Port receives industrial park funding

NEWPORT — The Port of Pend Oreille is among seven Washington communities selected to receive technical assistance for an effort to turn wood waste and other byproducts into marketable products.

The port is developing the Wolfred Industrial Park as a site where businesses could turn wood waste and other forest byproducts into new, marketable products.

Port officials said the project would use existing infrastructure and regional timber resources to support economic development, improve forest management and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"The Port is excited to take another step toward bringing the planning and infrastructure needed to Pend Oreille County," said Jessica Garza, economic development director for the Port of Pend Oreille. "This opportunity helps move the Wolfred Industrial Park project forward while creating space for future business growth."

The Center for Sustainable Infrastructure will provide technical assistance as the communities develop their projects. The goal is to help each selected community to create a capital project ready for design work, environmental review, and funding applications. IS parks are typically shared sites or properties where organizations co-locate and partner to use resources more sustainably by integrating waste streams, such as waste materials, wastewater, or waste heat, into production processes.

CSI will implement the ISTA Program in a four-phase approach over about 10 months, with all work to be completed by June 30, 2027.

"We're thrilled to be able to help more Washington communities to turn waste into wealth," said Rhys Roth, executive director for the Center for Sustainable Infrastructure. "This is a golden opportunity to help local leaders apply Industrial Symbiosis principles to develop industrial hubs that make energy, water, and material resources more reliable, exchangeable, affordable, and sustainable."

Funding for the ISTA program comes from a $1.825 million award to CSI from the Washington Department of Commerce, with funds derived from Washington's Climate Commitment Act in the 2025-2027 budget. The Washington Legislature created the program to provide communities with expert analysis of resources, waste streams, and sustainable infrastructure solutions for local Industrial Symbiosis Parks, to spur economic development, conserve resources, and reduce climate pollution.

CSI received applications for IS Technical Assistance from 22 eligible entities, including cities, ports, private businesses, tribes, and economic development councils, from throughout Washington. Other communities receiving IS technical assistance are the Ports of Bellingham, Camas-Washougal, Pend Oreille and Moses Lake, Thurston County EDC, Spokane-based Biomethane, LLC, and Wenatchee-based Our Valley, Our Future.

In the past two years, CSI has delivered similar IS technical assistance to projects in Port Angeles, Vancouver, Longview, Wenatchee, Pasco, and Spokane.

Information: portofpendoreille.com