The Port of Chehalis was Awarded a $3.14 Million for Grain Storage


The Port of Chehalis was Awarded a $3.14 Million for Grain Storage
Just as the Southwest Washington Growers Cooperative completed a transload for a record barley season, it was announced by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, that the Port of Chehalis will receive $3.14 million to build a new grain storage and rail transload facility to store, load, and unload more grain. The funding for this award comes from the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA).

NABC assisted the Port of Chehalis in writing the EDA Cares proposal, and played a major role in the extensive planning required for the complex and labor-intensive submission, including developing a budget, gathering stakeholders, and helping the port push through to the finish line. The facility will directly benefit Southwest Washington Growers Cooperative grain growers by offering much-need upright grain storage, increasing growing and shipping capacity exponentially.“This grant is a big deal for the Port of Chehalis and Lewis County,” said Sen. Murray.  “Not only is it going to support our agriculture industry and local businesses, but it will also help create dozens of good-paying jobs in the area,” 

Both Washington Senators weighed in on the announcement. “These federal resources are an investment and vote of confidence in the future of Lewis County,” said Sen. Cantwell. “The new grain storage and loading facility at the Port of Chehalis will support 50 local jobs, develop Southwest Washington’s grain industry, and help more farmers grow barley by increasing access to new and existing markets around the country and the world.”The EDA award will be matched with $1.8 million in state and local funds and will support 50 local jobs. Once completed, the grain storage and rail transport facility will allow regional grain producers to serve new and existing markets and is estimated to generate up to $3 million in annual economic activity and attract $3.4 million in private investments for the region.

Additionally, Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez has supported the project. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez said the funding is an “important step” to building a responsive federal government in a statement. Back in May, Gluesenkamp Perez announced she was seeking $4.5 million for the project, part of $44 million in funding she asked for 3rd District projects.

Now that the funding is secured, the hard work can begin. Project leads hope to break ground on the project in 2024. 
Southwest Washington Growers Cooperative Posts Record Harvest in 2023 Season
The 2023 harvest season marked a number of monumental milestones for the Southwest Washington Growers Cooperative Grain Pool. Transloads of barley by rail to Great Western Malting in Vancouver, Washington, have been taking place at the Port of Chehalis since 2020, via a rail spur installed specifically for this purpose.

Each year, the harvest has doubled in size, providing more locally grown barley to be malted for distilling and brewing purposes and advancing economic opportunity for regional producers.

“We had a fantastic season with increased acres and increased yield,” SWGC Grain Pool Manager Jennifer Fenn-Zucati told NABC. “We can’t wait to see what 2024 brings.”

In 2023 local producers delivered nearly 2500 tons of regionally produced barley grown on over 1000 acres in Lewis, Grays Harbor, and Skagit counties.