2025-11-10 Economic AllianceEconomic Alliance Update
November 10, 2025
10:02 a.m.
Present: Commissioner Brummer, Commissioner Pollock, Commissioner Swope, Richard DeBolt, Todd
Chaput, Becky Butler
Guest(s):
Recorder: Tammy Martin
Public comment: None
Richard DeBolt said that as of January 1, 2026, he will no longer be the Director of the Economic
Alliance. Todd Chaput has been voted in as the new Director by the Board of Directors.
Richard said the EA met with representatives from Centralia and Chehalis about budget requests and
issues. Richard said the Economic Alliance will focus on capital requests.
Todd Chaput said the .09 committee has recommended approval of one of the three applications it
received for Distressed Counties funding: the Chehalis River Basin Flood Control Zone District’s $250,000
request for the airport levee design. Todd said the committee rejected the county’s application
regarding Vader Water and that the committee will reconvene Dec. 5 to review the third application,
which involves public education regarding the water retention project.
Todd said EA will provide its recommendations regarding 2026 .09 committee membership at the end of
the year.
Todd said a Woody Biomass conference will take place later in the week. Todd said there will be a panel
for questions and answers. Todd feels this would help with slash burning, but Commissioner Brummer
feels that scarifying the ground prevents nutrients from returning to the soils.
Todd said there is a “retail gap” roundtable planned to identify opportunities for growth within Centralia
and how to best increase retail sales.
Richard provided updates on various projects:
• Project May is moving forward with groundbreaking in January.
• HPM is starting construction and has a goal to be ready for operation in May.
• Project Steelhead is moving forward with site-delineations.
• Project Far Sight is looking at a site in Centralia.
Todd said the CEDS is complete and on the website. Todd said it will be approved at the next board
meeting and will include tourism.
Todd thanked the BOCC for the funds received from LTAC for the 2026 year. The annual report will be
posted on the Discover Lewis County (DLC) website.
Richard informed the Board that the state tourism TPA was unfunded for 2026. He suggested
researching a local TPA tax and to have language in the works.
Adjourned at 10:25 a.m.