A piece of Colville Tribal property in Omak is getting some state money to accelerate development. The property is one of six across the state to receive 416-thousand dollars from the State Department of Commerce to support engineering studies, permitting and site due diligence activities designed to accelerate development of manufacturing activity, creating economic opportunity and jobs, particularly in rural communities.
On the 386-acre site in East Omak, site planning, a corridor study, and rail, water, wastewater and electrical grid assessments will be conducted by the Colville tribes. The tribally designated land has partial construction underway, and further development will focus on manufacturing, biomass and other industry sectors. One-time grants were also awarded for sites in Yakima, Whatcom, Skagit, Franklin and Walla Walla counties.
The Building Economic Strength Through Manufacturing Act passed by the 2021 Legislature provides a framework for the state to add 300-thousand new manufacturing jobs over the next 10 years. The Commerce Department says those grants help support that goal.