Bank of the Pacific’s Early Support Helped Ensure the Future of the New Willapa Center in Raymond
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.”
Alyce Warren, Willapa property manager; Dave Gauger, Willapa Community Development Association, and Rebecca Chaffee, Joint Pacific County Housing Authority board commissioner at the Willapa Center ribbon cutting. Photo credit: Lori Lengyel