Ephrata will support Grant County EDC

EPHRATA — Despite one councilmember’s objection, the Ephrata City Council is giving the Grant County Economic Development Council $7,110.

The city’s agreement to participate in the EDC is renewed annually. City Administrator Wes Crago pointed out the city has become more involved with the development council during the past year at the council’s request.

“(Port Manager Mike Wren) told us last year, ‘We’re going to get out of it what we put into it,’” Crago said.

Wren, who is the EDC’s president, said the council is his top resource as a port manager, noting tax breaks and other state and federal programs.

“Also the Grant County EDC is clearly recognized from a perspective of character and credibility in the state where (Executive Director Terry Brewer) can make trips to the governor’s office on this Project Chinook … to secure funding to help Moses Lake with that project,” he said.

The council also assisted the port in securing state funding for a series of ?improvements to streets and the rail service at Ephrata’s port, Wren said.

“The $600,000 that it’s taking to do those two projects came from the Department of Transportation grant (and) loan combination and the county Strategic Infrastructure Program,” he said. “That money is a result of the efforts and the support of the EDC directly to Ephrata.”

He also pointed out the council’s push to bring air service back to Moses Lake helps attract businesses to the area.

“When I first got here there was a lot of talk about them not serving the entire county and I think they work really hard to do that, and I’m here as an Ephrata guy to stand up for them and say, ‘They’re working real hard to serve everybody that they can in Grant County,’” Wren said.

Councilmember Bruce Reim opposed giving money to the EDC in the past. He questioned what the council has done for the city.

“Outside of the tire company, that seems iffy, what have we received?” he asked. “I’m real positive about it, but I’m also the one with the most questions. Out of the $14,000 we’ve put into it for the last two years, what have we got?”

Wren said it was a valid question, saying the EDC was influential in getting money to make improvements at the port.

“So that’s a pretty good return, when you add both of our (payments) for Ephrata,” he said.

Councilmember Ben Davis compared the situation to bidding for construction jobs, saying a company can work hard to put in a bid and still not receive the job.

“It’s not that the effort wasn’t put in, it’s you don’t see the results,” he said. “You don’t have a client you actually land, then that is an easy question to ask, but you don’t know how many people they talked to in an effort to see if they were interested.”

Mayor Chris Jacobson added any growth outside of Ephrata does impact the city.

The council unanimously approved the agreement.