2025-12-22-minutes-public-works-study-session

Home Browse Search

KITTITAS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT STUDY SESSION DATE: December 22, 2025 TOPIC: Cle Elum Business Incubator ACTION REQUESTED: Direct Staff to Prepare Enabling Documents to Remove the Deed Restriction and to Accept Funding Refund from Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce LEAD STAFF: Josh Fredrickson RECOMMENDATION: Direct staff to prepare enabling documents to remove the deed restriction and to accept funding refund from Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce BRIEFING SUMMARY: Resolution 2010-65 authorized Distressed Sales and Use Tax revenues to be directed to the Innovation Partnership Zone (IPZ) • Resolution 2015-110 transferred the award from the IPZ to the Professional Services Incubator Project in Cle Elum with the Chamber of Commerce • Distressed Sales and Use Tax used to purchase the Cle Elum Business Incubator located at 214 North Pennsylvania Avenue in Cle Elum • Building has a deed restriction limiting the use to economic development or business enhancement • Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) would like to refund the funds used towards the purchase of the building in exchange for the removal of the deed restriction BACKGROUND: The Kittitas County Conference of Governments (COG) recommended use of Distressed County, Sales and Use Tax (0.09 funds) towards economic development. In 2010 funds were directed to the Innovation Partnership Zone (IPZ) to help start up the Central Washington Resource Energy Collaborative. Funding was to accumulate over the course of five years. The Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce requested the purchase of the building at 214 North Pennsylvania Ave. to serve economic development purposes. In 2015 COG met and recommended transfer of awarded 0.09 funds from the IPZ to the Professional Services Incubator Project I*n Cle Elum. The business incubator project