Skagit Council of Governments
Our Community
About
Skagit Council of Governments (SCOG)
The Skagit Council of Governments (SCOG) is a voluntary organization of local governments whose purpose is to foster a cooperative effort in resolving problems, policies and plans that are common and regional.
What does SCOG do?
SCOG works in two major emphasis areas: Transportation and Economic Development through its four Revolving Loan Funds (RLF).
Transportation:
SCOG is a regional transportation planning resource that facilitates, advocates and educates through technical and professional expertise, public outreach, grants and other funding opportunities. SCOG serves as the lead agency for the Regional Transportation Planning Organization (RTPO) as enabled by Washington State law, and the Skagit Metropolitan Planning Organization (SMPO) as enabled by federal law. The SCOG Board is the ruling body for SCOG, and is comprised of elected officials from the following jurisdictions:
- City of Anacortes
- City of Burlington
- City of Mount Vernon
- City of Sedro Woolley
- Port of Anacortes
- Port of Skagit
- Swinomish Tribal Community
- Samish Indian Nation
- Skagit County
- Skagit PUD
- Skagit Transit
- Town of Concrete
- Town of Hamilton
- Town of La Conner
- Town of Lyman
SCOG works closely with our State and Federal legislators to inform them about our funding needs for transportation related projects and programs in Skagit County. Venues such as the annual legislative forum and frequent dialogs in connection with local and regional meetings sponsored by SCOG, give Skagit County opportunities to strengthen working relationships with our legislators.
Click here for a list of SCOG's transportation activities (47 KB)(doc)
Local Partnerships
SCOG works with a number of schools and agencies to offer technical and financial service to individuals and companies through the Business Resource Center. The following are some of the schools and agencies:
- Economic Development Association of Skagit County (EDASC)
- Skagit Valley College (SVC)
- Small Business Administration (SBA)
- Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
- Washington State University (WSU)
- Western Washington University (WWU)
Skagit Transit
SCOG and Skagit Transit work together to enhance transit options in Skagit County, including bus, para-transit, van pool and ride sharing services and work closely with Island Transit and Whatcom Transit Authority (WTA) through the Tri-County Connector to increase connectivity to this region.
Active Community Taskforce (ACT)
The ACT is a subcommittee of the Regional Transportation Planning Organization (RTPO) and Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Policy Boards and the RTPO/MPO Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). The ACT’s mission supports an integrated, effective, and affordable transportation system for Skagit County, emphasizing the system’s non-motorized components.
Growth Management Act (GMA) Steering Committee
This is an effort to plan for the future development of the county and cities working together to achieve a county-wide pattern of community building, land use, and conservation that reflects the environmental, economic, aesthetic, and social values of city and county residents
Regional Partnerships
- SCOG is a lead agency for the North Sound Connecting Communities Project (NSCCP) a regional group of five North Sound Counties.
- SCOG partners with Island County in administering the Skagit/Island Regional Transportation Planning Organization (SIRTPO) and Skagit/Island Regional Transportation Improvement Program (S/IRTIP).
- SCOG alternates hosting SIRTPO meetings, and works to establish processes and priorities for regional Surface Transportation Program Enhancement (STP-E) funds.
- SCOG also contracts to provide modeling for Island County as part of SCOG’s regional modeling effort.
SCOG UPWP Data Program
Under this effort SCOG’s UPWP Data Program (Paid for through SCOG’s STP funding) provides:
- Regional modeling that provides logical underpinnings for transportation decisions and by allowing in-depth analyses of different alternatives and scenarios to insure consideration of original solutions for specific problems. In addition these analyses help SCOG meet federal and state transportation planning requirements.
- Traffic Counts that provide data inputs for local and regional models and transportation planning.
SCOG is also involved in:
- Organizing and/or facilitating meetings on an ongoing basis including SCOG, RTPO, MPO, TAC, GMA, RLF, ACT, Planners, etc.
- Review and update the Community Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for Skagit County.
- Host an annual legislative forum at the Port of Skagit.
Revolving Loan Fund (RLF):
Financially assist start-up and existing business in Skagit County for retaining and creating jobs. The funds (grants) come from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) program and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). This translates to well over 1500 jobs we have helped save or create in Skagit County.
The staff at Skagit Council of Governments is involved in many facets of transportation, economic development and other areas and represents the needs of Skagit County by serving on boards, committees and by partnering with other agencies. SCOG also facilitates cooperation among local agencies by providing an environment for discussion of local and regional issues.