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Frequently Asked Questions Main Page
Overview • Why conduct the Needs and Issues Inventory information collection and prioritization process? The Needs and Issues Inventory is a process developed to collect and respond to the locally-identified needs of local governments, tribes, ports, special districts and non-profit organizations throughout the state. The Needs and Issues Inventory creates a single repository of project concept information that local governments, state and federal agencies, regional partnerships, regional investment boards, private foundations and other organizations can use to coordinate planning, technical assistance and project funding. Local governments and organizations communicate the relative importance of project concepts by developing local, county-wide and regional priority lists. Priority lists create a basis for strategic dialog between local governments, agencies and other partners. • Who manages the Needs and Issues Inventory information collection and prioritization process? The Oregon Economic and Community Development Department contracts with several Regional Coordinating Organizations located throughout the state to manage information collection and prioritization for the Needs and Issues Inventory process. The Economic Development Council of Tillamook County manages Tillamook County's collection and prioritization. The EDC also sets the local timeline, collects economic and community development-related project concepts and supports a prioritization process at the local, county-wide and regional levels. • Which agencies and organizations use the information contained in the Needs and Issues Inventory? How do they use it? The Oregon Economic and Community Development Department, federal agencies and several other state agencies use the information contained in the Needs and Issues Inventory to focus planning, collaboration, coordination and assistance activities throughout each year. Local Priority Lists County-wide Priority Lists • What is a Lead Agency assignment? A Lead Agency assignment for a specific project concept means that an agency will work with the project proponent to help move the concept to implementation. Assistance from agencies may take the form of guidance, coordination, project development, technical assistance and/or funding. Although Lead Agencies often fund assigned projects, a Lead Agency assignment is not a guarantee of funding. • How can interested organizations or individuals access the information contained in the Needs and Issues Inventory? The Needs and Issues Database contains all information collected through the Needs and Issues Inventory process. All data is accessible on-lineand is available to anyone who would like to review it. Submitting Project Concepts to the Needs and Issues Inventory • What is a project concept? A project concept is an idea for an economic or community development project that includes (at a minimum) a project title, a project description and an estimated budget (see Project Notification Form). Project concepts fall into three broad categories: InfrastructureProject concepts that involve routine maintenance or upkeep of buildings or infrastructure are not appropriate for submission to the Needs and Issues Inventory. • Who can submit project concepts? How and when may project concepts be submitted? Representatives of city and county governments, tribes, ports, special districts and economic and community development-related non-profit organizations may submit project concepts to the Needs and Issues Inventory. To submit a project concept, download a copy of the Project Notification Form, complete the form and submit it to the Economic Development Council of Tillamook County. The Economic Development Council of Tillamook County will enter the project concept into the Needs and Issues Database. Governments and organizations may submit Project Notification Forms to Coordinating Organizations at any time throughout the year but they will only be prioritized at the county level once in the fall. Prioritizing Needs and Issues Project Concepts • Which organizations may submit priority lists? What criteria are used for prioritization? Cities, counties, tribes, ports and other local organizations develop Local Priority Lists. The Executive Board of the Economic Development Council of Tillamook County includes representatives from a cross-section of organizations within the county to generate its County-wide Priority Lists. Regional organizations in some areas also develop Regional Priority Lists. There is not a single standardized process by which prioritization occurs; however, criteria by which Tillamook County's lists are prioritized are: public safety/health, readiness to proceed and county-wide impact. Other criteria may also be used. Contact the Project Coordinator to obtain specific information regarding criteria for prioritization. • Does a project concept need to be included on a priority list in order to be funded? A project concept is not required to be included on a priority list in order to be funded; however, all participating state and federal agencies give preference to project concepts included on priority lists. Community Development Block Grant is the only state program that requires projects to be included within the top ten (10) priorities on a Local Priority List or a County-wide Priority List in order to receive funding. The Oregon Economic and Community Development Department gives preference to project concepts contained on Local Priority Lists, although Regional Teams may not respond to project concepts in ranked order. Once a Local Priority List is established, focus on specific prioritized project concepts depends upon guidance from and discussion with the local government or organization. The department will respond to emergencies or immediate opportunities that are not included on a Local Priority List. • What happens to project concepts that are not considered highest priority? Can they still be considered for funding? Project concepts that are not ranked near the top of a local, county-wide and regional priority list can still be considered for funding. Project concepts that do not receive attention from assistance agencies this year may be reconsidered for local prioritization and agency consideration in subsequent years. Main Page |