Chehalis Community Renaissance Team Executive Director Annalee Tobey stands in front of the team’s office at 60 NW Boistfort St. in Chehalis.
A dozen local businesses and the City of Chehalis came together recently to bequeath the Chehalis Community Renaissance Team with a donation of $133,333 through the Washington State Main Street B&O Tax Credit Incentive Program.
That program, which is unique to Washington, allows entities to store up Business and Occupation (B&O) or Public Utility Tax (PUT) credits by donating to eligible “Main Street” organizations. The program is set up so that businesses can make a donation to a Main Street program through the Department of Revenue. Then, the following year, that donating business receives a corresponding tax credit worth 75 percent of the original donation.
Organizations on the receiving end of the donations are permitted to collect up to $133,333 each year from the annual pot of $2.5 million in state capital. The Chehalis Community Renaissance Team was designated as an official Main Street organization in 2014.
“We are so grateful to serve the Chehalis community. We are incredibly humbled and thankful for the business and local government support that will allow us to further our course of work growing our community,” stated Annalee Tobey, executive director, in a press release. “The contributions from these donating participants will stay right here in Chehalis.”
Thirteen local operations have pledged donations to CCRT in 2018 as part of the B&O Tax Incentive Program. Those entities include Book ‘N’ Brush, Callisons Inc., the City of Chehalis, Columbia Bank, DeVaul Publishing Inc., Gallagher Restoration, Pacific Mobile Structures Inc., Puget Sound Energy, Rainier Connect, Security State Bank, Service Saw/Workwears Inc., Tires Inc. and Twin Cities Trading Post.
Among the 34 designated Main Street communities, Chehalis was one of only seven that were able to collect the maximum donation this year.
“We look forward to continuing the positive momentum and forward progress,” said Tobey, in the release.
“There is work to be accomplished, and Chehalis is up for the challenge.”
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