Coos County approves application to seek CDBG funds for Greenacres fire district's new station

Coos County commissioners voted July 1 to approve applying for a 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) on behalf of the Greenacres Rural Fire Protection District to construct a larger fire hall.

County staff told the board that Portland State University conducted a low‑to‑moderate income survey showing 55.3% of the fire district’s population meets the CDBG threshold of 51% required for eligibility. The county will serve as the applicant because the district lies in unincorporated Coos County.

Corey Bryant, chief of the Greenacres Rural Fire Protection District, described plans for a new facility with seven to nine equipment bays — two with pull‑through capability — and support spaces including an exhaust control system, lockers, sleeping quarters, a gym, health facilities, administrative offices and a conference room designed to hold about 100 people. “The conference meeting room goal is to be able to have at least a 100 people in there,” Bryant said, adding the district has already completed wildlife surveys and runoff studies and submitted layout plans to the county.

Bryant told the board that CCD Business Development Corporation will prepare the application and serve as liaison with the county, and that Civil West will provide engineering and procurement support. He said grant administration is typically a line item in the grant and estimated that engineering and related consulting could total roughly $80,000, while CCD would likely perform grant administration duties.

The public‑notice reading in the record stated the maximum CDBG award for a single nonmetropolitan city or county is $1.5 million and estimated the project would benefit about 800 people.

Commissioner motioned and the board approved the application; the record shows the vote as in favor and the motion passed.

If funded, Bryant said building could begin as soon as grant proceeds are available because the district has already completed required preconstruction studies and property acquisition steps.