HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024 JC Public Infrastructure Fund Proposal Instructions
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2024 Request for Proposals - Public Infrastructure Fund
These instructions are for 2024 PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE FUND
PROPOSALS to request funding from the Jefferson County Public
Infrastructure Fund (PIF). Under Jefferson County guidelines, you must be a
LOCAL PUBLIC AGENCY for your public facility project to be eligible for
funding from the Jefferson County PIF.
The Jefferson County PIF Board will consider complete and signed proposals that include
all requested information and documents that are received by the proposal deadline
in the County Administrator’s Office (not postmarked) by November 8, 2023 at 4:30 pm.
Address: Jefferson County Public Infrastructure Fund
County Administrator
1820 Jefferson Street
P.O. Box 1220
Port Townsend, WA 98368
2024 Proposal Instructions
The Jefferson County Public Infrastructure Fund (PIF) Board is accepting proposals from local public agencies to
help finance public facilities serving economic development purposes via grants and loans from the County’s
Public Infrastructure Fund. The PIF Board will make recommendations to the Jefferson County Commissioners
(BOCC) after evaluating the proposals. All final decisions for use of the PIF will be made by the BOCC.
■ Proposals from local public agencies must be for helping to finance public facilities serving economic
development purposes. Refer to the rest of this packet for instructions and eligibility details.
■ Your public facility project must be listed in the current Comprehensive Economic Development
Strategy (CEDS), or in the economic development section of the comprehensive plan of Jefferson
County or the City of Port Townsend.
■ PIF funding as grants or loans may finance a portion of the public facility project cost, not to exceed
80% of the project cost.
■ Proposals must comply with federal, state, and county laws and requirements, including Chapter 3.28
of Jefferson County Code.
■ Proposals must address all questions in the RFP, and include all requested supplemental information.
■ To be considered, a completed and signed original application, PLUS NINE (9) copies, with supporting
documents must be received and date stamped at the Jefferson County Courthouse, County
Administrator’s Office, 1820 Jefferson Street, P.O. Box 1220, Port Townsend, WA 98368 by the
deadline listed above.
■ The proposal and all documents filed with the County are public records, potentially eligible for
release.
Jefferson County is committed to the non-discriminatory treatment of
all persons in the employment and delivery of services and resources.
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1. Jefferson County’s Proposal Process -
The Jefferson County Public Infrastructure Fund Board solicits proposals when sufficient PIF funds are available.
The proposal form in Word may be downloaded from the County’s website, www.co.jefferson.wa.us, and may
also be requested by calling the Jefferson County Administrator’s Office at the Courthouse, (360) 385-9100.
Jefferson County staff will review project proposals submitted to the County, prior to presenting them to the
PIF Board. Projects meeting the minimum requirements will be presented for review by the PIF Board.
Applications that do not meet the requirements will not be forwarded to the PIF Board.
This year, the PIF Board will review proposals on a tentative date of November 15, 2023. Applicants will be
scheduled to attend this meeting between 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Chambers in the
Basement of the County Courthouse (1820 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368), or online. At that
meeting, each invited proposing agency will answer questions from the PIF Board regarding their proposal.
The Public Infrastructure Fund Board will make a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners
regarding which proposals to fund, and at what funding levels within available revenues.
The review of the PIF Board’s recommendations and final decision about allocating PIF monies will be made by
the County Commissioners. Each agency will be notified of the status its proposal. Contracts are prepared by
the County and sent to agencies. The County will monitor contract compliance and reimburse approved project
expenses.
2. Available Funding for 2024 -
A total of up to $800,189 in Public Infrastructure Funds is potentially being made available in 2024 to be shared
between all the successful applicants through this RFP. Therefore, each applicant is encouraged to limit the
number of project applications submitted to the applicant’s top priority(s), and to scale funding requests so
that other applicants may receive awards too. PIF funding awards can be in the form of a grant and/or loan,
for up to 80% of a project’s cost.
3. Eligible Projects -
Pursuant to this RFP and state law, Public Infrastructure Funds through this RFP may only be used to finance
public facilities serving economic development purposes.
Jefferson County solicits proposals from local public agencies within Jefferson County requesting funding for
public facility projects that serve economic development purposes by promoting the creation, expansion or
retention of businesses and jobs. Applications can be downloaded from www.co.jefferson.wa.us and may also
be requested by calling (360) 385-9100. ONE fully completed and digitally signed application with supporting
documents must be received by 4:30 p.m. November 8, 2023 to carolyn@co.jefferson.wa.us
To be eligible, the project must:
• Meet the definition of a public facility – see RCW 82.14.370(3)(i);
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• Be listed in the most recently adopted Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), or listed in
the economic development section of the comprehensive plan of Jefferson County or the City of Port
Townsend; and
• Be a project of a local public agency within Jefferson County, and that agency will be the recipient of the PIF
funds.
RCW 82.14.370(3)(i) defines public facilities as bridges, roads, domestic and industrial water facilities, sanitary
sewer facilities, earth stabilization, storm sewer facilities, railroad, electrical facilities, natural gas facilities,
research, testing, training and incubation facilities in innovation partnership zones designated under RCW
43.330.270, buildings, structures, telecommunications infrastructure, transportation infrastructure, or
commercial infrastructure, and port facilities in the State of Washington.
In addition, a 2001 opinion of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office determined that PIF funds may
be expended on an eligible public facility for the following purposes:
Capital facilities costs, including acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, alteration, expansion, or
improvements of public facilities; costs of development and improvement for the public facilities; project-
specific environmental costs; land use and permitting costs; costs of site planning and analysis; project design,
including feasibility and marketing studies and plans, and debt and revenue impact analysis.
4. Project Description/Criteria –
Each application should provide a description and information about a project that meets the following
requirements and provides an economic benefit to Jefferson County. Specific questions are included in the
application form to ensure the project is in compliance with the requirements set forth in RCW and County
Code, and to assist the applicant in delineating those matters which are of concern to the Public Infrastructure
Fund Board and Jefferson County Commissioners.
The PIF Board will consider the following criteria to evaluate projects:
(1) Public facility projects that have a higher probability of successfully creating or retaining significant
numbers of jobs including unskilled, semi-skilled, and skilled jobs; or that have a large job creation-to-PIF
funding ratio.
(2) Projects that leverage significant outside funding and/or partnerships.
(3) Projects that would develop, re-develop, in-fill or expand existing or planned infrastructure systems
necessary to create or retain jobs.
(4) Projects with a higher match percentage. The match may include project-related expenditures for a period
up to one year prior to the request for funding.
(5) Projects that will retain or create jobs or benefit the economy in priority economic sectors or economic
centers in the incorporated or unincorporated areas of Jefferson County.
(6) Projects that also successfully mitigate for significant adverse environmental impacts, if applicable.
(7) Consideration may be given for critical timing; emergent opportunities;
(8) Consistency with and implementation of an adopted countywide economic development plan or strategy,
the economic element of an adopted Comprehensive Plan, or an adopted Comprehensive Economic
Development Strategy (CEDS);
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(9) Projects which provide a balance of Geographic and Historic Distribution
(10) Projects that confer multiple benefits.
(11) Other criteria as the PIF Board may determine, consistent with RCW 82.14.370, and the adopted
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) or the adopted Comprehensive Plan of the
jurisdiction where a project is located.
For additional information, contact:
Mark McCauley, County Administrator
Jefferson County Courthouse
PO Box 1220
Port Townsend, WA 98368
Ph: 360-385-9130; Fax: 360-385-9382; e-mail: MMcCauley@co.jefferson.wa.us