Information

Type: Deliberation

Department: BOCC - Board of County Commissioners

Directors' Update: May 31, 2023

Business Meeting: June 6, 2023

Summary:

Approve $1,600,093.85 grant to the City of Centralia for its "Alder Street Improvements" project

Publications:

Cover Letter To: Todd Chaput, Economic Alliance: todd@lewiscountyalliance.org Centralia Public Works Director Kim Ashmore: kashmore@cityofcentralia.com

Additional Copies To:

Resolution

WHEREAS, the Lewis County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) wishes to approve funding in the amount of $1,600,093.85 for the City of Centralia's “Alder Street Improvements” project, a project that serves future demand and meets the definition of a “public facility” under RCW 82.14.370; 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, the City of Centralia’s application for funding of the “Alder Street Improvements” project 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 $1,600,093.85, with $800,000 to be funded in 2023 and the remaining amount to be funded in 2024, contingent on funding availability; and

WHEREAS, the City of Centralia’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 the City of Centralia be authorized in order to allow completion of the “Alder Street Improvements” project, a project that supports economic development in Lewis County.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the BOCC (1) approves the “Alder Street Improvements” 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 the City of Centralia for the “Alder Street Improvements” project in the amount of $1,600,093.85 -- with up to $800,000 to be funded in 2023 and the remaining amount to be funded in 2024 -- using monies from the “Distressed Counties Fund,” all in accordance with RCW 82.14.370 and applicable law.

DONE IN OPEN SESSION this 6th day of June, 2023.