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Commissioners announce new fund for public facility projects serving economic development

The Board of Chelan County Commissioners approved the Cascade Public Infrastructure Fund (CPIF), a grant program for public facility projects serving economic development. The grant program does not impose a new tax on Chelan County citizens, but instead will be funded by existing revenues from the sales-and-use tax for public facilities in rural counties (Rural Counties Tax), which is a 0.09 percent remittance on the state’s sales tax.

Over the next three years, the CPIF plans to invest nearly $2.5 million into economic development projects in Chelan County. To receive a CPIF grant, the applicant must be a public entity and the public facility project must meet the definitions described in RCW 82.14.370. Furthermore, the project must be listed or referenced in the economic development element of the Chelan County Comprehensive Plan, or the comprehensive plan of a city or town located within the county.

“The CPIF grant program will be a critical resource in local economic development to grow the private sector in order to incentivize and attract new businesses to Chelan County, while at the same retain and expand current businesses,” said Blake Baldwin, director of Economic Development for Chelan County. “The county is eager to make investments that will strengthen our economy and create family wage jobs and opportunities available to county residents.”

The Chelan County Board of Commissioners will assemble the CPIF Advisory Committee to help guide and inform the decision-making process for these public investments. The committee will consist of 11 members and the county will begin extending invitations to desired participants, including representatives from city governments in Chelan County, community councils, the Hispanic Business Council and the Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority. The committee will review, score and rank all applications and submit its recommendations to the Chelan County Board of Commissioners for final decision making.

“We look forward to bringing our local government and community partners together to advise and inform the commission’s CPIF investments in Chelan County,” said Chelan County Commissioner Kevin Overbay. “The county plans to work with our public sector partners to prioritize investments that will increase county revenues, in turn helping to ease the tax burden to county citizens.”

Chelan County will be accepting CPIF grant applications from March 29 to May 7, 2021 and awards will be announced in early June. 

Learn how to apply for this grant.

Last Updated: 08/24/2021 09:05 AM

Chelan County Calendar

Upcoming events and schedules at the county!

  • 22
    May 2024
    06:30 PM - 08:00 PM

    Planning Commission - May 22, 2024

    Posted by: Community Development

    400 Douglas Street
  • 15
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    Assessor's Office Community Meeting: Leavenworth and Lake Wenatchee

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    Chelan County Fire District 3 station
  • 13
    May 2024
    08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

    Final day to withdraw from the ballot

    Posted by: Chelan County Elections

    Final day to withdraw from the ballot

  • 10
    May 2024
    05:00 PM - 05:30 PM

    Lot Drawing for Candidates

    Posted by: Chelan County Elections

    Lot drawing for candidates placement on the ballot.

    Chelan County Elections Office
  • 08
    May 2024
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    Chelan County Civil Service Commission

    Posted by: Human Resources

    The Chelan County Civil Service Commission will be meeting on May 8, 2024.

    Chelan County Commissioners Office, ES Conference Room.