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CSI drives forest industry innovation on the North Olympic Peninsula

In 2023, the Center for Sustainable Infrastructure facilitated the development of a new economic revitalization strategy for Washington’s struggling North Olympic Peninsula. Leaders from Clallam and Jefferson Counties came together to form the North Olympic Peninsula Recompete Coalition (NOPRC) and develop an innovative $50 million application to the first phase of the new federal Recompete Grant Program. Out of 565 applications across 49 states, the region was named one of twenty-two national finalists for phase two of the award in January 2024.

 

The Coalition has now been announced as one of 6 final awardees – the only awardee on the West Coast – and will receive $35 million of a total of $184 million nationwide to implement their vision.  This historic federal funding is being administered by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) through the Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program (Recompete Pilot Program), which was created based on legislation authored by Rep. Kilmer (WA -06).

 

The proposal included five years of seed funding for a Natural Resources Innovation Center (NRIC) to support the region’s shift toward innovation and sustainability in forest products as a key growth strategy. Goals for the new center include innovative forest product development, biomass utilization and industrial symbiosis for the forestry sector. Unfortunately, staffing for NRIC was not funded, but US EDA is supporting NRIC through other funds to implement projects that advance industrial innovation opportunities for area businesses and entrepreneurs.

 

NOPRC has grown to include all local municipalities and unincorporated communities across the Peninsula, five Tribes (Hoh, Makah, Jamestown S’Klallam, Lower Elwha Klallam, and Quileute), ports, economic development agencies, community-based organizations, educational institutions, and non-profits.

 

The North Olympic Peninsula Recompete Plan will fund efforts to train workers and provide support services that help them get jobs. It will also fund significant new barging infrastructure that will help the Peninsula overcome its enormous logistical challenges and help move products on or from the Peninsula, providing more efficient access to global markets while lowering carbon emissions.

 

CSI identified forestry as a great candidate for industrial symbiosis in our 2022 report to the Legislature, produced in partnership with Washington State University and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. We are excited to support industry and community leaders from the Olympic Peninsula as they chart a new course for forestry, where sustainability and innovation go hand in hand with growing good jobs in the woods and making fuller use of our forest resources, which in turn offer more tools for timber-dependent communities to use to build sustainably thriving local economies.


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