 28th day of May, 2024.