2020-06-10 Economic Recovery MeetingEconomic Recovery Forum
June 10, 2020
1:02 p.m.
Present: Commissioner Fund, Commissioner Stamper, County Manager Erik Martin, Bob Guenther
Becky Butler, Steve Wohld, Tamara Hayes, Toledo Mayor Steve Dobosh, Sarah Kohout of Sen. Maria
Cantwell’s office, Chehalis Mayor Dennis Dawes, Pe Ell Mayor Lonnie Willey, Debbie Campbell, JP
Anderson, Gary Fredricks, Matt Matayoshi, Suzette Smith, Matt Patana, Michelle Whitten, Cynthia Swift,
Teri Zambon, Meri Hamre, Julie Bullock, David Woodrum, Terra Oster, Bill Serrahn, Gary Fredricks,
Tamara Hayes, Matt Matayoshi, Lara McRea, Meri Hamre, Steve Wohld, Michelle Whitten
Guests: Other various members of the public and press
Recorder: Rieva Lester
Chehalis Mayor Dennis Dawes said he has sent in a letter of support for the county’s Phase 3
application.
Toledo Mayor Steve Dobosh said businesses are doing well in the wake of the COVID-19 closures.
Teri Zambon of the Centralia Downtown Association (CDA) said the August and September Music in the
Park events have been canceled. She said some grant funding still is available.
County Manager Erik Martin said the county plans to apply June 12 to move to Phase 3. He said the
county will reopen county buildings to the public once the move to Phase 3 is approved. Erik said
Commerce indicated earlier in the day that Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) will be
available for cities and the county.
Erik reviewed what Phase 3 will mean for the OPMA.
Cynthia Swift discussed the East Lewis County Chamber of Commerce said she has Lewis County
Together toolkits – with masks, hand sanitizer, etc. – to distribute to area businesses.
Matt Matayoshi of the EDC said a workshop is planned for June 26. He discussed work with coal
transition grants, which helped provide hand sanitizer for area schools.
Bob Guenther said hand sanitizer has been distributed to nearly 40 area schools.
Matt Matayoshi said the EDC will be administering grants and loans using funds provided to the county
by the state Department of Commerce. He said the Payroll Protection Plan has funding still available.
Larry McGee discussed mask and sanitizer supplies the Lewis County Together group has delivered to
area cities for distribution to area businesses, thanks to help from the county, the coal transition grant
and others.
Larry McGee reminded the group that each business will be required to have plans in place one the
county reaches Phase 3.
Commissioner Fund said Scott Haas of Employment Security Department contacted her and said ESD is
working on reopening plans and that employees are continuing work to process unemployment claims.
She said he noted that Lewis County’s unemployment claims have decreased.
Erik Martin urged the group to submit meeting topics or questions to help the county keep the
Economic Recovery Forum relevant.
Meeting ended at 1:42 p.m.