FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 30, 2024
Commissioners look to adopt strategic guidelines for economic development infrastructure grants
The Board of Island County Commissioners is taking steps next week to make Rural County Economic Development Infrastructure Program (RCED) investments more strategic while incentivizing local jurisdictions to partner with businesses.
During their regular meeting starting at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6 in Room B102 in the Courthouse Annex, 1 NE 6th St., Coupeville, the Commissioners will consider approving updates to the RCED program that would create incentives for jurisdictions to work with businesses and allow for grants that support housing infrastructure.
The goal of the RCED program, created in 2002, is to improve the economy of Island County. The program offers grants to local governments with qualifying proposals to finance the cost of public facilities that will assist businesses in creating and retaining jobs.
Only local government agencies within Island County are eligible to submit grant applications, but changes to the program encourage local jurisdictions to partner with existing and new businesses
“The proposed RCED program policy changes will create opportunities for local businesses to approach partner jurisdictions about working together on key economic development projects,” said Island County Administrator Michael Jones.
“The businesses can be ones that currently operate in Island County or are relocating to Whidbey or Camano islands,” Jones said.
In cooperation with the Council of Governments, the Board of Commissioners and Jones developed the strategic guidelines.
The proposed RCED program revisions dovetail with objectives outlined in a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) approved July 2 by the board of commissioners. The CEDS is a requirement to be eligible to compete for Economic Development Administration (EDA) grants and other federal and state funding.
Objectives of the RCED program include:
• Assisting in financing public facilities that will stimulate private capital investments which benefit the community and public at large and will increase the number of ongoing, family wage jobs available to county residents;
• Retaining businesses and/or facilitate the expansion of existing businesses within Island County;
• Attracting new businesses to Island County that create family wage jobs; and,
• Supporting a stable and diversified local economy.
Under state guidelines, public facilities include such things as bridges, roads, domestic and industrial water facilities, sanitary sewer facilities, earth stabilization, storm sewer facilities, research, testing, training, buildings, structures, telecommunications infrastructure, transportation infrastructure, or commercial infrastructure.
For more information, contact County Administrator Michael Jones at 360-679-7311 or email to michael.jones@islandcountywa.gov