A coalition of Clallam and Jefferson County organizations was awarded a planning grant and named as a finalist for larger grants that could bring roughly $50 million to the region.
The North Olympic Peninsula Recompete Coalition — made up of North Olympic Peninsula counties, cities, tribes and others — was awarded $500,000 for planning as part of the Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program, a new federal program designed to inject tens of millions of dollars into economically struggling communities across the country.
“The $500,000 is a federal investment that is going to help us craft specific strategies to go after the $50 million,” said Clallam County commissioner Mike French, who worked on the application process.
The coalition is one of 22 organizations nationwide to be named as a finalist for Phase 2 of the program, which could bring between $20 million and $50 million for implementation. Between four and eight will be selected for Phase 2.
According to the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), which is overseeing the program, the coalition is requesting $50 million to revitalize the natural resources industry on the North Olympic Peninsula.
“To drive renewed economic competitiveness and good job opportunities in the natural resources sector, funding will support a manufacturing facility on the Makah Tribal lands; a natural resources innovation center; critical marine transportation and industrial site infrastructure; and a workforce strategy with social support services,” the EDA said.
Applications for Phase 2 of the program are due April 25, French said, and the $500,000 will allow for research and consulting work to help the coalition draft a competitive request.
“We would want some economic analysis the things that we are investing in are feasible,” French said.
One of the requirements of Phase 2 is hiring a full-time coordinator for implementation of the final grant, and the coalition has budgeted $110,000 a year for that position, French said.
The team is optimistic about receiving the Phase 2 grant, but French said the joint application process has already brought officials in the two counties together in positive ways.
“One example of that is we have various grant writers,” French said, referring to the various agencies in the coalition, “but they’ve made professional relationships. They found a state grant to assist local governments in getting federal funding.”
The Recompete Program was originally crafted by the Olympic Peninsula’s U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, in 2021 as the Rebuilding Economies and Creating Opportunities for More People to Excel, or RECOMPETE Act. Provisions of the bill were later included as a pilot program under the 2022 Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors and Science Act, or CHIPS and Science Act.
In a statement, Kilmer said he was motivated to create the Recompete Act after witnessing the economic distress caused by the decline of the timber industry in his native Port Angeles.
“The Recompete Pilot Program is focused on providing economic opportunities for folks on the Olympic Peninsula, the Pacific Coast, and nationwide,” said Kilmer, who represents the 6th Congressional District, which includes the North Olympic Peninsula.
“It’s about making sure that everyone, no matter their zip code, has access to these opportunities.”
The coalition was formed in July with hopes of increasing the region’s competitiveness for the grants.
The Washington State Coastal Counties Initiative — a similar joint initiative between Grays Harbor and Pacific counties — was also awarded $500,000 for strategy development but not named as a finalist for Phase 2 of the Recompete Program.
The North Olympic Peninsula Recompete Coalition is a joint effort between Clallam and Jefferson counties; the Makah, Hoh, Jamestown S’Klallam, Quileute and Lower Elwha Klallam tribes; Peninsula College; the ports of Port Angeles and Port Townsend; the cities of Port Angeles, Port Townsend, Sequim and Forks; the economic development councils in both counties; the Olympic Peninsula YMCA; the North Olympic Development Council; the Composite Recycling Technology Center; the Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building; the Olympic Natural Resource Center; the Olympic Workforce Development Council and the Center for Sustainable Infrastructure.
“We believe that our region is deserving of these kinds of investments. We’re working hard on this because this is a way to get good jobs in our community,” French said.
“We’re optimists for our region. We’re ready for that investment.”
