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KITTITAS COUNTY <br />DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br />PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />STUDY SESSION DATE: July 28, 2025 <br />TOPIC: Kittitas County CWU Technology Transfer <br />Center Feasibility Project Update <br />ACTION REQUESTED: Informational only <br />LEAD STAFF: <br />Joshua Fredrickson <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />Informational briefing — no action required by the Board <br />BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br />• Kittitas County was awarded planning grant funding from the Washington State <br />Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) to develop Technology <br />Transfer Center Feasibility Study <br />• Match funding made available through Distressed Sales and Use Tax (0.09 funds) <br />• Project development is underway, kickoff meeting with stakeholders was held, <br />public involvement is ongoing <br />• Development of management structure to foster a successful public private <br />partnership is occurring <br />• Report is currently being drafted <br />BACKGROUND: <br />The Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) selected <br />Kittitas County to receive planning grant funding. This funding is to aid in financing the <br />cost of the Kittitas County CWU Technology Transfer Center Feasibility Study (Project). <br />A consultant was selected, and project development is ongoing at this time. This <br />feasibility study is a partnership with Central Washington University (CWU). <br />A project kickoff meeting was held April 29, 2025. Additional stakeholder meetings have <br />been conducted. This has included working with Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce <br />to conduct a meeting with key stakeholders. Meetings have included local business <br />owners, developers, real estate developers and other key stakeholders. The consultant has <br />also been working with Business and Community Services group from Central <br />Washington University for the development of the organization to operate Old Heat. This <br />has included research into existing commercialization centers to identify a business <br />structure. This information will be included in the final report. The report draft has <br />begun, which will include all of the required information for CERB. <br />Page 1 of 2 <br />Public Works "Work Session Staff Report", 2025 <br />