Commissioners approve $200,000 port sales‑tax release for WWCC Farm to Fork expansion

The Walla Walla County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Jan. 5 to release $200,000 from the port’s economic development sales‑tax fund to Walla Walla Community College for the college’s Farm to Fork Facility Expansion Project.

Commissioner Clayton, who reviewed the college’s request, said the funds will pay for a new 48‑by‑72‑foot shop building to expand instructional space, store and maintain equipment, and provide low‑stress livestock handling facilities. She said the college currently has 18 raised beds, a small greenhouse and indoor microgreen production; the expansion will enable reallocation of indoor space and long‑term plans for additional poultry and beehives.

The request was characterized as the port’s portion of previously approved economic development sales‑tax expenditures; commissioners noted the county had approved the funding framework earlier and this vote releases funds tied to receipts submitted by the port and college. Commissioner Fulmer said the project could bolster agritourism and called it a “long‑term investment for our community.”

There were no objections from commissioners and the motion to release funds passed 3–0. The action authorizes the port to expend its allocated share of the previously approved sales‑tax funds; any further project details or construction schedules will be managed by the college and the port, and the county’s role is to release the identified funds.

Next steps: the college and port will execute their project plans; the county’s approval enables the port to disburse the funds to the college for project implementation.