Questions And Answers About The CERT

What is the CERT? - The Community Economic Revitalization Team (CERT) is comprised of local, State, and federal officials and a tribal representative. The CERT administers the process by which applicants submit proposals and receive funding for projects designed to help timber dependent communities diversify their economies and create jobs for unemployed workers.

How was the CERT created? - The CERT process was created in 1993 by a memorandum of understanding between the Clinton administration and the states of California, Oregon, and Washington to address economic losses from federal timber harvest reductions. California’s State and local members are appointed by Governor Pete Wilson.

Who are the CERT members? - The CERT has 23 members: one supervisor from each of the nine counties of Northern California most affected by timber harvest reductions, nine representatives of federal agencies, representatives of four State agencies, and a representative of Native American Tribes.

How is funding provided? - Funding for California, Oregon, and Washington was promised by the Clinton administration through the Northwest Economic Adjustment Initiative. Each state is guaranteed at least 15 percent, with the balance to be allocated according the economic hardship. In addition, some projects are funded by State agencies on the CERT - the Economic Development Department, Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Trade and Commerce Agency. State agencies provide State funds or federal funds that they pass along. Millions of dollars have flowed into Northern California.

What is the Northwest Economic Adjustment Initiative? - The initiative is an economic plan put forth by the Clinton administration that calls for money to be provided over five years for Northern California, Oregon, and Washington to offset the impacts of economic decline from timber harvest reductions on federal lands.

How do people obtain funding under the CERT? - County officials work with community coordinators to provide projects that fit their communities’ needs and economic plans. Federal and State funding agencies on the CERT select proposals worthy of funding and invite the proponents to submit formal applications. Those that best fit the criteria are most likely to be awarded grants or loans.

The Community Economic Revitalization Team (CERT) has generated a focus upon and enthusiasm for economic development in timber-dependent communities suffering economic decline because of reduced timber harvests in nine Northern California communities targeted by the President’s Forest Plan.

Funding from federal and State funding agencies represented on the CERT is awarded to recipients in one of two ways: directly or indirectly:

1. Directly through the CERT: Proposals and applications are submitted to a local review group composed of a county supervisor, community coordinator and other community members, which forwards appropriate proposals to the CERT - member federal and State agencies that provide funding. The agencies decide which projects to fund.
1. Indirectly: Federal and State funding agencies that are members of the CERT also provide funding to some recipients from on-going programs in response to applications submitted independently from the CERT process

The CERT process serves to educated and inform applicants who may not know how to access federal and State funding programs.

Some recipients, such as local governments, already are aware of the process by which to access federal and State funding programs and may not need to submit proposals through the CERT process.