Katie Kocijanski is reporting in the Register-Star that contract negotiations between Columbia County and the Columbia Economic Development Corporation are now underway. CEDC interim executive director F. Michael Tucker and board president Tony Jones made their case for restoration of county funding before the Board of Supervisors Economic Development Committee, Mon., Sept. 21. If the talks prove successful, $225,000 in county support to the agency would be restored for 2015, and open the door for more than $400,000 in funding for 2016, as well. The consensus among committee members was to require the money be used for a specific project designed for economic development. Committee members also questioned Tucker about the role an executive director would have in the restructuring of the organization. Contract negotiations with the county will also include a plan for the CEDC to repay $116,000 to the county for the land handed over by the agency as part of the Ginsberg’s Foods expansion project. Read the full story in the Register-Star.