Community Economic Revitalization Board awards grants for feasibility studies in Snohomish County
OLYMPIA, WA – The Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) today announced $100,000 toward public infrastructure development and new economic feasibility studies on the Arlington Marysville Manufacturing Industrial Center near Smokey Point in Snohomish County. The center spans over 4,000 acres including land within the boundaries of both Arlington and Marysville, with close access to Paine Field and Interstate 5. Capacity for additional development includes partially used, redevelopment and vacant sites.
The CERB funding approved yesterday afternoon will help pay for two consecutive feasibility studies to establish a master plan, economic development, an investment and transportation strategy to facilitate infrastructure improvements and accommodate, attract, and retain industrial and manufacturing uses.
• Snohomish County: $50,000 grant to the city of Arlington for its portion of the center, approximately 57 percent of the area. The CERB grant is matched by $16,667 in local resources.
• Snohomish County: $50,000 grant to the city of Marysville for its portion of the center, approximately 44 percent of the area. The CERB grant is matched by $16,667 in local resources.
“The Community Economic Revitalization Board is dedicated to helping communities across the state develop the infrastructure to attract, retain and grow businesses and jobs. These investments will have a positive economic impact at a time when it is needed the most,” said CERB Chair Randy Hayden.
“I applaud this collaboration between the cities of Arlington and Marysville toward a regional economic development strategy that can potentially multiply the impact of the state’s investment,” said Brian Bonlender, director of the Washington State Department of Commerce. “Working together, they are creating opportunities for new business growth and manufacturing jobs that will strengthen communities throughout Snohomish County.”
The release of CERB funds to these projects is contingent upon each applicant completing specific pre-contract requirements, such as finalizing other funding sources and obtaining necessary permits.
Preview CERB’s 2015 -17 Biennium in Review and check out CERB’s interactive project map for the 2015-17 approved projects.
Since 1982, CERB has committed nearly $176 million to local jurisdictions across the state, an investment generating more than 35,000 jobs, and private capital investments of a $5.6 billion ($34 to $1) return on CERB investment.
As Washington’s strategic economic development resource, CERB is focused on creating private sector jobs in partnership with local governments by financing infrastructure improvements. These improvements encourage new business development and expansion. In addition to funding construction projects, CERB provides limited funding for studies that evaluate high-priority economic development projects. Learn more about CERB at www.commerce.wa.gov/cerb.
AGRICULTURAL REPORT
Bipartisan, Bicameral PNW Members Defend Their Farmers from NAFTA Renegotiation ThreatPRESS RELEASE ISSUED 9/ 20/ 17 (link source)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Representative Dave Reichert (WA-08), and Representative Suzan DelBene (WA-01) led a bipartisan group of members of Congress urging the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to abandon a proposal to establish a trade remedy provision for perishable and seasonal products that would harm the competitiveness of fruit and vegetable growers in Washington state and Oregon. The provision is being considered as a part of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiation process.
Members of Congress also signing the letter include Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02), Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03), Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04), McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Rep. Denny Heck (WA-10), Rep. Greg Walden (OR-02), and Rep. Kurt Schrader (OR-05).
Agricultural production and trade are crucial to the economic health of the Pacific Northwest and Canada and Mexico are vital trading partners. The provision under consideration may spell the end of duty-free access to these important markets for growers and exporters in the region.
“We expect that Canadian and Mexican industries, including the tree fruit industry, may take advantage of such a provision to restrict exports of U.S. products,” the members wrote. “Failure to consider these concerns will leave our tree fruit growers and other producers, who have proven highly successful in competing in the Mexican and Canadian marketplaces, vulnerable to tariffs that would have a negative impact on rural communities throughout our states.”
Crops such as tree fruit, wheat, potatoes, and hops would all be affected. Mexico and Canada are the top two export markets for apples and pears, and Canada has historically been the top export market for cherries. Washington state and Oregon grow more than three quarters of all the pears, apples, and cherries grown in the U.S.
In Washington state, agriculture and food production employs 140,000 people and comprises 13 percent of the state’s economy. In Oregon, the industry supports almost 160,000 jobs and agriculture and food exports make up 6 percent of the state’s economy.
USDA BLOG: This Weekend, Enjoy National Hunting and Fishing Day
BLOG POSTED 9/ 22/ 17 (link source)
America marks National Hunting and Fishing Day on September 23, 2017.
It started when Congress unanimously passed a joint resolution and former President Richard Nixon issued a proclamation on May 2, 1972, urging “all citizens to join with outdoor sportsmen in the wise use of our natural resources and in ensuring their proper management for the benefit of future generations.”
A big part of the success of this day is due to private landowners. For example, over 75 percent of the participants in USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) say that enhancing wildlife habitat is important to them. CRP participants receive financial incentives to restore conservation cover to marginal cropland, providing enhanced soil, water, and wildlife benefits. Seventy-three percent of CRP participants report seeing more wildlife as a result of their enrollment in the program.
