The Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) was formed in 1982 to respond to local economic development in Washington communities. CERB provides funding to local governments and federally recognized tribes for public infrastructure which supports private development or expansion resulting in jobs and capital sector improvements. The Department of Commerce provides administrative support for the program.

CERB's funding support may be provided as a loan or a grant. Certain activities, such as facilitating or promoting gambling and projects that would displace existing jobs to another community, are not eligible.

Applications for financial assistance must include certain information regarding job creation, support from local political subdivision and economic development organization or workforce council and establish local match and participation. Prioritization is given to certain projects that demonstrate or provide certain information regarding community benefit, employee benefits, planning, feasibility, and permitting.

Grants, not to exceed $50,000, may be awarded to support site-specific plans, studies, and analyses that address environmental impacts, capital facilities, land use, permitting, feasibility, marketing, project engineering, design, site planning, and project debt and readiness.

Costs of achieving site readiness is added as an allowable use of CERB's grant funding for site-specific plans, studies, and analyses. The $50,000 cap for grants is removed until December 31, 2028, after which it may not exceed $200,000.

PRO: This is a rural economic development bill. Site readiness is an important component for CERB projects. CERB is a bipartisan group that supports the entire state. The 50k limit is extraordinarily low. Removing the cap will make sure we capitalize on federal dollars, and establishes a higher limit of $200k at the end of 2028. Eliminating the cap and raising the cap permanently will help get projects started.

Our port has been a recipient of CERB funds about 13 times. Federal funding for these projects is cumbersome for small ports. To be competitive for federal grants, a port needs to have 10% of the project completed. The planning program cap was established at $50k in 1999. The costs of these activities have gone up since then. CERB grants are a relied upon tool in our rural communities. CERB has a high return rate on these dollars. Getting sites ready to go will help job growth. The pandemic devastated communities and families. We are past the triage phase; we need tools and resources. We were disappointed to see language removed regarding shovel ready projects, that was in a previous version from last year. The site readiness program at Commerce is geared towards sophisticated and large ports. This bill will help the others.

OTHER: Site readiness grants for large industrial projects, through another Commerce program, have been successful. The state provided $2.5 million for the site-readiness grant program, and there was over $12 million in requests. The demand is there. Four ports and two tribes received these site-readiness grants. Food processing, aerospace, and manufacturing have all been recipients. Site readiness grants can help get a sewer line put in, or do other foundational work to make a project viable.

PRO: This bill levels the playing field for all communities in Washington. A $50,000 limit for feasibility grants is not enough. The increases in this bill will help rural communities complete larger future projects and will bring in more job opportunities.