Economic Development
On a recent radio appearance, host Cheryl Harle asked a few questions from listeners. One of the questioners noted the contributions we make to local groups from our Community and Economic Development Fund, pointed out that many of those go to local non-profits, and asked, “When are we going to get some real economic development?” My answer: The County has been doing a lot to boost economic development.
The Community and Economic Development fund is made up of the 2.5 percent share we receive of local video lottery receipts. In addition to the grant program, we also support the Economic Development Alliance of Lincoln County and the Small Business Development Center at Oregon Coast Community College from this fund.
The economic base of Lincoln County is small business. Guy Faust, director of the Small Business Development Center, once observed that if we brought in a new business with 30 jobs it would be on the front pages of the local newspapers. Yet the Small Business Development Center is helping create at least that many jobs every year—in what are often one or two-person operations, at least in the beginning.
In addition to the lottery funds, the Economic Development Alliance is supported by a share of local transient room tax proceeds. The Alliance works to build a positive business climate and support business development in the county. I chair the Regional Investment Board (RIB) for Lincoln, Linn, Benton and Lane counties, which distributes state economic development money in our region. Twice I have been able to help steer some of that money to the Alliance, which has used it to support several business expansion projects and new start-ups.
I was also able to use my position on the RIB to help bring $48,000 in funding for the effort to bring commuter air service to the Newport Airport. Although the city is in the lead on this project, the county has been a partner at the table, and with good reason. Norm Winningstad, a principal founder of three Oregon companies who now lives in Newport, says regularly-scheduled air service is the single greatest boost our local economy could receive.
We have funded a small business revolving loan fund, which is administered through the Cascades West Council of Governments. That fund has provided financing for a number of business start-ups and expansions. When those loans are repaid, all money goes right back into the fund, and the cycle repeats itself. This financing usually supplements conventional bank loans. In the 2007-08 fiscal year along, 17 loans totaling more than $2 million were made in Lincoln County. Those funds helped to create or retain 107 local jobs.
The county has also been a major voice in improving the roads to our county and within our county. Commissioner Don Lindly took on Highway 20 as a personal crusade more than 15 years ago, and his efforts have borne fruit. The $200 million Highway 20 project would not be a reality without the county’s participation. Not only will a straighter, safer road help to attract new businesses to the coast, it will significantly reduce operating costs for Georgia-Paicifc, our largest private employer. This could be critical to keeping that mill operating. The project itself is a significant job generator. The Oregon Department of Transportation reports that 240 people were working on the project this summer, and 90 percent of those workers were from the local area.
During my first year as commissioner, ODOT asked the county for a local match of cash or in-kind services in order for the project to move forward. We agreed to accept the Otter Crest Loop and the portions of the existing Highway 20 that will be bypassed by the new construction. Although this is a significant long-term commitment, we thought it was vital to see this road straightened for both our economic health and our safety.
The county was instrumental in the development of CoastNet fiber optic network. In this day and age, the Internet is a vital tool for business, as well as for education and entertainment. The creation of CoastNet insured that all of Lincoln County has uninterrupted access to the Internet.
Our board has been an advocate for development of wave energy, a clean renewable power source that is creating local research, development, and possibly manufacturing jobs as well. Like many of the economic development projects we’re involved in, the payoffs are not immediate, but the long-term potential is huge.
One of my newest projects is a Disaster Resilience Committee to help local businesses better prepare for the economic impacts of a natural disaster or other emergency. We have been able to access grant funds through the Cascades West COG to undetake this project. Recent research has shown that even a short-term situation can have significant negative consequences for a business. We've seen this situation more than once locally; recall the closure of Highway 101 between Yachats and Florence for six weeks a few years ago. More recently, Lincoln City suffered two three-day power outages. I'm hopeful we'll be able to help small businesses develop the tools that need to better weather these economic (and real life) storms.
And that Community and Economic Development Grant Fund? Not all of it goes to non-profits. Recently, we had a presentation from Dr. George Bohlert, director of the Hatfield Marine Science Center, on a report that was primarily paid for through that fund. The tile of that document, “Establishing Newport, Oregon as a Hub for Ocean Observing Activities in the Pacific Northwest,” may not be very exciting. But this report may be a vital tool in attracting dozens of jobs and millions of dollars to Lincoln County.
Ocean observing encompasses ship-based ocean research, radar mapping of sea surface conditions and a variety of other activities. These systems will help to improve weather forecasts, monitor climate change, promote maritime safety, and enable sustained use of ocean and coastal resources. Why is it important to establish Lincoln County as a base for these activities? This will create stable, high wage jobs and bring a major infrastructure investment. In fact, it’s estimated that $350 million will be put into this sector off the Pacific Northwest in coming years. If we can attract a significant share of this investment to Lincoln County, it will be a vital boost to our economy and our quality of life.—Post updated 10/23/08
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