The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), which administers CRP, estimates that some form of outdoor recreational activity, such as hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing and hiking, occurs on 57 percent of the almost 24 million acres of land enrolled in in the program. The most common recreational use of CRP land is hunting.
There are substantial economic benefits to rural America. In 2016 more than 101 million Americans participated in some form of fishing, hunting, or other wildlife related recreation such as bird watching, spending an estimated $156 billion on equipment, travel, licenses, and fees.
So this Saturday, enjoy the day afield, and be part of the time honored tradition. If you are on private land, the owner might be a CRP participant, and if you see him or her, say thanks. Enjoy National Hunting and Fishing Day and celebrate the conservation successes brought to you by America’s hunters and anglers.
USDA BLOG: Staying Up-beet in Minnesota!
BLOG POSTED 9/ 21/ 17 (link source)
Secretary Perdue has proclaimed September “National Food Safety Education Month (PDF, 346 KB)“. To celebrate, USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service is developing innovative food safety trainings for school nutrition professionals and honoring training graduates like Barbara Griffiths MSBA, RD, SNS, who make safe and nutritious foods a priority in their programs. As a graduate of USDA’s Produce Safety University, Griffiths has learned to source local fruits and vegetables from growers within her community and turn them into innovative menu items!
Why is produce safety so important? Without cooking produce, there is no “kill” step to destroy pathogens that may be on our food. By understanding how to mitigate the risk factors associated with fresh produce, school nutrition professionals play a vital role in ensuring safe and nutritious produce for their students. In 2018, Produce Safety University will again train over 150 school nutrition professionals, who, like Griffiths, will be prepared to promote produce in school meals and help others to do the same. In October, state agencies can nominate school nutrition professionals to attend USDA’s Produce Safety University training.
By Nicole Chimbetete, University of Minnesota School of Public Health Graduate Student
Located just south of St. Paul, Minn., the Independent School District (ISD)-169 Food and Nutrition Department has made it a priority to implement the USDA Farm to School program throughout the school year. The USDA’s Produce Safety University helps ISD-169 serve a ‘Local Lunch Food’ at least once a month. These lunch options are locally grown, produced and sourced from Minnesota’s beloved farmers and manufacturers.
Root vegetables are an essential part of traditional Minnesotan diets. To celebrate National Farm to School Month in 2016, it was no surprise that the district took on the challenge of adding beetroot to a contemporary favorite – hummus! The result: A bright red-purple, lemony, super creamy and flavorful snack full of vitamins and minerals. The new menu item’s name, “Viking Hummus,” alludes to the pride in the local National Football League team. Throughout the month, the beet hummus recipe went through multiple reviews, involving focus groups and student taste tests. After receiving a 90 percent approval rating, the recipe went mainstream and was distributed throughout the schools in November for the Local Lunch Food.
USDA’s Produce Safety University offers a one-week training course which helps school foodservice staff identify and manage food safety risks associated with fresh produce. After attending this training course, District Food and Nutrition Supervisor, Barbara Griffiths, began to envision how safe, local produce could be brought into ISD-196, despite Minnesota’s short growing season. The first step was to identify community partners who could overcome seasonal supply fluctuations to provide high-quality, safe produce. Griffiths developed a key partnership with Bushel Boy Farms , a hydroponic greenhouse farm in Owatonna, Minn., that grows great-tasting tomatoes throughout the school year . The district partners with other growers to source menu items such as apples from Rabideaux’s Fruit Company and beets used in “Viking Glory” from Pahl’s Market . Griffiths likes buying directly from these local farmers because the shortened supply chain alleviates some food safety concerns, provides the freshest tasting product and reduces the carbon footprint through efficient delivery systems.
ISD 169’s Food and Nutrition Department hopes their efforts to integrate local foods into school meals will make students excited about nutrition, motivate them to prepare foods at home and contribute to their positive attitudes towards healthy life long eating habits, which will foster a healthier community for generations to come.
USDA Approves D-SNAP for Florida Disaster Counties
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 9/ 22/ 17 (link source)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2017 – Floridians struggling with the after effects of Hurricane Irma could be eligible for help buying food through USDA’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP), the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today.
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said that households who may not normally be eligible under regular SNAP rules may qualify for D-SNAP -- if their income is under the disaster limits and they have qualifying disaster-related expenses.
“The D-SNAP program USDA is announcing today is an important step forward,” Perdue said. “Other food assistance is already underway, but D-SNAP will provide the continued support our neighbors in Florida need, as they get back on their feet after this epic storm. We’re with you, Florida -- all the way.”
D-SNAP eligible households in the affected areas will receive two months of benefits, equivalent to the maximum amount of benefits normally issued to a SNAP household of their size, to meet their food needs as they settle back home following the disaster. To be eligible for D-SNAP, a household must have lived or worked in an identified disaster area on September 5 (when mandatory evacuation orders began), have been affected by the disaster, and meet certain D-SNAP eligibility criteria.
