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WSU Mount Vernon seeks $750,000 to expand greenhouse and plant-growth research capacity
Summary
The WSU Mount Vernon Research and Extension Center requested $750,000 to fund a phase of a plant growth facility expansion, saying phase 1 is complete and that cash match and in-kind support are in place to accelerate a greenhouse kit already staged on-site.
Tatum Weed, acting director of the WSU Mount Vernon Research and Extension Center, asked the county advisory committee on May 30 for $750,000 to support the center—s plant growth facility expansion.
Weed said Phase 1 of the project was completed in March 2021 and that the center has a commercial greenhouse kit on-site ready for erection. She described Phase 2a as foundation and utilities work and Phase 2b as system fit-out and commissioning; the center reported $250,000 in cash match and more than $200,000 in in-kind support. Weed said the center supports active research programs that directly benefit local crops (raspberries, spinach seed, potatoes and grains), workforce development and graduate training.
Weed said the center currently supports eight active research programs, 28 graduate students and affiliate programs such as USDA ARS that perform diagnostics and applied research relevant to local growers. Presenters said permits and pre-development coordination with Skagit County planning are complete and that a prior greenhouse existed on the site until 2008, so they do not expect major permitting complications.
Why this matters: The center argues that expanded greenhouse capacity will speed research, provide workforce training and help local growers with real-time diagnostics that reduce crop losses.
Next steps: the center asked the advisory committee to fund Phase 2a and 2b so fit-out and commissioning can proceed with the goal of delivering results to growers by summer 2026, and said it would pursue phased funding if full funding is not awarded this cycle.
