Here is a brief tour of the ReStore in Olympia, WA that demonstrate the variety of materials available.Themay have those charming rare items that add that special finishing touch to a building restoration.


Hoquiam Projects

Ben Winkelman is a city councilman in Hoquiam and an initial member of the Hoquiam Business Association who commissioned the Berk and Associates Report for Hoquaim's Economic Development Plan. Hoquiam just recieved a designation of Historical Preservation District which they fought hard to obtain. One of the benefits is that you can write off expenses incurred for capital improvements if you keep the building in the original era. John Larson of the Polson Museum had access to pictures from the Jones Photo Collection where he can find pictures historic buildings in their original form.They are looking for members to form a Group Think Tank (commons) to meet and submit ideas to the Developer's Forum Committee. To find out zoning issues, get direction, speak with zoning and planning people, contact Brian Shay at the GH Economic Councils. The historical preservation district has information about pursuing Hoquiam projects.

Funding Ideas

Whenver there is a major construction for a school or State building like the new additions at GHC, 1% of the total cost goes into an art grant fund run through theWashington State Arts Commission Art in Public Places Program. Its like most grants in that the competition is tough and its a time consuming process. Grants and civic groups are what usually pay for public arts and some restoration projects. I go to National Brownsfields Conferences from time to time. They have them several times a year usually in the worst cities-- but they are dedicated to environmental clean up, restoration and building community. Their conferences are a meeting place between those with ideas and those with funds. Historic societies sometimes invest in old buildings when they have funds. Civic groups (like the Lions club) will often take on paying for small projects like public art work, and painting or keeping up eyesores--they typically don't have the funds to take on huge renovations. The large projects like turning old mills into malls and office buildings are usually funded by private investors who do it for profitable purposes (it was a real big business in New England in the 80's). I believe we can be as creative as we want about how we are paying for our project since its just for the purposes of the class. We can pretend the Chamber of Commerce, Lions, Historic Society, WA State and Brownfields all funded our project. Also local businesses will often donate goods and money. Corporate businesses have foundations --this page has foundation resources for a variety of projects (not just community revitalization.)

Community Revitalization Financing Tax increment financing (TIF)or community redevelopment financing is a method of redistributing property tax collections within designated areas to finance infrastructure improvements within these designated areas.Washington does not have the tools for tax increment financing found in other states.

Grays Harbor Chamber of Commerce Washington State Department of Revenue - retail sales statistics
US Census Bureau
Business License - Washington State
Port of Grays Harbor
Economic Development Council
Grays Harbor Tourism
Commercial and Land Real Estate Listings
Grays Harbor Council of Governments contains zoning maps, demographic data and links to relevant community information.
Selling to the Government: how to sell to governmental agencies.
Federal Government Vendor Registration. Register your company on-line to become eligible to bid on government contracts.
Community Bulletin Daily: Listing of governmental contracts up for bid.

Washington Governmental Assistance Programs

Washington State Government homepage: Gateway to all Washington State government websites.
Business Development: Washington state economic development information and programs
Washington (WA-CERT): Community Economic Revitalization Team page for registering and tracking community infrastructure projects.
Washington Manufacturing Services: State supported organization for providing assistance to manufacturers

Financing and Business Assistance

SCORE: No-cost business assistance with business plan writing, analysis and on-going help.
Olympic Microloan Fund: Nine county revolving loan fund that provides loans and technical assistance to small businesses that cannot satisfy their financing requirements through conventional lending sources.
Business Resource Center: Complete listing guide to web-based business information.
SBA Business Law Information: Easy-to-understand information and guides to Federal, local and state regulations and operating a business.
Office of Trade and Economic Development: Provides technical and financial assistance programs to support new and existing businesses.

Grays Harbor County Demographic Profile: This 36 page report, compiled by the Grays Harbor EDC, provides considerably more demographic information in chart and graph form than is possible to present on this website. It also includes more information on each of the county's 9 incorporated communities than is presented on here.

Community Economic Development Strategy for the Columbia-Pacific Region: This comprehensive 113-page report compiled by the Columbia-Pacific Resource Conservation & Economic Development District provides an economic profile of the Grays Harbor, Mason, Pacific and Wahkiakum County region, as well as, information for each of the counties. The report also includes an analysis of where we are, where we want to be and a strategic plan for getting there.

Community Economic Development Strategy for the Quinault Indian Nation: This 67-page report serves as a comprehensive statement of local tribal government and economic development organizational plans for the three communities within the Quinault Nation: Amanda Park, Queets, and Taholah.

Workforce Availability Studies for Grays Harbor County:
These reports commissioned by the Gray Harbor EDC provide a workforce profile of unemployed and underemployed workers in all of Grays Harbor County, as well as those within 35 miles of Hoquiam (western county) and those within 35 miles of Elma (eastern county).
Executive Summary
Eastern Grays Harbor Workforce Report
Western Grays Harbor Workforce Report
Workforce Demographic Comparisons - 1999 and 2004
Workforce Trend Analysis - 1999-2004
Grays Harbor Key Economic Indicators 2003 - 2007: This trend report provides a 5 year perspective on population, workforce, wages, sales tax, average home prices and building permits issuedwith associated values.

Private Home/Neighborhood Revitalization
Aberdeen NHS/NeighborWorks® of Grays Harbor was founded in 1981 when a group of citizens, city leaders and lenders came together to form a grassroots organization dedicated to improving homes in two lower-income neighborhoods in Aberdeen, population 16,700. Since that time, NeighborWorks® has matured into an organization that provides an array of home-ownership, home-improvement, affordable-rental and neighborhood-revitalization services to all of Grays Harbor County, population 68,200.

National Resources

Smart GrowthWebPolis Community RevitalizationThe Women’s Community Revitalization Project (WCRP) is committed to social and economic justice for low-income women and their families. We develop housing and neighborhood facilities; provide supportive services; advocate for policy change; and honor leadership, dignity, and equity in our communities.
Government Innovators Network Community Revitalization focuses on recent developments in nationwide community revitalization. These topics include urban development, housing and zoning, public private partnerships, land use planning, and rural development. Other subjects featured include social capacity, community building, problem-solving studies, cultural rebirth, community renewal, reinvestment, wealth creation, grassroots organizing, neighborhood and park preservation, and resource maintenance. Timely issues such as affordable housing, suburban sprawl, gentrification, and sustainable development are also covered.Brownfields and Land Revitalization
New Partners for Community Revitalization's (NPCR)
Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act (Pub .L.No. 107-118, 115 stat. 2356, "the Brownfields Law"). The Brownfields Law amended the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund) by providing funds to assess and clean up brownfields; clarified CERCLA liability protections; and provided funds to enhance state and tribal response programs. Other related laws and regulations impact brownfields cleanup and reuse through financial incentives and regulatory requirements. Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act full text version of the legislation passed by both Houses. Other Brownfields - Related Laws Includes CERCLA, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA). Brownfields Tax Incentive Has information about the Brownfields Tax incentive included in the Taxpayer Relief Act to spur the cleanup and redevelopment of brownfields in distressed urban and rural areas. Brownfields Liability Contains information about lender liability and other liability issues.
All Appropriate Inquiries Includes Statutory language, fact sheets, negotiated rulemaking, and Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) meeting information. Major Environmental Laws More than a dozen major statutes or laws form the legal basis for EPA programs.