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Board approves a slate of port and planning grants and loans across Washington
Summary
At its meeting the board approved multiple project recommendations — loans and grants for port and city projects including Shelton, Mattawa (deferment), Columbia, Whitman County (Oaksdale), Pend Oreille rail, Pasco (Ryman), Friday Harbor, Bellingham, Quileute Tribe planning, Ridgefield, Illahee and others — with pre-contract requirements and reporting conditions.
The Community Economic Revitalization Board approved staff recommendations across a broad slate of port, tribal and municipal projects in a single meeting, taking actions intended to support port infrastructure, rural economic development and site readiness.
Major approvals and outcomes included:
- Port of Shelton: increased loan for Olympic Mountain Ice Cream Expansion — staff recommended increasing loan from $1,750,000 to $2,450,000 to reflect higher bid costs; board approved (Wendy Smith recused).
- Port of Mattawa: approved a one‑year deferment of a 2026 payment to 01/31/2027 with bi‑monthly reporting to agency staff as a condition of the deferment (Katie Nelson recused on the vote).
- Port of Columbia (Lines Ferry/Lions Ferry Marina): approved a $250,000 grant for 10 pull‑through RV spaces and a restroom; pre‑contract requirements due by 07/16/2026.
- Port of Whitman (Oaksdale Mill): approved staff recommendation for a $1,000,000 grant to stabilize and extend utilities to the historic mill; pre‑contract requirements applied.
- Port of Pend Oreille: approved $1,000,000 grant recommendation for rail pre‑rehab phase to restore out‑of‑service track making phased excursion and freight service possible.
- Port of Pasco (Ryman Industrial Center): approved staff recommendation for a $4.25M loan + $750k grant financing package (see article on Pasco) to extend a 16‑inch trunk water main serving rail‑served industrial lots.
- Friday Harbor, Bellingham, Quileute Tribe, Ridgefield, Illahee and other small ports and local projects: the board approved staff recommendations for planning grants and capital grants with required pre‑contract conditions (design, NEPA/SEPA, permits, evidence of match) and timelines specified by staff.
Each approval was accompanied by standard pre‑contract conditions: finalized scope and budget, NEPA/SEPA compliance where applicable, permits and clearances, and evidence that local match or private investment is secured. Several items included additional oversight language (reporting cadence for Mattawa; recusal noted for Shelton). The board closed the meeting with outreach updates and staff recognition.
