Camas planning commission recommends city back private mill’s GOEO grant application

The Camas Planning Commission on Monday voted to recommend that the city sign a resolution supporting a state GOEO grant application intended to help rebuild a local mill by partnering a private company with the city as grant administrator. Staff said the grant would be awarded to a local government entity and administered by the city, while the private firm would provide the required matching funds.

Commission staffer Rex explained the structure: the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO) makes awards to local governments that partner with private companies; the city would receive and administer the grant funding and the private company would provide the 20% match. "Blazer will pay the 20% matching funds for the grant application," Rex said. He added the city would sign a grant agreement and, if approved, work with GOEO and the company to define administrative responsibilities.

The commission discussed concerns raised previously at city council about whether the arrangement would show favoritism. Rex and commissioners noted those opportunities are available to other businesses in the future and that this is the first time the city has pursued that kind of application in response to a private-sector request. Commissioners also asked about the city’s administrative burden; Rex said the exact administrative tasks and any administrative award to the city would be defined in negotiations with GOEO only after the application is approved.

After discussion, a commissioner moved that the commission sign the paperwork to give a positive recommendation for the grant resolution; another commissioner seconded. The commission then took a roll-call vote and recorded at least one abstention and multiple yes votes; the motion passed.

The recommendation will be forwarded with the draft resolution as part of the GOEO application package. Staff said if the grant is awarded, city staff and GOEO will meet to outline administration and reporting requirements and any timelines or clawback provisions for unspent funds.

Because the city is only the grant recipient and administrator under the GOEO program, staff emphasized that Blazer would be responsible for the capital work and for meeting the project timelines that GOEO attaches to the award.

Commissioners did not take further actions beyond the recommendation. The item will proceed with the city’s grant application materials to GOEO.