Submitted by Port of Olympia
The Port of Olympia Commission is pleased to announce new investments in Bucoda, Rainier, Tenino and Yelm as part of the Port’s Small Cities Program. Launched in 2010, the Small Cities Program provides gap funding for community and economic development initiatives in incorporated Thurston County cities with fewer than 15,000 residents. At its March 26 meeting, the Commission awarded each community $10,000 in matching funds to implement the following projects:
- Bucoda will purchase event equipment to support and expand the popular Annual Haunted House.
- Rainier will renovate and preserve the historic Rainier School and Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church.
- Tenino is moving forward with design and construction of a shaded pavilion dedicated to the needs of bicyclists. The pavilion will feature water-bottle filling stations, seating, bike racks and minor repair facilities.
- Yelm will conduct a Retail Trades Study analyzing economic patterns in south Thurston and Southeast Pierce Counties, associated retail leakage and specific opportunities for Yelm to retain, expand and attract new businesses investment.
This is the eighth year the Port has awarded funding through the Small Cities Program in an effort to build economic opportunity countywide. Eligible cities are required to submit applications detailing proposed projects which are then reviewed by the Board of Directors of the Port Economic Development, Port staff, and forwarded to the Commission for review and approval. Past Port investments have helped with development of a community center in Yelm, installation of visitor signage in Tenino, enhanced main street sidewalks in Rainier and renovation of the Oddfellows Building in Bucoda.
