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.

CERB must conduct a biennial outcome-based evaluation of the financial assistance they provide. The evaluation must include certain information including the number of awards, types of projects, award amounts, jobs created, wages and health benefits associated with those jobs, and other criteria.

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

In CERB’s biennial report to the Legislature, certain information identifying the biennial total number, percentage, and dollar amount of projects' utilization of the Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprise (OMWBE) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) certified businesses, or businesses not yet certified with these organizations, but which self-report as meeting the requirements of certification, must be included.