Columbia-Pacific National Heritage Area Backers Seek Public Input

The public comment period for the draft feasibility study is still open. You have until May 3rd to submit your written comments.

Four public meetings, in Astoria, Seaside, Cathlamet, and Ilwaco—cities within the proposed boundary of the Columbia-Pacific National Heritage Area—recently wrapped up.

“The nuts and bolts of what we’re proposing—the heritage investment strategy—we received overall positive comments,” said Jay Flint of ShoreBank Enterprise Cascadia, the non-profit community development institution, which is coordinating the effort.

SBEC plans to leverage federal seed money to create an investment fund up to $15 million for entrepreneurs who are helping preserve our region’s heritage. This is based on the idea that communities within Clatsop, Pacific, and Wahkiakum Counties, share natural resource-based economies, including tourism, fishing, farming, and logging.

This revolving loan fund approach is cutting-edge for national heritage areas, which have largely been grant-based, and focused on promotions that don’t directly generate money back into the program. The National Park Service, which administers these heritage areas, has been seeking a new model to make them financially self-sustaining.

SBEC will incorporate public comments into the final draft of the feasibility study, set for mid-May, and then start the process of seeking congressional authorization for the heritage area, aiming for approval this year.

The next major phase of the national heritage area would be building an implementation plan, which includes heavy public involvement, and the creation of an advisory board consisting of representatives from all three counties. Federal funds would then become available.

There are 49 national heritage areas around the country. This would be the first on the West coast. A major part of the criteria for designation would be that this region played a significant and unique role in the story of our nation.

“In terms of the West coast, this is some of the richest history and some of the longest. You can feel it, and see it in the buildings and industries that are still here,” said Flint.