Port of Whitman will seek to expand fiber

Port of Whitman Chief Operating Officer, Kara Riebold, received a phone call Thursday, Nov. 29, from the Community Economics Revitalization Board (CERB) in the Department of Commerce. The phone call reported CERB had voted to increase construction project limits and recipients were being called to let them know they may qualify for an increase. The limits had been $1 million and were being increased to $2 million.

The Port in September received a grant-loan from the CERB Rural Broadband Program for up to $1 million to fund fiber optic networks being extended to the Garfield, Oakesdale, Palouse, Rosalia and Tekoa communities.

To qualify for an increase, a project would have to expect cost overruns or add on to the original project.

The Port has in the past discussed the possibility of taking fiber to homes in a couple areas surrounding Colfax such as the industrial park.

Riebold will put together the needed information to present to CERB. A lot of the leg work has already been done as far as identifying locations for where the scope would change.

CERB requires a project budget and scope change descriptions. Riebold is working to have the information together and ready to send in by early January.

The revisions will be presented at the CERB meeting Jan. 19.

The changes would be outside the five communities that were part of the original project.

Port of Whitman commissioners Monday voted to add $1,000 to a Port of Clarkston plan to request funds for an economic study to understand “what the true economic benefit of the cruise boat and passenger vessel traffic is to this region.”

Clarkston is in partnerships with the Port of Lewiston and Visit LC Valley, among others, to do the study, but needs support to provide the match for the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration grant.

The project’s estimated cost is $100,000, of which $50,000 would be matched. At this time, the Port of Clarkston has $15,500 of pledged funds for match.

Clarkston has asked the Port of Whitman County to help reach that match by providing $5,000.

Whitman Port Commissioner Tom Kammerzell said he can see a direct value to the Lewis-Clark Valley, but sees little direct value to Whitman County.

“I want to be supportive, but at the same time I want to be realistic,” said Kammerzell.

Commissioner Kristine Meyer said she wants to support the study at some level, partially because of commerce to our area, but more because “the more the system is utilized, the more the existence of the system is justified. Any use on the river substantiates the existence of the system to the river,” Meyer said.

Meyer said she feels the study could help sustain the volume of cruise boat traffic on the river.

Meyer recommended to support the study with at least $1,000, and would be willing to go higher depending on if the Port of Clarkston secures the balance necessary and the Port of Whitman County receives progress reports.

The purpose of the study is in part to provide information and get projections on future growth while the ports seek additional cruise lines and yacht tours for the Columbia and Snake River cruises.

The cruise boat industry on the river has an estimated two million dollar annual benefit to the region.

One barrier the port knows it faces is fueling for yachts. The study will help them learn what other barriers they may face and allow the ports to figure out what action they may take to assess and improve the situation.

The Port of Clarkston sought two letters from the Port of Whitman: One letter of commitment for the funds and one letter pledging support for the project.