Washington Gov. Jay Inslee made a stop in Aberdeen on Friday to check out the temporary Coastal Community Action Program (CCAP) offices. After hearing that Saturday’s fire in the Armory Building incinerated CCAP’s offices, Inslee told The Daily World he felt compelled to vist the group’s temporary offices in the downtown Seafirst building, and that the state would look to help however it can.
“This place so central to Aberdeen, we felt it all across the state. We obviously want to look for any way we can help once the community figures out what its vision is to replace these services,” said Inslee.
Craig Dublanko, the CEO of CCAP, took Inslee through the building, with Dublanko occasionally joking that some of his staff’s file cabinets are now just cardboard boxes. CCAP offers a variety of services to low-income and elderly citizens and can assist with finding affordable housing and meals.
On the upper floors of the Seafirst Building, Inslee chatted for a few minutes with Dublanko and Aberdeen Mayor Erik Larson about their plans going forward. Dublanko showed the governor an overhead drone video of the burned-out Armory, and Larson explained that it would be a few days until fire investigators wrap up and the city knows how much the building will be insured for.
Inslee later said that while he’s cautious to make predictions about state funding to assist in rebuilding, “People understand this community has had some challenges.”
“We’ve understood that with the hospital, and we’ve done some stuff to help, maybe there are some possibilities, but it’s too early to predict what that will be,” said Inslee.
As he toured the CCAP offices, Inslee often noted how impressed he is with the organization’s quick reopening and general resilience.
“You guys are incredibly strong and resilient, we’ll put you in charge next time a volcano blows up.”
Inslee noted that the Washington Department of Commerce “is looking into every option available without legislative help.”
Earlier on Friday, Inslee also toured the REG Grays Harbor Terminal, a biorefinery in Hoquiam, in order to check out its services and discuss how business has been lately.
