Update on the Inland Northwest Economic Adjustment Strategy November 2002

This is a very exciting opportunity for the region. Please contact the appropriate representatives from your state listed at the end of this update. Working together regionally is crucial to successful economic development. Russ)

Phase II: Roadmap for Economic Vitality

We have closed out Phase II of the effort completing the socio-economic assessment of the 97-county and 14-tribe region. This included the assessment of 164 community economic development plans to learn common themes, needs and issues, as well as to gauge the level of readiness for economic stimulus across the 4-state region. We also conducted 14 community forums across the region with over 800 participants providing feedback and endorsements of the effort. In addition, we developed a series of case studies that highlight the real-life situation in communities across the region. These stories serve to humanize the statistics. The resulting economic strategy including an executive summary, final report, technical data and 11 community profiles can be obtained on the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department’s web site at http://www.econ.state.or.us by clicking on “Partnerships and Initiatives” or http://www.commerce.state.mt.us, http://www.labor.state.id.us/irp/ and also at http://www.oted.wa.gov/ed/wacert/Home.asp under “INEAS Reports.”

We have a Resolution and Memorandum of Understanding regarding the Inland Northwest Economic Adjustment Strategy signed by the governors of the four states. This is in addition to resolutions of support from numerous county, tribal and port associations as well as the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI). A roadmap to economic vitality is in-place and is the impetus of the third phase of the project—implementation.

Phase III: Implementation

Regional Hub

We are working to establish a regional hub to promote intergovernmental coordination and communication and to work with communities on the strengthening of their economic development strategic plans and readiness to proceed. In November of 2001, Washington State submitted a pre-application to the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) to create a small central staff located in the Inland Northwest region responsible for the implementation of the INEAS effort at the regional level, and in concert with the state and tribal efforts. In September 2002, we were informed that EDA had awarded a $150,000 grant matched with cash and in-kind contributions from the four states and the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians. The main functions of this regional hub relate to: a) customer service and communications, b) outreach and coordinated service delivery, c) performance measurements and outcomes and d) exploration of establishing a regional commission.

For purposes of establishing the Regional Hub, we will issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit qualified candidates that can be contracted under a personal services contract to fulfill the scope of work for phase III. We will be asking for proposals from a select list of qualified professionals to deliver these services over the next 12- to 18-month period. If you know of qualified professional who could devote full-time work to this effort over the next 12-18 month period, please send the names and contact information to Karl Tueller, Idaho Department of Commerce, at [email protected]. Please send this information no later than December 1, 2002. We would like to have someone on board by January 31, 2003.

Federal Appropriations

The second facet of the implementation phase is to gain endorsements and actual funding for a multi-year, multi-million dollar package of economic assistance targeted to the region. The four-state delegation has been working on two strategies. First, is inclusion of an economic assistance package in the President’s proposed budget and second, inclusion by Congressional appropriations committees. Since June of 2002, numerous trips have been made to Washington DC to brief Administration officials from the Office of Management and Budget, the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the Undersecretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources, the Economic Development Administration and USDA Forest Service. We have received friendly, but non-committal responses from these officials. We have also met with all seventeen Congressional offices from the Inland Northwest region. Every office expressed some level of support, but we have yet to find a real champion for this project in the four state delegation. We have and will continue to work hard on Congressional support because we believe that we cannot succeed without it. Another option is to target the upcoming re-authorization of the U.S. Economic Development Administration by including policy reference and funding authorizations for the Inland Northwest Economic Adjustment Strategy.

What You Can Do To Help The Inland Northwest Project

Probably the most important thing you can do to help the Inland Northwest Economic Adjustment Strategy move forward is to let your members of Congress know that this is a priority for you and your constituents and that you want their help in obtaining federal funds.

For more information, call

ATNI: Bill Tovey 541/276-3873

Idaho: Karl Tueller 208/334-2470

Montana: Andy Poole 406/841-2707

Oregon: Sarah Garrison 503/986-0065

Washington: Karin Berkholtz 360/725-4025