Port District 1 to pursue business park

Commissioners of Port District 1 last Thursday agreed to support financially efforts to create a small business park in the Cathlamet area.

David Goodroe, executive director of the Lower Columbia Economic Development Council, said the there appears to be state or federal grant funding to construct the park, but there is no funding for land acquisition.

He asked if port commissioners would be willing to contract for purchase, in effect, going into debt, land needed for the site.

After discussion, Commissioners Larry Bonds, Leroy Burns and Brett Deaton said they would be willing to consider the action.

"It's critical to our function," Goodroe said. "We'll try for state economic development funding, but we haven't received our fair share in the past."

He added that of the $6.2 million allocated in recent years in Legislative District 19, Wahkiakum County received $10,000.

As now conceived, the business park would be on a 5-6 acre parcel now owned by Hancock Forest Management. It would have building space for small manufacturing firms. Firms would use the facilities as they developed; once established they would find their own building and leave the business park space for another new business.

"We have surveyed local business, and according to the results, people want space," Goodroe said.

"People have told us that if it were there, they'd come here. Some local businesses have said they would consider relocating."

The port commissioners, who earlier this year agreed to act as lead agency in the project, said they would continue to support it.

""I'm okay for the land," Bonds said. "We don't want to be in the situation where we're stopping development."

In other business last Thursday, a group of voters requested and received initial support for their efforts to form a local yacht club.

Spokesman Chuck Norton said about 15 different parties have expressed interest in forming the club.

The group asked the port commission to approve a reciprocity agreement in which the marina would reserve a space for visiting yachters to stay free of charge. The local club, to be called the Cathlamet Yacht Club, would pay an annual fee, which they suggested be set at $500.

Port commissioners approved the request and asked the group to meet with Manager Jackie Lea and Port Attorney Tim Hanigan to draft a contract.

"This could be good for the port," Bonds commented.

"I'd like to see a log book kept for the first year to see how it goes," Deaton added.