Columbia Pacific

What Columbia Pacific does

Columbia Pacific Economic Development District (Col-Pac) is a private non-profit organization founded in 1994 and headquartered in St. Helens, Oregon, that serves as the EDA-certified Economic Development District for Northwest Oregon, covering all of Clatsop, Columbia, and Tillamook counties and the western part of Washington County. The organization is governed by a 24-member volunteer Board of Directors plus a seven-member Loan Administration Board, with a lean paid staff of two (Executive Director Sarah Lu Heath and Programs Manager Dulce Perkins).

Col-Pac's core products and services are organized around five functions: regional economic development (including Mass Timber & Modular Construction, Regional Food Systems, and Innovation Investigation initiatives), strategic planning (producing the federally required Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy), grants administration (administering EDA, CDBG, USDA RFSP, and EPA Brownfield programs on behalf of municipalities and regional stakeholders), financing (operating a Business Loan Program, a KIVA 0% microloan trustee program for $1,000–$15,000 loans, and a Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund), and Brownfield Program services (site assessment and cleanup financing for contaminated properties). The organization has no proprietary technology platform; its infrastructure is the staff, board, and partner network rather than a software product.

The business model is grant-dependent and service-fee based. Col-Pac generates operating revenue through indirect cost recovery on administered federal and state grants, interest income from its Revolving Loan Fund and Brownfield RLF, application and loan fees on its Business Loan Program ($400 application fee, minimum 2.0% loan fee, rates 2-3 points above prime), and KIVA trustee endorsement services. Major funding relationships include a $41.4 million EDA Build Back Better Regional Challenge award coordinated through the Oregon Mass Timber Coalition (2021), a three-year USDA Regional Food Systems Partnership Grant (2020), EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance, and an EPA Brownfield Assessment Coalition Grant. Go-to-market is relationship-driven, relying on direct engagement with municipalities, ports, small businesses, and a broad network of regional partners including community colleges, SBDCs, workforce boards, and state agencies.

Name

Columbia Pacific

Legal name

Columbia Pacific Economic Development District

Website

https://nworegon.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Columbia Pacific Economic Development District is a private non-profit EDA-certified Economic Development District serving Northwest Oregon (Clatsop, Columbia, Tillamook, and western Washington counties), providing regional economic development, strategic planning, grant administration, and small business and brownfield financing through a lean staff and broad municipal and small business network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (925120), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (9251), Administration of Economic Programs (9261), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG, Place-Based Initiatives) (BPAIANAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning (MEL) & Reporting for Donor Programs (BPADAOAL), Donor Coordination, Monitoring & Evaluation (MEL) Programs (BPADABAN)

Keywords

• Regional economic development
• Grant administration services
• Small business financing
• Community development loans
• Strategic planning services

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Helens

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Grant Administration & Technical Assistance: ColPac administers federal and state grants (EDA, CDBG, USDA RFSP, EPA Brownfield) on behalf of the region, providing program administration, technical assistance, and project management services to municipalities and businesses.
2. Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Interest Income: ColPac operates a Revolving Loan Fund providing gap financing to small businesses, generating interest income on loans. The fund also includes a Brownfield Revolving Loan funded by an EPA grant for low-to-no interest cleanup loans.
3. KIVA Trustee Endorsement Services: As a designated KIVA trustee, ColPac endorses microloan applicants, adding credibility and strengthening their funding applications. This service supports entrepreneurs in accessing 0% interest crowdfunding loans.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Columbia Pacific Economic Development District (Col-Pac) is a private non-profit EDA-certified Economic Development District serving Northwest Oregon. It delivers regional economic development coordination, strategic planning, federal and state grant administration (EDA, CDBG, USDA, EPA), technical assistance, and direct financing programs including KIVA 0% microloans, a Business Loan Program for gap financing, and Brownfield clean-up loans. Services target local governments, municipalities, ports, small businesses, agriculture producers, and housing developers across Clatsop, Columbia, Tillamook, and western Washington counties.

