PORT TOWNSEND — With Councilwoman Michelle Sandoval dissenting, the City Council approved a letter of support for the Jefferson County Economic Development Council that will generate the needed state dollars for a countywide industrial land bank feasibility study.
The action was a break-through for the Economic Development Council, which has been struggling to secure local governments’ funding for an industrial land bank study for the better part of a year.
“I think that is a win-win situation,” Tamer Kirac, outgoing Economic Development Council executive director, said after the council voted 6-1 Tuesday to send a letter of support.
The letter will help secure matching dollars from the state Community Trade and Economic Development Department.
$18,000 funding gap
Kirac said about $18,000 was needed to fill the funding gap.
He said that a Community Trade and Economic Development Department official informed him that the support letter, if received by Thursday, would allow the state agency to fill the gap in funding.
Community Trade and Economic Development has agreed to match local contributions toward the study.
The support comes at a critical time, Kirac said.
He has been working to secure state dollars for the land bank feasibility study for most of his 14 months with the Economic Development Council, which he is leaving Feb. 28.
Jefferson County commissioners last year committed $25,000 for the study, which would enlist Vancouver-based E.D. Hovee & Co. to inventory commercial and industrial land available and include a cost benefit analysis.
In January, Port of Port Townsend commissioners kicked in $4,500 toward the study.
