Community Weighs Economic Development Priorities

DAYTON – Community leaders gathered at a luncheon on Dec. 16 at the Columbia County Fire District #3 station for Columbia County’s annual Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to amend and prioritize projects on a five-year economic development project list.

Before the priority discussion began, John Begley CEO of Columbia Pulp, Inc., spoke about the latest plans for that firm’s development of a straw pulp plant near Lyons Ferry (see article on Page 1). Marcene Hendrickson of the Dayton Development Task Force also spoke about that group’s projects. And some leading economic indicators for Columbia County were presented by Brad McMasters, Economic Development Coordinator for the Port of Columbia.

At the meeting, the group updated its list of economic development goals in categories including education and training, infrastructure, business development, tourism, housing, community development, and planning and capacity building. They voted for their top three choices, which are:

Support and make improvements to the Dayton School District

Create a bike path to Waitsburg/bike bridge over the river/more walking trails

Support the hospital

According to Brad McMasters, the document they created at the meeting will be submitted to The Southeast Washington Economic Development Association. SEWEDA then submits the document to the U.S. Economic Development Association, which takes its priorities into account when offering funds and grants.

McMasters also presented some leading economic indicators for Columbia County at the luncheon.

“We’re no longer a distressed county,” he said. “Distressed areas are counties where the three-year unemployment rate is at least 20% higher than the statewide average”.

According to fact sheets provided by McMasters, the Columbia County unemployment rate was 5.6% in October, and the statewide average was 6.5%, for the same period.

Median home resale value was $171,000 for quarter three, up from $140,000 one year ago, according to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research.

McMasters pointed out that Portland General Electric Company is the number one taxpayer in Columbia County, followed by PacifiCorp and Puget Sound Energy. All of these firms own and operate wind farms in the county.

Marcene Hendrickson spoke to the group about the Dayton Development Task Force and some of the projects that have been accomplished since its inception 31 years ago. Some of those projects included renovation of the Liberty Theater and rebuilding Main Street, she said.

Hendrickson talked about the Washington State Main Street Tax Credit Incentive Program, which provides a B&O or public utility tax credit for private contributions from businesses who donate to eligible downtown organizations, such as the DDTF.

Hendrickson said that some current projects that benefit from donations, grants, and tax credits include the restroom at Caboose Park, building façade renovations, flowers on Main Street and funds for marketing for the Chamber of Commerce.

The CEDS annual luncheon meeting was catered by LC on the Green. It was sponsored by The Port of Columbia and was attended by leaders from throughout the community.