State invests more than $1 million to boost jobs, economic growth

For Immediate Release: May 21, 2008

Projects will strengthen local economies in Skagit and Lewis Counties

OLYMPIA �Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced an investment of more than $1 million to create new jobs and boost business growth in two Western Washington counties.

�This financing will support vital projects in local communities,� Gregoire said. �By making these infrastructure investments, we will create family-wage jobs and help strengthen the local economy in Skagit and Lewis counties.�

The Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB), a part of the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED), approved support for the following projects:

• Lewis County � $1 million in loan and grant funds to the Port of Chehalis to create a Programmatic Wetlands Mitigation Site that will allow the Port to develop almost 125 acres of industrial property, while taking action up front to offset damage to wetlands. Programmatic Wetlands Mitigation is a new program that provides advanced mitigation to a site that is pre-approved by the Department of Ecology (DOE). It focuses economic resources where they provide the most benefit for enhancement, restoration or creation. At the same time, it integrates a thoughtful environmental process with local job creation, economic development and long-term tax benefits for local governments.


The public project involves excavation, grading, fill and planting at the mitigation site. The wetlands improvements will be monitored for at least 10 years, per DOE guidelines, and will be maintained as wetlands in perpetuity. The 125-acre site will allow industrial development at a ratio of approximately six jobs per acre, and will create up to 750 additional industrial jobs for Lewis County. CERB funds are matched by $550,000 in local funds. The Port of Chehalis project is a model for improving wetlands to help absorb the effects of flooding and provide important habitat for waterfowl, while also developing acreage to support future business developments and new jobs.


• Skagit County � $45,000 in grant funds to the Port of Skagit for a feasibility study evaluating the economic potential of a regional value-added food processing center. The Port, in partnership with the Northwest Agriculture Business Center, will conduct the study to assess the basic elements of market competitiveness, technical needs, financial viability and other organizational elements of the processing center. CERB funds are matched with $45,000 in local funds.


�Our role is to be responsive to local needs by making timely and smart investment decisions,� said CTED Director Juli Wilkerson. �CERB has a proven track record for being a good steward of public money and an advocate for local communities.�

�CERB is designed to respond to emergent business development needs for public infrastructure and provide long-range feasibility planning to help communities plan for future business development,� said Tom Trulove, CERB chairman.

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.

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