Council backs Opportunity Zone applications and asks for clearer outreach to businesses

Oak Harbor — The City Council voted unanimously to approve Resolution 26-09 supporting the city's applications to designate two local census tracts as Opportunity Zones through the Washington State Department of Commerce. Staff said the deadline for the state application was approaching and that the grants team and the Economic Development Council were assembling narratives and letters of support.

Grants administrator Wendy Horner said the designation could create private investment opportunities through federal tax benefits and that staff had prepared a draft application informed by an April workshop with the Economic Development Council. "The draft resolution before you would serve as part of the application package to the Department of Commerce," Horner said.

Councilmembers asked how the city would promote the designation to local businesses, noting that a prior opportunity zone designation for the community had little visible uptake. Councilmember Stuckey pressed for more than a web link, asking for tangible, granular materials oriented to commercial real-estate and small-business needs. Staff said they would work with the communications officer to prepare outreach materials and suggested a simple handout and targeted outreach to commercial brokers and property owners, with a caution that the city cannot provide legal or tax advice.

Councilmember Marshall moved to approve Resolution 26-09; Mayor Pro Tem seconded and the motion passed by unanimous voice vote.

What’s next: Staff will finalize application materials, gather letters of support and create outreach materials for businesses and brokers to explain potential benefits and steps to participate.