The Grays Harbor County Commissioners will give $88,000 to Greater Grays Harbor Inc. for economic development. That’s more than 14 times what the commissioners gave the agency in 2016.

The funding will cover part of the salary for CEO Dru Garson.

The funding, however, comes with caveats, courtesy of Commissioner Wes Cormier.

Conversations during the media-information session were tame, with Cormier noting that he had asked for more “deliverables” from Greater Grays Harbor Inc. than what had first been suggested.

Initially, Cormier says, the agreement would have seen Greater Grays Harbor Inc. receiving $88,000 and providing two reports to the county. Cormier pushed back asking for results.

According to the agreement approved on Monday, April 3, a written report will be required on June 30, 2017, showing that the agency has complied with “the deliverables.” A final report will be due at the end of 2017.

Deliverables are a minimum of 20 engagements with government organizations, 25 engagements with non-profit or civic organizations, and 45 engagements with local private businesses. Additionally, a minimum of 30 cold calls to regional businesses in the primary (resource heavy industry, like mining and fishing) and secondary (manufacturing of those resources markets, like fish processing plants) markets, as well as a minimum of 22 cold calls to out-of-state businesses.

Cormier said that was essential to his consent.

“I’ve been adamant with Dru to focus on the primary and secondary markets… I think it’s important that he focus on those things rather than tourism because we have a tourism board and tourism is already doing great in Grays Harbor,” Cormier said. “I would expect this money going toward the primary and secondary markets’ economic development so that we can bring family-wage jobs into the county.”

Commissioner Vickie Raines lauded Garson’s performance saying, “Dru’s done a great job — he’s probably one of the best EDC (Economic Development Council) directors we’ve had in a long time, and I’ve worked with four.”

Commissioner Cormier was less pleasant.

“I will reserve my opinion until the end of this year,” Cormier said.

Commissioner Randy Ross said funding Greater Grays Harbor Inc. sends a clear message of support.

“Greater Grays Harbor for many years has seen their funding cut by the state, and the county has been kind of hot and cold… this sends a clear message that we understand the value of economic development and we understand the value of creating primary and secondary jobs for our community, and that we’re putting our money where our mouth is and committing funds to do it,” Ross said. “We do have deliverables and we do expect results. Results can take time, but we do have deliverables.”

In 2016, the commissioners contributed only $6,000 to Greater Grays Harbor Inc. For 2017, the commissioners had budgeted a $13,500 contribution from the general fund. Following approval of the $88,000, the commissioners will not appropriate the general fund money. The $88,000 will come from the county’s economic development fund.