By JOHN McCALLUM
Editor
Cheney's staff has received news that federal officials have approved a proposal on $1.8 million worth of infrastructure construction for an industrial research park on 38 acres in the south part of the city.
But before popping the champagne, there's a caveat.
That caveat is it's an approval to submit a recommendation to invite Cheney to submit an application for funding for a project that could open economic doors that could potentially bring hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars to the city.
Got it?
Staff at the Economic Development Administration's Seattle office are proposing to submit a recommendation to their headquarters in Washington D.C. that Cheney be invited to submit an application for EDA funding for its proposed Cheney Research and Industrial Park Project.
The EDA is an agency within the federal Department of Commerce that oversees federal grants earmarked specifically for infrastructure improvements that provide economic development opportunities to communities.
To get to this point, Cheney's project had to first be included as a regionally significant project on the Community Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) list prepared by the Spokane Economic Development Council.
The EDC, now called Greater Spokane Incorporated, did so in 2005, and to enhance consideration, the city removed the former Honeywell building from inclusion as part of the project at the recommendation of EDA officials last summer.
Cheney is seeking about $900,000 in funding to help install water, sewer, electric and telecommunications infrastructure along the right of way of what would be called Fred Johns Way, named after a former Mayor and City Councilman, public works director Don MacDonald said.
The new street and infrastructure will serve the adjacent 38 acres of land surrounding the former Honeywell building, now owned by AllPak, that's being considered as an industrial park to hopefully attract start up businesses and technologically “clean” manufacturing industries.
Part of Cheney's proposal included in the CEDS was that “if a private investor was to purchase the site from Honeywell, then Honeywell would agree to condition the sale on the grounds that the purchaser would have to operate the site as the Cheney Research and Industrial Park in the manner outlined in this application…”
MacDonald wasn't able to provide details on any discussion with the property owner at this point, saying only that it is “a critical issue to be addressed in order for the city to receive any EDA funding for the infrastructure” and development of the industrial park.
The City Council met in executive session for 10 minutes at its May 22 meeting, before returning to open session and approving an action to proceed with the EDA application.
MacDonald said once the EDA office in Seattle recommends a project for consideration, the applicant is then invited to submit an EDA pre-application, and if that is approved, and the funding is available, is then invited to submit an EDA final application.
“The key point here is that the EDA is seriously looking at the project, but we still have a lot of work to do,” MacDonald said.
“If we are successful, then there is a very real potential for significant job creation and private investment in the community to occur through the Cheney Research and Industrial Park.”
John McCallum can be reached at [email protected]
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