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Commissioners consider creating an associate development organization to direct 0.09 economic development funds for unincorporated areas
Summary
Administrator Brian Danzl briefed the board on an option to pool and direct county 0.09 economic development funds through an associate development organization modeled on other counties; commissioners asked for more time to evaluate and directed staff to bring the topic back for action.
Franklin County commissioners heard a preliminary proposal May 28 to create an associate development organization (ADO) to allocate county 0.09 economic development funds with an explicit seat for unincorporated communities such as Mesa and Basin City.
Why it matters: creating an ADO would change how the county allocates economic development dollars by creating a formal decision-making body intended to include smaller, unincorporated communities and provide a more transparent, regional process for distributing funds.
Presentation. County Administrator Brian Danzl described the ADO concept as "a derivative of something that's done in Chelan County" and said the approach would give Mesa, Basin City and other unincorporated areas "a seat at the table." He told commissioners the model had worked in other counties and could allow the county to better direct 0.09 funds toward public infrastructure and projects in communities that historically struggle to access such dollars.
Board discussion. Commissioners welcomed the idea but asked for additional detail. One commissioner noted the Basin City Freedom Rodeo is a community event that has relied on local support and could be among eligible beneficiaries; staff said they would return with more specifics. The board did not act at the May 28 meeting but asked staff to schedule the item for future consideration and to provide a fuller presentation and potential governance structure.
Next steps. County staff will prepare a fuller presentation detailing eligibility, governance, allocation rules and examples from other counties and return to the board for possible action on how Franklin County will direct its 0.09 funds in the near term.
