SCDC (South Coast Development Council) claims it has a new purpose and will remake itself into a highly focused functioning machine with just a little help from the county. The floundering economic development agency is asking for $75,000 and promises, despite retaining most of the same board leadership it has always had, that it will not repeat mistakes of the past. Commissioner John Sweet who was a founding member and board member for a decade and Melissa Cribbins are all for risking the state allocated lottery funds so that SCDC can act as some sort of central clearing house for businesses looking for “incentives”, utility hookups and other undefined services. 
During a work session yesterday, the three commissioners weighed in on the seven grant applications totaling $518,000 all vying for approximately $40K out of the county’s economic development fund*.
SCDC recently acknowledged that it has failed since its inception in 2000 and “lost its focus” all during the time Sweet was on its board of directors. The grant application lists Sweet as a board member but he denied, yesterday, that this was still true. Only Bob Main put up any resistance to the idea of sinking more money into SCDC arguing that the agency should prove itself first while Sweet countered without the money they will not be able to prove themselves. When Main pointed out the agency had totally failed to bring any business that didn’t already have a reason to come to Coos County, like ORC for example, Sweet dug deep and after some reflection said, “that’s not true, American Bridge came here because of SCDC.” American Bridge, of course, did not locate in Coos County and recently decided to leave Oregon.
December 1 is the award date for the grant funds and due to the holiday time is running short so don’t be surprised if this comes up as a late agenda item at today’s regular BOC meeting.
Two members of SCDC’s executive board, John Knutson who scoffs are public transparency and Jon Barton who helps steward that train wreck known as the airport district, are also founding members of the CCAP (Coos County Alliance for Progress). CCAP spent record amounts of money in the last election to take control of the county commission. Sweet and Cribbins both accepted generous contributions to their campaigns from CCAP. In a time when the county is starved for revenue they are considering funding an organization whose primary purpose is to point new and existing businesses toward subsidies and incentives that will deprive the county of revenue. Be sure to let the commission know how you feel about socializing risk and providing more public funds to partner with SCDC.
Bob Main
(541) 396-7540
John Sweet
(541) 396-7541
Melissa Cribbins
(541) 396-7539
*Presently the county has $810,630 on its economic development fund but the commissioners have chosen to hold some back for rainy weather and will only allocate approximately $40K
They will give SCDC the money. Thats who put them where they are. These commissioners do not fear the wrath of the voters because SCDC will continue to support them with the network it has built. They will still have more money and campaign signs to win re-election, thanks to the same people that are asking for public money from them. As small as this area is it sure has its haves and have-nots clearly defined by who and how our public officials are elected.