JAN 2015 VOLUME MMXV ISSUE 1 BFCG NEWSLETTER B E N T O N - F R A N K L I N C O U N C I L O F G O V E R N M E N T S Serving the economic and transportation sectors of our region including the BENTON-FRANKLIN REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION BENTON-FRANKLIN COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS MAKES PROJECT SELECTIONS FOR THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM & TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM SELECTED PROJECTS STP – (FFY2018) and TAP (FFY 2014-2015) The BFCG is pleased to announce the approval of project selections for the 2014 STP and the 2014 -2015 TAP programs. Approval was given at the December 19th meeting of the BFCG Board. STP projects selection included a variety of improvement types for a total of $3,390,978. The 2014-2015 TAP projects were selected for a two year program of $596,772. AGENCY PROJECT TITLE STP AWARD TAP AWARD Urban Large > 200,000 population Kennewick Edison Street Widening $928,000 Richland Duportail Street Improvements (Wright to Thayer) $454,500 West Richland Belmont Boulevard Phase 3&4 $499,615 Pasco Traffic Signal Improvements - Citywide (3) $200,000 Pasco Interchange Traffic Study (I-182 between Rd. 68 & US 395) $240,000 Pasco Dual Right Turn Road 68 $495,370 Kennewick Columbia Drive Streetscape $100,000 Richland Vantage Highway Pathway Phase 1 $204,739 Pasco Traffic Signal Improvements - Citywide (3) $125,000 TOTAL STP URBANIZED = $2,817,485 TOTAL TAP URBANIZED = $430,090 ...continued on page 2 In This Issue STP & TAP PROJECTS . . . . . 2 Mark Your Calendar January 8th – TAC Meeting – CANCELLED January 13th – BFCG Executive Committee Meeting - CANCELLED 2014 HSTP ADOPTION . . . . . 2 January 14th – 1:30pm RRLF Meeting @ BFCG January 15th – PAC Meeting – CANCELLED SMALL BUSINESS NEW YEAR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 January 20th – 1:30pm CREDiT Meeting @ BFCG January 23rd – BFCG Board Meeting -CANCELLED DECEMBER BOARD BRIEFS. . . . . . . . . . . 3 January 26th – 4:00pm HAEIFC Meeting @ Ben Franklin Transit, Richland January 28th – 1:30pm Small Cities Meeting @ BFCG PAGE 2 VOLUME MMXV ISSUE 1 STP & TAP PROJECTS (continued ) AGENCY PROJECT TITLE STP AWARD TAP AWARD Urban Small < 200,000 population Prosser 7th Street Improvements $88,954 TOTAL STP URBAN = AGENCY PROJECT TITLE $88,954 STP AWARD TAP AWARD Rural < 5,000 population Benton County Sellards Road - Phase 1 $365,347 Franklin County Taylor Flats Bridge #903-3.46 $259,500 Connell Arterial Surface Restoration II $39,387 Benton County Prosser to Grandview Ped/Bike Pathyway II $89,614 Connell Arterial Surface Restoration II $58,916 TOTAL STP RURAL = $664,234 TOTAL TAP RURAL = $148,530 2014 HUMAN SERVICES TRANSPORTATION PLAN ADOPTED The 2014 Coordinated Public Transit Human Services Transportation Plan for Benton and Franklin Counties (HSTP) was adopted by the Benton-Franklin Council of Governments Board on Friday, December 19th. The purpose of the 2014 HSTP, developed by The Council of Governments in conjunction with WSDOT, Ben Franklin Transit and additional stakeholders, is to define how Benton and Franklin Counties may best fulfill the federal requirement for a coordinated, cost-effective and efficient multi-provider transportation system for the transportation disadvantaged. An outcome of the HSTP is eligibility of service providers in the RTPO for certain state and federal transit grant funds. In the process of Plan development, a Stakeholder meeting and a public meeting were held to evaluate and identify unmet needs for the target populations – poor, elderly, physically challenged and otherwise underserved– of the HSTP. The Plan may be viewed on the BFCG website at: www.bfcog.us/transportation.html. If you have any questions or comments about the Plan please contact Len Pavelka at 509-943-9185 or [email protected]. PAGE 3 VOLUME MMXV ISSUE 1 SMALL BUSINESSES BRINGING IN THE NEW YEAR! With everyone starting on their New Year’s resolutions, it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that many people are thinking of starting a business in 2015. The economy appears to be moving along at a positive pace, with GDP, the unemployment rate and access to capital all headed in the right direction. As a result, now may be as good of a time as any to take the plunge into entrepreneurship. According to the Dec. 21st, 2014 Forbes article, “10 Best Industries for Starting A Business In 2015”, Small business owners are reportedly the most optimistic they’ve been since early 2008, with several surveys indicating they also plan to hire more workers in 2015. And even though formation of businesses with more than one employee has declined over the past 30-plus years, the number of sole proprietors is on the rise again, and Americans by the largest share since 1999 believe there are good opportunities for starting a business. Sally Mohr, Community and Economic Development Manager Ajsa Suljic, ESD’s Regional Labor Economist stated that the Tri-Cities region showed a 3.4% compound average growth for new business starts. In 2011-2012, 4.3% new business started and in 2012-2013, 5.9% of new businesses started in the region. We anticipate that the number of new Tri-Cities businesses starting in the 2014-2015 years will show an increase as well. We have seen a significant increase in loan inquiries as well as small business support requests. The Benton-Franklin Council of Governments have had eleven clients pay off their business loans this year meaning that the businesses that we supported are doing well enough to pay off their debts. We have also gained eight new business loan clients at the Benton Franklin Council of Governments, showing us that there are many people out there who are now willing to start or expand their business ventures within our community. The community and economic development staff are increasing outreach in order to provide available access to capital to local businesses to help with the growth and sustainability of our regional economy. If you know someone interested in access to capital or need to know where to start, please have them call us at 509.943.9185. On January 28th, 2015, staff will also have an informational booth at the Women in Business Expo at the TRAC in Pasco, WA. Please stop by and visit us there for additional information as well! DECEMBER BOARD BRIEFS •Approve Resolution 04-14: Adoption of the 2014 Coordinated Public Transit Human Services Plan for Benton and Franklin Counties. •Approve 2014 STP Competitive Process Prioritized Listing/Funding Levels. •Approve Resolution 05-14: Establish BFCG Wellness Committee and Wellness Policies. •Approve Resolution 06-14: Adoption of 2015 BFCG Administrative Budget. •Approve Hanford Advisory Board - Nomination of Vicky Freedman as BFCG HAB Member and Brad Peck as BFCG HAB Alternate. BFCG hereby gives public notice that it is the agency policy to assure full compliance with Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice, and related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. Benton-Franklin Council of Governments 1622 Terminal Drive P. O. Box 217 • Richland, WA 99352 (509) 943-9185 www.bfcog.us Get on our mailing list by e-mailing: [email protected]