The Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board is awarding a $25,000 grant to Pierce County to conduct an economic feasibility study at the Tacoma Narrows Airport (TIW).
The study is scheduled to be completed by early March, coinciding with the completion of a Business Case Evaluation already in progress, according to county officials. Information gained from these studies will be combined with an FAA-funded Airport Master Plan Assessment to be started later this year. The result of these efforts will be a plan to guide county investment decisions at the airport in the context of the surrounding community, officials explain.
The feasibility study will identify how much future economic development the county can promote, which drives how it invests now. It will also show how much money the county needs to achieve the level of service it desires. The studies enable the county to gather the facts, look at all the options and build to levels that will support future development at the airport and the surrounding vicinity.
The grant, awarded to the Public Works and Utilities Department, requires an $11,250 county match in cash and in-kind services and will be performed by a consultant.
The $25,000 grant was among $3 million in public investments unveiled Jan. 21 that target job creation and business growth in Grant, Pierce, and Whatcom counties. Here is a link to the state Department of Commerce’s announcement: For more information: Commerce.wa.gov or PierceCountywa.org
