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County economic update: Project Spice, tissue mill prospects and Next renewable fuels remain under review
Summary
Paul, the Columbia Economic Team recruitment lead, told the committee Project Spice remains a county finalist and "would be about 250 jobs here in Scappoose," while Next Renewable Fuels has cleared state permitting steps and awaits a U.S. Army Corps draft EIS.
Paul, the Columbia Economic Team recruitment lead, provided a roundup of industrial prospects being tracked for the county and Scappoose area.
Paul said Project Spice, described as an advanced aviation manufacturing prospect for the Columbia Commerce Center, "would be about 250 jobs here in Scappoose" and remains a county finalist as state negotiations continue on energy supply, cost and property. He said the company has signaled interest in a longer enterprise‑zone abatement ("5 to 15 years" was discussed) and that the county has not previously negotiated a long‑term abatement; Paul said long‑term abatements are negotiated and not typically 100% tax relief.
Paul also noted work around a Cascades Tissue site and other early‑stage industrial prospects, and said site marketing and price changes (the Scappoose property price reduction to $32,000,000 was mentioned) are ongoing.
Nancy Ward, speaking for Port/OMIC interests, and other CT representatives updated the committee on Next Renewable Fuels' proposed renewable diesel/refinery project at Port Westward in Clatskanie. Nancy said the project had received land‑use approvals from DEQ and the 401 clean water permit and that the remaining major federal step is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Environmental Impact Statement; she said a draft EIS "is expected in late spring" and public hearings will follow.
A Columbia Economic Team speaker cited impact estimates the project has used in public materials: about a $2,500,000,000 capital investment, roughly 3,000 construction jobs and about 280 permanent operations jobs. Committee members and presenters emphasized the permitting timeline has been long, and CT staff urged coordinated county‑level support for attracting and retaining projects.
During Q&A a committee member asked whether Project Spice’s request for a 10‑year abatement had been resolved; CT staff replied those tax terms were still under negotiation and would involve discussions with taxing districts including fire districts and schools.
No formal county decisions or approvals were made at the meeting on any of these projects; presenters described them as in‑process, contingent on negotiations and external permits.
