County staff to consider taking over WIC services after local nonprofit’s closure; county says federal reimbursement would cover payroll

County staff told Vanport County commissioners on Sept. 2 they are exploring a short‑term county takeover of the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program after the closure of a local community action nonprofit left the program without a home. Staff said the county has been approached to administer WIC and is working with state Department of Health and Human Services leadership. Because the program is federally funded, staff said the county would be able to recover payroll and allowable administration costs through federal reimbursement; staff indicated more details will be presented to the commission for a decision before Oct. 1 to avoid interruption in service. Commissioners asked staff to pursue a limited‑term arrangement and suggested seeking a one‑year contract to allow time to solicit a nonprofit partner or other agency to assume the program over time. Staff said WIC employees would become county employees under such an arrangement and that the county could charge allowable administrative fees to offset payroll and overhead during the transition. No final contract or appropriation was approved at the Sept. 2 meeting; staff said they will return to the board with a recommended approach and timeline ahead of the fiscal year deadline.