Flyer for Comprehensive Plan Update Process. This flyer contains a timeline and answers to frequently asked questions.
Broadband Information Meeting 1-26-23
Join us for a Broadband Information Meeting on January 26th from 6:00 – 7:00 pm in the Pavilion at the Fairgrounds. Ask questions, meet the Contractor and talk to the Internet Service Providers. Light refreshments will be served.
Notice of Public Hearing on Sale of Port Property for Business Expansion
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.
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.
Port Seeks Proposals for Comp Plan Update
Notice is hereby given that the Port of Columbia is seeking proposals from qualified firms to assist the 3-member Port Commission in the process of updating the Port of Columbia Comprehensive Scheme of Harbor Improvements, commonly known as the Comprehensive Plan in accordance with RCW 53.20.
Proposals received will be evaluated based on the criteria provided in the RFP and subsequent discussions with staff and commissioners in order to find the best candidate to assist our small port district with this important process.
A full Request for Proposals can be found on the Port’s website at https://www.portofcolumbia.org/doing-work-for-the-port/requests-for-quotes-proposals-qualifications/ . Proposals will be received at the Port office via email to jennie@portofcolumbia.org no later than 3 pm Thursday, October 7, 2022.
Notice of Preliminary Budget and Public Hearing
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
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.
Port of Columbia Awarded $2 Million Broadband Infrastructure Grant
DAYTON, WA – Port of Columbia staff, along with private partner Columbia iConnect, made a presentation to the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) on Thursday, July 14th in Olympia and left with a $2 million award.
Acceptance of the $2 million grant is contingent upon the community providing $500,000 in matching funds. The Port applied for and received $20,000 from the Sherwood Trust, $15,000 from the Warren Community Fund, and $13,500 from the Dayton Columbia County Fund to use as matching funds, and has pledged $20,000 from their 2021 budget for the project as well.
“This is a rare opportunity to bring hard-earned federal tax dollars back to our community for the benefit of our citizens,” stated Jennie Dickinson, Port of Columbia executive director. “A relatively small local contribution by the Port and our community partners can benefit thousands of residents.”
Requests will be made to Columbia County and the City of Dayton for the remainder of the funds required.
The Port has been working with community partners, including the City of Dayton, Columbia County, and private sector internet service providers since 2019 to address inadequate and unreliable internet service in our community. Even before the pandemic, Port staff heard concerns from many businesses and community members about how limiting our current internet service was. COVID-19 only exacerbated the issue. It became clear that in order for the community to remain attractive to residents and businesses, to meet current health care needs, and to provide adequate opportunities for education, improvements needed to be made.
In February 2020, the Port completed a feasibility study for a dark fiber network in the City of Dayton and some adjacent, more dense areas in the county. The study showed that it is financially feasible to operate a fiber optic network under the public/private partnership model in our community. The project would provide access to broadband for any of the 1,278 businesses and residents in the project area that are interested in fiber service.
The Port will not be providing internet service to customers. The system will be what’s called an open access network, meaning any interested internet service provider that is willing to invest in equipment can offer fiber internet service to the premises by leasing strands of the Port’s fiber infrastructure. Basically, the Port builds the “road,” and the private sector “drives” on it to deliver service to customers.
The Port provided information and an invitation to partner to all existing service providers prior to applying for funds, and have signed contingency agreements with 3 companies – Columbia iConnect, PocketiNet, and Emerge by Inland Cellular – to lease fiber from the Port and deliver internet service to their existing and to new customers.
The Port of Garfield recently completed the same type of fiber infrastructure in Pomeroy, and customers there are receiving 1 gigabyte of service for $70 per month through the private internet providers. 50% of the premises in their project area are using this new service.
More information on the project can be found on the Port’s website at https://www.portofcolumbia.org/economic-development/broadband/ .
Working Washington 4.0
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
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
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.