n Local governments and non-profit agencies have until May 3, 1999, to submit project descriptions to the Clatsop County Economic Develop-ment Council to have them considered for incorporation in the Overall Economic Development Program Report submitted annually to the federal Economic Development Admin-istration. The EDA funds not only construction of major infrastructure projects, but it also has funding for engineering, market analysis and feasibility studies.

The CEDC Executive Board asks county-wide jurisdictions and the cities to prioritize their projects and submit them directly to CEDC. Other project sponsors, including non--profits and other governmental agencies, are asked to obtain a priority ranking from the city where the project will be located.

Some projects may cross boundaries of governmental jurisdictions. Sponsors of such projects should seek a priority from an appropriate municipal entity. Sponsors of projects in the unincorporated areas of the county should submit their projects directly to the CEDC. Call 503/325-7870 with questions.

n A record year for lumber consumption in the U.S. helped increase lumber production at Western mills for the third straight year.

Preliminary statistics released by Western Wood Products Assoc-iation show Western lumber production totaled 16.79 billion board feet in 1998, up 0.7 percent from the previous year. Mills in the Pacific Northwest fueled much of the gain, with production up 1.9 percent. Lumber production east of the Cascades and in the other Western states was down slightly. With single family housing starts the highest in 20 years, lumber consumption in the country topped 52.6 billion boar feet, up 3.3 percent from the previous record year of 1997. Prior to 1997, the all-time lumber consumption year was 1987, when 50.6 billion board feet was used.

Looking to 1999, WWPA forecasts lumber demand to decline from its record heights to 52.1 billion board feet. While down 1 percent, consumption would be the second highest on record. For more information, e-mail WWPA at info@wwpa.org.

n From the March 22 issue of Infoworld, comes this "Regulatory Roundup." Dateline Washington -- The U. S. Department of Commerce last week tried to quell corporate fears that the government's data-privacy proposal, designed to satisfy European regulators, could be extended to U.S. citizens domestically. The data-privacy proposal, which includes what are known as safe harbor principles, was developed strictly to meet the requirements of the European Union's Directive of Data Protection, inhibiting the export of European Union's citizen's data to countries that do not offer "adequate" privacy protection, said Under Secretary of Commerce David Aaron during an address before the Information Technology Association of America.

"In no way does the U.S. government intend for these safe harbor principles to be seen as precedents for any future changes in the U.S. privacy regime," Aaron said, according to a transcript of his speech. "Indeed, some of these principles might not be appropriate in a strictly American context."

n Clatsop Community College is sponsoring a Successful Money Management Seminar on Thursdays, April 15, 22, 29 and May 6, and on Tuesdays, April 20, 27 and May 4 and 11. Sessions are held from 6:30 pm until 10:00 pm. Tuition for the five session seminar is only $15.00 per person, and an additional $35.00 workbook fee is payable to the instructor at the first session. Workbooks may be shared. To obtain more information, or to register, please call 503/338-2408.

n Speakers for the April meetings of the Seaside Downtown Development Association are as follows: April 8, Link Shadley, Community Info-mation Center; April 15, Jan Mitchell, Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commi-ttee; April 22, Van Hanson, Y2K; April 29, Rick Darnell, Seaside Police & the SDDA Alert Network. SDDA meetings are held Thursday mornings at 8:30 am at the Seaside Pig 'N Pancake Restaurant. In addition, the SDDA is working on a plan to market available storefront locations in downtown Seaside. Anyone volunteering to help on the project would be welcomed.

n From the March Issue of North Coast Labor Trends, unemployment rates jumped by over a full percentage

point throughout the North Coast as the region entered the first month of 1999. For Clatsop, the increase was higher: in excess of 2 percent. While joblessness rose, both total employment and the number of nonfarm payroll jobs declined in all three counties of Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook. Trade and services accounted for most of the drop along the coast, although Clatsop posted additional losses in (sea)food products and agriculture. Most of the reduction in Columbia County's jobs total came in trade, government and construction-mining. Overall, the Tillamook County labor force showed relatively little change between January and February. The unemployment rate came up a marginal tenth of a percent to 7.8 percent last month.

n On Saturday, April 17, Portland poet Carlos Reyes will read as part of the Onion Peak Reading Series. The reading begins at 7:30pm at the Pine Grove Community House, 225 Laneda Avenue, in Manzanita and is free to the public. For more information, please call 503/368-7878.

n The 1999 Rainier Days in the Park Celebration, "Rockin' on the River-side,"will be held July 8 - 11. There will be logging competitions, fireworks, tugboat races, live music and beer gardens. The Eagles Lodge #4022 is looking for donations, booth sponsors and registration. Contact event chair Mike Poorman at 503/556-1447.

n The Astor Library Friends Association book sale will be held in the Flag Room of the Astor Public Library at 450 10th in Astoria. It will be held on Friday and Saturday, April 23 and 24 from 10am to 6pm and on Sunday, April 25, from 2pm to 5pm. The Association provides the 7-day book collection, periodicals, book discussion programs, story hours and the photocopier for the library and this sale is a major fundraiser. Please call 503/325-7323 for donations or details.

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