MATTAWA — The Port of Mattawa recently announced that Road T.7 will be seeing many improvements thanks to a Strategic Infrastructure Program (SIP) grant/loan.

“It’s for economic development,” said Port Director Lars Leland.

Road T.7 is 1.5 miles long and serves the Sentinel Gap Industrial Park. Businesses currently housed in Sentinel Gap include Wilson Irrigation, Sedona Trucking, and Mattawa Wood Products Factory, and offers room for even more industrial growth. The area is also the future home of the Grant County Fire District 8 headquarters.

Improvements to T.7 include paving the road and the development of fiber optics in the area Leland explained.

The SIP grant/loan will account for $390,000 of the project, and the Port will match $200,000 making the total cost of the project $590,000. Work on the project is set to begin within the week, and should take about eight months to complete Leland explained.

The Port also announced hiring of longtime area resident, Chris Schmidt, as the new public works manager.

Schmidt has extensive knowledge in both private and public book work Leland explained.

“We are ecstatic to have him,” said Leland.

Schmidt is set to begin work with the Port on May 24.