By Pepper Fisher
PORT ANGELES – Residents of the North Olympic Peninsula got some very big news on Monday that is going to change a lot of lives for the better, possibly for generations to come.
U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer and U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell announced that the North Olympic Peninsula Recompete Coalition (NOPRC) was awarded $35 million by the U.S. Department of Commerce to reinvigorate the economy on the North Olympic Peninsula. The historic federal funding is being administered through the Recompete Pilot Program, which was created based on legislation authored by Rep. Kilmer.
“I’m so proud of the work of folks in our region to come together and earn this Recompete grant against extraordinary competition. We have here a diverse coalition of stakeholders throughout the North Olympic Peninsula committed to connecting people to economic opportunities, and this grant will help ensure that we can create good-paying, long-lasting jobs that can really reinvigorate the region’s economy for decades to come. I just couldn’t be happier to see this happen for the region in which I grew up.”
The Recompete Pilot Program (Recompete) targets areas where prime-age (25-54 years) employment is significantly lower than the national average, with the goal of closing this gap through flexible, locally driven investments. Recompete aims to support local economic development, create quality jobs, invest in workers and businesses, and ensure sustainable success and economic growth by providing targeted assistance and resources to address the unique challenges of persistently distressed communities.
NOPRC is led by Clallam County and supported by Jefferson County, and has grown to include multiple municipalities, Tribes, ports, economic development agencies, community-based organizations, educational institutions, and non-profits.
Only 6 communities in the US were awarded one of these grants, and we’re the only one on the west coast. How will the program work? Una Wirkebau, Recompete Plan Coordinator, says the focus will be on working to train people and get them working in the natural resource and maritime industries. Expanding the Composite Recycling Technology Recycling Center and their collaboration with the Makah Tribe to make advanced building materials was mentioned. Port Townsend’s Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding plans to double the size of their marine systems program. Peninsula College will be finding ways to streamline training, certifying and placing workers in those fields, as well.
Wirkebau says the Port of Port Angeles will also be creating new jobs.
“So, the Port of Port Angeles will actually be receiving three barges in the program. These barges are going to help facilitate getting products around the Olympic Peninsula, ie; picking up wood that CRTC has worked with the Makah Tribe out at Neah Bay, and bring it directly to Port Angeles, or to Seattle, or even to San Diego. So that will take vehicles off the road, and it will help move items at a less expensive rate, and will also create jobs.”
A big part of the program is going to be geared toward removing barriers that often keep workers from being able to get to work every day. We’re talking about barriers in the most specific and personal sense you might imagine.
“There will be a system in place where anyone who wants a job can literally come to the table, and every challenge that is in front of them, Recompete is going to go above and beyond to remove those barriers. So, for instance, if you are currently employed in Port Townsend, but you live in Quilcene, and your transmission is not working in your vehicle, and you’re unable to get to work, that is something that you could approach the Recompete office with and say, “I need a thousand dollars to fix my car.” Now, it’s not going to be, “Here’s a thousand dollars to you to fix your car.” There’ll be a system in place. But we want to hear about every barrier that’s out there that’s keeping people out of work.”
Getting the pilot program up and running is going to take at least a few months, but a huge coalition of community partners are in place to make it happen once the funding begins to flow from the US Economic Development Administration.
Visit the North Olympic Peninsula Recompete Coalition Facebook page to learn more.