Although each disaster situation is unique, D-SNAP is most appropriate in the recovery phase after commercial channels of food distribution have been restored and families are able to purchase and prepare food at home. Before operating a D-SNAP, a State must ensure that proper public information, staffing and resources are in place.
“We are working around the clock to provide relief to those affected by Hurricane Irma damage,” said Florida Department of Children and Families Secretary Mike Carroll. “We will continue to stand side-by-side with those who need us as they get back on their feet. We encourage those in need of food assistance to pre-register through the website so we can quickly serve those in need.”
The D-SNAP announcement today is the latest in an ongoing series of USDA actions to help Florida cope with the storm and its aftermath that also include the early release of September benefits to all current SNAP participants prior to the storm’s impact, a waiver to allow SNAP participants to buy hot foods and hot food products with their benefits at authorized SNAP retailers statewide through September 30, and mass replacement of 40 percent of household SNAP benefits to current participants in 52 counties. USDA’s actions extend beyond SNAP as well. For example, children attending hurricane-affected schools will be served free school meals through the National School Lunch Program through October 20.
Details on Florida’s D-SNAP program, also known as Food for Florida, will be available at the Food for Florida website. D-SNAP sites will be posted on the website as they become available.
USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) administers 15 nutrition assistance programs, including the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, the Summer Food Service Program, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children , and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which together comprise America's nutrition safety net. For more information on FNS assistance during times of disaster, visit www.fns.usda.gov/disaster.
LOCAL MEETINGS REVIEW
CLALLAM COUNTY COMMISSION MEETINGS:
CLALLAM COUNTY WORK SESSION AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS:
1) Agreement with Robinson Noble to assist in obtaining Ecology’s approval for water rights application G2-30364 – water for the Carlsborg UGA
2) Olympic Community Action Program (OlyCAP) scope of work update
3) USDA Rural Health and Safety Education Grant update
(See full agenda)
Clallam County regular session agenda highlights:
1) Agreement with Washington Traffic Safety Commission for funding to enhance the Washington State 24/7 Sobriety Program
2) Agreement with State of Washington State Department of Ecology for renewal of the Litter Cleanup Program
3) Agreement with Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe for tax exempt and payment in lieu of taxes
(See full agenda)
Special Meeting Notice - Port Angeles City Council
SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE
PORT ANGELES CITY COUNCIL
Notice is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Port Angeles will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, September 26, 2017, from 4:15 p.m. to 7 p.m., in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 321 East Fifth Street.
The purpose of the special meeting is:
To hold a closed session under authority of RCW 42.30.140 (4) in order to discuss collective bargaining with an employee organization, including contract negotiations, from 4:15 to 5 p.m.; and To conduct a worksession on Emergency Management Preparedness from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
In other local and regional meetings
CITY OF SEQUIM AGENDA HIGHLIGHT: 2018 Budget – Overview of Proposed Rate and Fees (see full agenda)
JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSION AGENDA HIGHLIGHT ITEM: RESOLUTION NO. Finding the Determination to Declare Certain Personal Property as Surplus and Authorize Disposal ($2,500 Value or Less) (see full agenda)
CITY OF FORKS AGENDA HIGHLIGHT ITEM: WFDW Halbit Quota management
(See full agenda)
WORLD AND NATIONAL NEWS BRIEFS
Iran says tests new missile, after U.S. criticizes arms programDUBAI (Reuters) - Iran said on Saturday it had successfully tested a new ballistic missile with a range of 2,000 km (1,200 miles) and would keep developing its arsenal, despite U.S. pressure to stop.
U.S. challenged by rising North Korea tensions, Russia urges calm
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Russia urged “hot heads” to calm down on Friday as the United States admitted it felt “challenged” by North Korea’s warning that it could test a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific and President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un traded more insults.
Venezuela slams Canada sanctions, says Ottawa submitting to Trump
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela’s government criticized Canada’s Friday announcement of targeted sanctions against 40 of its senior officials, accusing Ottawa of “submission” to U.S. President Donald Trump in a bid to overthrow the South American country’s leftist administration.
NATIONAL
U.S. Senator McCain opposes Obamacare repeal bill, a possible fatal blow
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senator John McCain said on Friday he opposes the latest Republican bill to dismantle Obamacare, dealing the measure what could be a fatal blow given the party’s slim Senate majority.
Trump, Republicans to showcase tax cut for businesses
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump and top Republicans in Congress are about to show how aggressively they intend to cut the corporate tax rate, while trying to avoid the appearance of favoring the wealthy.
Trump takes center stage in fractious Senate race in Alabama
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama (Reuters) - President Donald Trump injected himself into a bitter U.S. Senate primary fight in Alabama on Friday, putting to the test his ability to enlist his anti-establishment voters to come to the aid of an endangered Republican incumbent.
Daily Bible Verse: And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Romans 5:3-4 NKJV
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