The Columbia River Enterprise Zone (CREZ) committee approved disbursement of more than $1 million in funds to Morrow County communities in late 2014.
The committee met Dec. 19 and agreed to distribute $1.15 million of non-committed enterprise zone dollars for the enhancement and development of Morrow County.
Port of Morrow General Manager and committee member Gary Neal said the group decided to split the funding into categories that continue to be identified as priorities for Morrow County during board meetings. He said those categories are education, housing, public safety and community enhancement.
The enterprise zone board is made up of two representatives each from Morrow County government, the Port of Morrow and the City of Boardman. The zone is managed by Morrow County Planning Director Carla McLane. Alternate members are also assigned for each entity to serve when needed.
Through several meetings, the board discussed what kind of impact they wanted to have in Morrow County, McLane said.
“These deliberations led to the creation of four general categories for funding,” she said. “Providing well over a million dollars to those efforts will bring visible results.”
• $350,000 to the Morrow Education Foundation
o $100,000 of that money will be used for a workforce training program. The Morrow Education Foundation will determine how the remaining $250,000 is disbursed.
• 250,000 to housing programs in Morrow County communities.
o $100,000 to Willow Creek Valley Economic Development Group (WCVEDG)
o $100,000 to Boardman Community Development Association
o $50,000 to Irrigon
• $300,000 to public safety entities
o Representatives from the four designated public safety agencies – Boardman Rural Fire Protection District, Boardman Police Department, Morrow County Sheriff’s Office and Morrow County Health District – decided to split the money evenly with $75,000 to each organization.
• $250,000 to community enhancement projects
o $75,000 to WCVEDG
o $75,000 to Irrigon
o $100,000 to Boardman Community Development Association.
Upon the distribution from the CREZ board, each respective organization is responsible for using those funds for specific projects or grant programs.
