Many may remember the grim event in December 1998 that left 85 people without a home and with no possessions. When the Willapa Hotel in Raymond burned down, the one silver lining was that every resident was accounted for. The Willapa Community Development Association took ownership of the property after the tragedy, with a plan to replace what the community had lost. Twenty-six years later, the Willapa Center’s grand opening brought something good out of the ashes.
“Their goal was always to rebuild the housing that was lost to the fire,” shares Katie Bonus, director of operations for Joint Pacific County Housing Authority. “Willapa Community Development Association and Joint Pacific County Housing Authority have been collaborating on this project off and on since the mid-2000s, but things really started to come together in 2018 when a developer was hired to get the project off the ground.”
The Willapa Community Development Association decided to partner with the Joint Pacific County Housing Authority to get the project completed. “Willapa Community Development Association donated the property to Joint Pacific County Housing Authority so that the project could be completed,” explains Katie. “Joint Pacific County Housing Authority with Housing Opportunities of SW WA as its developer took on the project and began seeking funding in 2018. It took several rounds of trying, but the project was finally fully funded in 2020.”
Bank of the Pacific Was Involved in the Willapa Center Early On
The Willapa Community Development Association had supporters early on that proved pivotal in making their dream a reality. One of these was the Bank of the Pacific. “We originally got involved in 2018 with the Willapa Center,” shares Denise Portmann, president & CEO of Bank of the Pacific. “However, we have had a relationship with Joint Pacific County Housing Authority for a few decades and have partnered with them on other projects.”
The original Willapa Hotel provided low-income housing, mostly to Laotion and Cambodian immigrants. The loss of affordable housing was felt by the entire community. “In 2018, Joint Pacific County Housing Authority, who operates under an agreement with the Longview Housing Authority, began work to build the Willapa Center to create 30 units of affordable housing for low-income households, half of whom will have been previously homeless,” shares Denise. “The project experienced some delays due to significant changes in materials costs and shortages during the pandemic.”
Having the Bank of the Pacific as an early supporter proved advantageous. Since the bank is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank, the Joint Pacific County Housing Authority had access to grants totaling $750,000. Katie shares that this support quickened the funding process. “Bank of the Pacific was one of our earliest sponsors for funding,” she adds. “The funding received from Federal Home Loan Bank filled a gap in the project, which enabled us to move forward.”
Creating Community: The Willapa Center
From there, it was a matter of design and build. The Willapa Hotel lot had been turned into a community park, so the new Center had to be built from the ground up. The total cost was over $12.8 million. The result is a 3-story building with 30 affordable housing units, a daycare and nonprofit offices.
“Access to affordable housing is crucial for members of our community to achieve financial stability,” shares Denise. “Bank of the Pacific operates three branches in Pacific County, including in Raymond just a few blocks from the Willapa Center and supporting our customers and the communities where we work and live is an important part of our business model and culture. Research also shows that areas with affordable housing options can boost the local workforce as individuals with a secure place to live are able to take on stable work instead of being forced to relocate frequently. This has a positive impact on the surrounding businesses we serve and the local economy from a workforce standpoint. When residents do not have to spend an excessive amount on housing, they have more discretionary income to shop local, further supporting our community.”
The Willapa Center was completed in October 2023, with new residents moving in November 2023. A grand opening was held on March 26, 2024.
“From providing funding in 1997 to Housing Opportunities of SW WA to build new affordable low-income senior housing in Wahkiakum County, providing funding to build Pacific Pearl in South Bend and Driftwood Point in Long Beach to their current involvement in Willapa Center in Raymond, Bank of the Pacific has been a great partner in our efforts to provide more affordable housing opportunities in the rural communities we serve,” says Katie.
It’s a huge thing to have a place to call home and when we help others achieve this basic need, our entire community thrives. Bank of the Pacific understands this, which is why they support organizations like Joint Pacific County Housing Authority, and why they have robust mortgage options to help individuals find their path home.
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