Product overview

Columbia Pacific Economic Development District (Col-Pac/ColPac) is a private non-profit organization providing economic and community development services, technical assistance, and financing programs for Northwest Oregon. The organization offers a portfolio of programs including regional economic development, strategic planning, grants administration (CDBG, Brownfield programs), financing programs (KIVA microlending, Business Loan Program, Brownfield Clean-up loans), Mass Timber & Modular Construction initiatives, Regional Food Systems development, Innovation Investigation support, workforce training coordination, and local business assistance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Oregon Mass Timber Coalition (OMTC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021ColPac coordinates partner economic development districts (Greater Eastern Oregon Development Corporation, Northeast Oregon Economic Development District, Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments) to implement targeted investments in sustainable forest management, workforce training, building-materials R&D, and zoning updates through a $41.4M EDA grant under the Build Back Better Regional Challenge.
• Greater Eastern Oregon Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner district collaborating with ColPac on the Oregon Mass Timber Coalition initiative for mass timber and modular housing development in NW Oregon.
• Northeast Oregon Economic Development DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner district collaborating with ColPac on the Oregon Mass Timber Coalition initiative for mass timber and modular housing development in NW Oregon.
• Oregon Cascades West Council of GovernmentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner council of governments collaborating with ColPac on the Oregon Mass Timber Coalition initiative for mass timber and modular housing development in NW Oregon.
• North Coast Collaborative (Regional Food Systems)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-partner network formed under a USDA RFSP Grant (2020) comprising small agriculture and seafood producers, food hubs, economic development organizations, tourism stakeholders, SBDCs, local ports, and food value chain technical assistance providers working to expand the local food supply and markets on the North Coast.
• Business OregoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState economic development agency collaborating with ColPac on innovation investigation initiatives, including funding from Oregon State Lottery administered by OBDD.
• Oregon Manufacturing Innovation CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ColPac's innovation investigation initiative, supporting networks for Northwest Oregon's innovators and entrepreneurs.
• NW Oregon Economic Alliance (NOEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCol-Pac EDD and NOEA Boards meet jointly every other month to coordinate regional economic development. NOEA is a partnership between Clatsop, Columbia, and Tillamook counties managing state-funded projects for the three-county region.
• Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOregon state agency that awarded a portion of the Oregon Mass Timber Coalition funding to ColPac and three other Economic Development organizations. DLCD's Code-UP project helps cities update development codes to allow modular housing.
• Clatsop Economic Development Center / Clatsop SBDCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organizations in ColPac's innovation investigation initiative supporting NW Oregon innovators and entrepreneurs.
• Columbia Economic Team & SBDCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organizations in ColPac's innovation investigation initiative supporting NW Oregon innovators and entrepreneurs.
• Tillamook Economic Development CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organizations in ColPac's innovation investigation initiative supporting NW Oregon innovators and entrepreneurs.
• Clatsop Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ColPac's innovation investigation and workforce development initiatives across NW Oregon.
• Tillamook Bay Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ColPac's innovation investigation and workforce development initiatives across NW Oregon.
• Portland Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ColPac's innovation investigation and workforce development initiatives for western Washington County.
• Northwest Oregon WorkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNW Oregon Works is a key partner in ColPac's workforce development initiatives, with four industry focus areas: Maritime, Advanced Manufacturing, Healthcare, and Hospitality.
• NW Oregon Workforce Investment Board (ONWIB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerONWIB collaborates with ColPac on the CEDS planning process and workforce development strategies for NW Oregon.
• Port of Tillamook BayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ColPac's innovation investigation and economic development initiatives for NW Oregon.
• NW Oregon Area Commission on Transportation (NWACT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNWACT collaborates with ColPac on the CEDS planning process and coordinates transportation planning for NW Oregon. The Col-Pac EDD and NWACT Boards meet following their joint sessions.
• Northwest Oregon Transit Alliance (NWOTA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerColPac administers the Northwest Oregon Transit Alliance (NWOTA) as part of its program and intergovernmental partnership administration.
• Clatsop and Tillamook Counties (Brownfield Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColPac partners with Clatsop and Tillamook Counties to connect property owners with site assessment funding for brownfield properties where Phase I and Phase II assessments have not been completed.
• WoodWorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner providing mass timber resources, codes & standards guidance, and technical assistance for mass timber construction in the Pacific Northwest.
• TallWood Design InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOregon-based research institute facilitating the Critical Mass (Timber) Meetup Group for professionals interested in cross-laminated timber construction.
• Washington Mass Timber AcceleratorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWashington state partner providing mass timber resources and acceleration support for the mass timber industry in the Pacific Northwest.
• NW Oregon Regional Solutions TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe NW Oregon Regional Solutions Team collaborates with ColPac on the CEDS planning process and provides direct connections to state agencies for the region's economic development.
• City of St. HelensminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity partner in ColPac's innovation investigation initiative supporting innovators and entrepreneurs in NW Oregon.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Fourth Economy: Economic development consulting firm supporting EDDs, counties, and regions with strategic planning, CEDS authoring, and community development — directly comparable services to ColPac's planning and convening functions.
• TIP Strategies: Private economic development consulting firm that authors CEDS documents and conducts strategic planning for EDOs and EDDs nationwide. Comparable in delivering strategic planning and economic development strategy services that ColPac performs.
• Camoin Associates: Economic development consulting firm specializing in CEDS development, workforce analysis, and strategic planning for EDDs and municipalities — overlapping with ColPac's strategic planning and CEDS mandate.

Direct peers

• Greater Eastern Oregon Development Corporation: EDA-certified Economic Development District serving Eastern Oregon with the same EDD mandate as ColPac — convening regional stakeholders, administering federal grants, and coordinating economic development. Already a partner on the Oregon Mass Timber Coalition.
• Mid-Columbia Economic Development District: EDA-designated EDD serving Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman counties in the Columbia River Gorge. Operates with similar scope — CEDS planning, revolving loan fund, brownfield program, and small business financing.
• Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments: Council of Governments and EDA-designated EDD serving Linn, Benton, Lincoln, and Lane counties. Performs analogous CEDS planning, federal grant administration, and regional economic development coordination.
• Northeast Oregon Economic Development District: EDA-certified EDD covering Wallowa, Baker, Union, and Umatilla counties. Performs the same regional convening, CEDS planning, and grant administration role as ColPac. Active Oregon Mass Timber Coalition partner.
• Lane Council of Governments: Regional council of governments serving Lane County with CEDS planning, federal grant administration, and economic development convening — a directly comparable model to ColPac's structure and mandate.
• Rogue Valley Council of Governments: EDA-affiliated regional planning organization serving Jackson and Josephine counties with similar CEDS, grant administration, and economic development planning scope as ColPac.

Broad incumbents

• Business Oregon: Oregon's state economic development agency that funds and oversees many of ColPac's programs (OBDD, lottery funds). Functions as a broader statewide counterpart with overlapping grant administration and infrastructure financing capabilities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ColPacEDD
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/columbia-pacific-economic-development-district-of-oregon

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Columbia Pacific