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Port and Whitman County move Tekoa industrial site toward construction; Invitation to Bid issued
Summary
In a Jan. 20 joint workshop the Port of Whitman County and commissioners said an Invitation to Bid for the Tekoa industrial site will go out this week; the project requires easements across several parcels (including County land) and Port and county officials discussed timeline and collaboration.
Port and county officials told the Whitman County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 20 that an Invitation to Bid for the Tekoa industrial site would be issued this week, starting the procurement phase for a 15.6-acre industrial park near Tekoa.
Port commissioners and staff said the Tekoa project will cross four separate parcels, one of which is county-owned, and that an easement agreement with Avista is expected. The board heard that the site is fully funded and scheduled for completion in 2026 with up to five building pads and utilities planned (three-phase power, water, and broadband). The Port also noted a tentative Washington, D.C., freight visit related to broader freight-bypass and economic development efforts is planned for the week of March 16.
Why it matters: the Tekoa site is the Port's first industrial park in northern Whitman County and is intended to expand industrial land available for business recruitment and job growth in that portion of the county. The project was discussed as part of the Port's 2025 strategic report and the county's packet of workshop items.
The board did not take formal action at the Jan. 20 workshop; the Port described the Invitation to Bid timeline and asked county staff to coordinate on any necessary easements and right-of-way issues. "An easement agreement between Avista and Whitman County is expected," the Port told the board during the joint workshop.
Next steps: bidders will be solicited per the Port's timeline and any county-owned parcel needs will be handled through interagency coordination. The Port and county said site-preparation and utility work are planned in 2026.
