Notice of Public Hearing on Sale of Port Property for Business Expansion

Posted by Jennie Dickinson on

Notice is hereby given that the Port of Columbia Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on January 11, 2023 at 5:15 pm in the Port Conference Room at 1 Port Way, Dayton, WA to consider authorizing the sale of vacant lots U & V in the Rock Hill Industrial Tracts 2 located on Cameron Street in Dayton, WA.

Table Rock Meat Co has made a request to purchase the two lots, comprised of 2.6 acres, for the proposed construction of a USDA certified meat processing facility. A full packet of information including, but not limited to, a map of the property, the appraisals used to determine sale price, and the prospective business development plan can be viewed by clicking HERE.

Revised Resolution #2023-01 

Any citizen wishing to comment on this potential land sale may do so during the public hearing. The Port Commission must decide whether to proceed with the sale within 3 days of the public hearing, followed by a 20-day appeal period prior to the completion of sale.

Notice of Preliminary Budget and Public Hearing

Posted by Jennie Dickinson on

Notice is hereby given that the Preliminary Budget for the Port of Columbia for 2022 has been prepared and is on file at the Port Main Office at 1 Port Way, Dayton, WA.  The budget can also be viewed on the Port’s website at www.portofcolumbia.org/port-info/policies-plans-budget/.  Any taxpayer may obtain a hard copy of said budget at the Port office during regular business hours.  A public hearing on the budget will be held November 10, 2021 at 3:30 pm during the Port of Columbia Board of Commissioners regular meeting via Zoom. The Zoom meeting link is http://bit.ly/PortZoom and can also be found on the homepage of our website at www.portofcolumbia.org.
Dated at Dayton, Columbia County, Washington, on the 27th day of October and the 3rd day of November, 2021.

Click here to download the budget hearing notice Oct 2021

Small Business Start-Up Grants

Posted by Jennie Dickinson on

The Port of Columbia has opened a new grant opportunity for start-up businesses in Columbia County. Through funding provided by Innovia, a private foundation that serves eastern Washington and northern Idaho, the Port of Columbia is offering micro-grants to start-up businesses. Grants not to exceed $5,000 will be awarded to qualifying businesses upon review and recommendation by a local committee.

Qualifications for applying include, but are not limited to:

  • Business Plan
  • Business License
  • Ability to have a business location physically secured, in Columbia County, within 30 days of the grant award
  • Copies of estimates of planned expenditures or invoices of expenses incurred
  • Must be a business that has not yet started operating or has not been in operation more than 3 months
  • Has not received any previous grants from the Port of Columbia

The Port received a $15,000 award from Innovia for the program, and will be passing 100% of the funds through to start-up businesses.

In 2020, the Port offered a similar program with funds received from Innovia. That program assisted in the location of two new businesses in downtown Dayton – Main Street Marketplace and Table Rock Meat Co.

Grant information and an application form can be found on the Port’s website at https://www.portofcolumbia.org/economic-development/business-assistance/ . Applications are due September 30th.

Working Washington 4.0

Posted by Jennie Dickinson on

The Washington State Department of Commerce sent out a press release today announcing the new Working Washington 4.0 small business grant program. The application portal will be open for 12 days starting Monday, March 29 and closing Friday, April 9th. Applications will be handled by the Department of Commerce through an online portal. MORE INFO HERE

Landscaping & Weed Control RFPs Sought

Posted by Jennie Dickinson on

The Port of Columbia is seeking Requests for Proposals (RFP) for professional services from qualified firms for the purpose of landscaping, irrigation maintenance & weed/pest control services at the Rockhill Industrial Park, Blue Mountain Station and other Port owned properties in Dayton, WA. It is the Port’s intent to use the information to enter into contract(s) for services for 2021. Information submitted should include a list of qualifications, proof of WA State licensing, proof of insurance, hourly labor rate, and materials mark-up.  The Port of Columbia encourages women and minority-owned businesses to apply. MORE INFO HERE

Comp Plan Updates To Be Considered

Posted by Jennie Dickinson on

Updates and administrative changes to the Port of Columbia’s Comprehensive Plan will be considered for adoption at the Port of Columbia regular commission meeting on February 10, 2021 at 3:30 pm.  A public hearing will be held to take comments on the document, which can be viewed here.  Proposed changes are tracked in red. Please contact the Port office at 509-382-2577 or jennie@portofcolumbia.org if you have questions about the plan. Instructions for joining the meeting and the public hearing via Zoom will be posted with the meeting agenda on Monday, February 8.

New Working Washington 3.0 Grant Program Open

Posted by Jennie Dickinson on

The Washington State Department of Commerce has opened a new round of small business grant funding aimed at providing assistance to businesses hurt by the most recent COVID-19 restrictions. Instead of being facilitated by local agencies this time (Port), the state will be handling the application process.  To review eligibility information and apply, visit the Working Washington 3.0 webpage. Port staff is ready to answer questions and provided help as needed.  Please call 509-382-2577 or email jennie@portofcolumbia.org for assistance.

2021 Budget Hearing Set

Posted by Jennie Dickinson on

The Port of Columbia Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing Tuesday, November 10th at 3:30 pm to hear comments on the proposed 2021 budget, which can be viewed here. The meeting will take place via Zoom. Instructions for joining the meeting are on the agenda above.

Last Call for Grants

Posted by Jennie Dickinson on

October 30th is the deadline to turn in applications for the Port of Columbia COVID-19 Small Business Relief fund. Has your business been financially harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic? Is your business in Columbia County, WA? Do you have 10 employees or less? You may be eligible for funding. visit our COVID-19 page for details, and read the press release here.

Broadband Information Meeting August 31

Posted by Jennie Dickinson on

The Port of Columbia will hold a Zoom meeting on Monday, August 31 from 6:00 – 7:30 pm to share information about their proposed broadband project in the City of Dayton and some adjacent outlying areas. Attendees will be able to ask questions, and will also be asked to fill out a short survey regarding their current service.

The Port contracted with PocketiNet, a Walla Walla-based company, to conduct a broadband feasibility study that was completed in February of this year.

“Port Commissioners hoped to be able to hold a public meeting to share information about the study in person, but the pandemic has made that impossible,” stated Jennie Dickinson, executive director of the Port of Columbia.

In addition to hearing a presentation on the Port’s proposed project, attendees will hear from Scott Hutsell, a Lincoln County Commissioner who also serves as the chair of the Public Works Board, a state funding agency that provides infrastructure funds to communities; Diana Ruchert, the manager of the Port of Garfield where a community broadband project is currently under construction; and Steve Mantle of Innov8 Ag Solutions who will speak to some of the ways the agricultural industry is using broadband to improve production.

The attendee survey will be available during the Zoom meeting via a link in the chat room, but can also be taken ahead of time by clicking here.

Click here to view meeting agenda. To join the Broadband Information Meeting via Zoom, go to www.bit.ly/PortZoom just prior to 6:00 pm on August 31 or you can join by phone by calling 315-813-7229 then entering the PIN: ‪229 898 120#.

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