With another flood season having passed in the Chehalis River Basin, the Economic Alliance of Lewis County — formerly the Lewis Economic Development Council (EDC) — is asking local government entities for financial support for flood mitigation efforts for 2025.
With the goal of improving economic vitality in the Lewis County community and expanding business opportunities, the Economic Alliance also engages in local flood mitigation efforts to help protect its efforts.
The Port of Centralia was one of those entities asked for funding this year, and the port commissioners approved a total of $15,000 in funding for flood mitigation during the commissioner’s meeting on Wednesday, March 19.
“The EDC has asked this in the past. Commissioners have funded it sometimes, not funded it others, but this year it sounds like they’re closing in on some things,” Port of Centralia Executive Director Kyle Heaton said during the meeting.
He added the Economic Alliance had also requested flood mitigation funding from the neighboring Port of Chehalis along with the City of Centralia, City of Chehalis and Lewis County. According to Port of Centralia Commissioner Kyle Markstrom, the Economic Alliance requested $25,000 from Lewis County along with $15,000 from both cities and $5,000 from the Port of Chehalis.
“I did raise the question, why the Port of Chehalis wasn’t funding at the same level as the Port of Centralia?” Markstrom said. “I am still waiting on an answer for that. I don’t know if it will be changed from this year, but it is my personal opinion that I’d like to see them contribute. We all stand to benefit from this the same, and we all should be funding it at the same level. I think this is important work that is taking place.”
The Port of Centralia commissioners approved funding flood mitigation efforts by the Economic Alliance by a vote of 2-0, with Port of Centralia Commissioner Peter Lahmann not present for Wednesday’s meeting.
To learn more about the Economic Alliance of Lewis County, visit its website at https://lewiscountyalliance.org/ or call 360-748-0114.
