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6.
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| TRANSPORTATION, WATER & INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE |
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| Information |
| Referral History: |
| N/A |
| Referral Update: |
Northern Waterfront Economic Development Initiative
The Northern Waterfront Economic Development Initiative was launched in 2013 to assess economic conditions in the Northern Waterfront and identify opportunities to revitalize it. In January 2014, the County released the Revitalizing Contra Costa's Northern Waterfront: How to be Competitive in the 21st Century Global Economy Report, which detailed the current economic conditions and opportunities and the recommended strategies to implement that would revitalize the area.
At the April 11, 2017 meeting, the Northern Waterfront Ad Hoc Subcommittee received an update from staff on the work program for the Northern Waterfront Economic Development Initiative. One of the activities identified in the work program was a goods movement study to determine the feasibility of a short-line railroad in the Northern Waterfront (Exhibit A). At the May 9, 2017 Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board approved allocating $500,000 from the County General Fund to fund Northern Waterfront Economic Development Initiative activities in the work program, $75,000 of which would go towards funding the short-line railroad feasibility study.
Economic Development Administration - Planning and Local Technical Assistance Program
The United States Economic Development Administration (EDA) currently has a call for projects for its Planning and Local Technical Assistance Program (Exhibit B). This program funds studies and plans that generates economic development and investment in areas that are experiencing economic hardship. Specifically, the Planning Program funds regional-level economic development plans, the Revitalizing Contra Costa's Northern Waterfront Report for example. The Local Technical Assistance Program funds more localized or focused studies and plans.
The total amount available is $41 million ($30 million to the Planning Program, $11 million for the Local Technical Assistance Program), and the maximum grant funding is $300,000. The local match for the grant ranges from 20% to 50%, depending on if certain economic thresholds related to unemployment and per capita income are met. The grant is available through FY 2018/19.
Discussion
Staff is asking TWIC to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve the submittal of a grant proposal to the EDA - Planning and Local Technical Assistance Program. The proposal, “Feasibility of a Short-Line Railroad to in the Northern Waterfront”, would fund a short-line railroad study. The grant application, in the amount of $75,000, would be submitted for the Local Technical Assistance Program.
The local match would be anywhere from $15,000 to $37,500, depending on the economic thresholds discussed above. These funds would be taken from $75,000 earmarked for the short-line railroad study. The $75,000 was part of a $500,000 amount appropriated towards Northern Waterfront Economic Development Initiative activities by the Board of Supervisors at its May 9, 2017, meeting. Staff expects to submit the grant application to the Board of Supervisors for its consideration sometime this Fall.
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| Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s): |
RECOMMEND that the Board of Supervisors approve the submission of a grant application, “Feasibility of a Short-Line Railroad in the Northern Waterfront,” for the Planning and Local Technical Assistance Program to the United States Economic Development Administration to study a short-line railroad in the Northern Waterfront.
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| Fiscal Impact (if any): |
| In the event of a successful grant application, the County will receive an amount not to exceed $60,000 from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, Planning and Local Technical Assistance Program. (County match of $37,500 provided by Northern Waterfront Economic Development Initiative [Other Special Departmental Expense, FY 2017-18 Budget] with no new General Fund impact). |
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