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Colpac briefs Astoria on loans, brownfields cleanup and CPACE financing for local projects
Summary
Representatives from the Columbia Pacific Economic Development District (Colpac) presented programs for CDBG administration, a small‑business revolving loan fund, newly secured brownfields funds and the CPACE financing program that can help local property owners fund energy and seismic upgrades.
Columbia Pacific Economic Development District (Colpac) staff presented to the Astoria City Council on Jan. 5, outlining regional economic development services and funding tools available to Astoria businesses and project sponsors.
Sarah Lou Heath, Colpac executive director, said the district — designated by the federal Economic Development Administration — covers Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook counties and western Washington. "We work closely with all of our county EDCs…to facilitate partnerships and tailored on‑the‑ground services," Heath said. Jackie Puett, Colpac program coordinator, described grant administration services for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and the organization’s economic development revolving loan fund that can provide gap financing for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Puett highlighted two recent CDBG efforts: the Saint Helens sewer capacity project (packet figure cited at $1,500,000) and a current disaster‑recovery CDBG project. Heath described regional brownfields work funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: earlier rounds awarded $500,000 each for Clatsop and Tillamook counties and Colpac has secured an additional $1,200,000 for further assessment and characterization work and potential cleanup planning.
The presentation introduced the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (CPACE) program recently adopted by Clatsop County. "It's a highly flexible financing tool that allows property owners to finance up to 100% of project costs for projects that focus around energy efficiency and also seismic resiliency," Puett said. Staff offered to follow up with property owners who want program details.
Heath also described regional transit coordination through the Northwest Oregon Transit Alliance and noted an upcoming ODOT resurfacing project that will affect Astoria's bridge (staff indicated outreach and construction mitigation planning will be coordinated with ODOT). Colpac emphasized its role stewarding a regional comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) and noted they may move the next major update earlier than the typical five‑year cycle given recent changes in conditions.
Colpac asked to follow up with staff on CPACE program details and said the board is discussing dues adjustments (dues date from 1994 and currently cover a small share of staffing) to maintain required EDA match funding. Councilors thanked Colpac for the briefing and asked staff to share program details and next steps.
Heath and Puett offered to provide follow‑up information to City Manager Spence and other staff members.
Staff contact: Colpac executive director Sarah Lou Heath and program coordinator Jackie Puett.
