Debby Mayer is reporting for the Columbia Paper new interim executive director of the Columbia Economic Development Corporation F. Michael Tucker reported to the county Board of Supervisors Economic Development Committee last week on his review of CEDC operations. Earlier this year the board cut off CEDC funding, budgeted at more than $400,000 per year, pending a review along the lines of the one Tucker unveiled at the meeting. During his presentation, Tucker reviewed the status of 26 loans made by the corporation, totaling $1.1 million, since 2009. Tucker said between January 2010 and June 2015, 56 businesses applied for loans from the CEDC and 43 were approved. He asked the board restore CEDC’s funding for this year and continue its support in 2016, proposing the corporation reimburse the county $116,000 for the land sold to Ginsberg’s Institutional Foods for $1. Tucker noted the CEDC had made some 50 small business loans in the last five years. “These are loans that no one else makes,” he said, and “most got in and out and paid their bill.” He said he now wants to help the CEDC focus on attracting new business and preparing the region for growth. Read the full story in the Columbia Paper.