COPAC outlines regional grants, CPACE financing and brownfield programs in Seaside presentation

Sarah Lou Heath, director of the Columbia Pacific Economic Development District (COPAC), presented the organization’s work across northwest Oregon to Seaside City Council on March 23.

Heath described COPAC’s role in grant discovery and administration (including Community Development Block Grant work), a small‑business revolving loan fund to complement traditional bank lending, and a recently launched Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (CPACE) program that can finance up to 30% of qualifying energy and resilience improvements and that attaches the financing to property rather than borrower.

She outlined a brownfield redevelopment program that has supported assessments and cleanup financing for industrial and commercial sites across the region, noting recent local examples. COPAC also administers the Northwest Oregon Transit Alliance — a cooperative of small rural transit districts — and is launching a 'transportation options' program to reduce single‑occupant vehicle trips and support 'last‑mile' connections for residents and visitors.

Council members asked about funding sources, partnerships with county economic development groups and the organization’s fee‑for‑service model. Heath said COPAC receives federal grants (EDA, EPA, USDA) and program fees and that the staff is small (two staff plus consultants) but leverages regional partnerships to deliver services.

How this matters to Seaside: COPAC can support local grant administration, small municipal projects, brownfield assessment, and transportation planning that could affect downtown redevelopment and visitor mobility.

What’s next: COPAC will provide slides and contact information to council; councilors encouraged local referrals for projects that could use COPAC assistance.