Press Release:
October 28, 2022

Contact:
Kayla Dunlap, Director of Government & Public Affairs
kdunlap@portgrays.org or 360-533-9590

For Immediate Release

ABERDEEN, WASH. – The United States Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD) has awarded the Port of Grays Harbor a $25.5 million Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) grant for the Terminal 4 Expansion & Redevelopment Project. The grant will be matched by $21.35 million in non-federal funds.

The Port Infrastructure Development Program is a discretionary grant program administered by MARAD. Funds for the PIDP are awarded on a competitive basis to projects that improve the safety, efficiency or reliability of the movement of goods into, out of, around, or within a port. In FY2022, a total of $684,310,000 of funding was available to make awards under the FY 2022 PIDP grant program. The Port submitted an application for the Terminal 4 Expansion & Redevelopment Project in May 2022.

Critical to the Port’s ability to accommodate Ag Processing Inc a cooperative’s (AGP) growth, attract private investment, increase international shipments and create jobs, the Terminal 4 Expansion & Redevelopment Project will add 50,000 feet of rail for offloading, storage, and assembly; repurpose the 50-acre former 520 pontoon construction site into cargo laydown area; construct secured site access and roadway improvements, and replace the marine terminal fendering and stormwater systems.

The project is in response to AGP’s proposed expansion to double their US soybean meal export capacity by developing a second export facility at Terminal 4b. As a co-product of soybean processing, soybean meal exports are expected to increase in response to the growing demand for renewable fuel feedstocks, including soybean oil. The project has received widespread support from soybean farmers and associations across the Midwest.

“We are incredibly grateful to our federal delegation and their staffs, who truly understand the importance of strategic transportation investment, for all of their support and leadership in securing this critical funding for the Terminal 4 Expansion & Redevelopment Project,” stated Port of Grays Harbor Commission President Tom Quigg. “This project will allow us to accommodate AGP’s growth and private investment here in Grays Harbor, increase international shipments of US grown and processed soybean meal, and sustain thousands of farming jobs throughout the Midwest, while creating new jobs for our community. As stated in our grant application, this is not just a project of regional significance, this is truly a project of National significance and we thank Senator Murray, Senator Cantwell, Congressman Kilmer, MARAD and all our supporters for recognizing this.”

“The widespread, bi-partisan support we received for this project’s grant application was extraordinary,” shared Port of Grays Harbor Executive Director Gary Nelson. “From our local and tribal leaders, to Governors and US Senators and Representatives throughout the Midwest, this infrastructure project will play a critical role in the United States economy for decades to come. We look forward to having this project be a poster-child for PIDP by showcasing how investment in public infrastructure can leverage benefits like private investment, job creation and opportunities for communities across our Nation.”

Founded in 1911, the Port of Grays Harbor is one of Washington State’s oldest port districts and Washington’s only deep-water port located directly on the Pacific Ocean. The Port of Grays Harbor operates 4 deep-water marine terminals, the Westport Marina, Bowerman Airport, Grays Harbor ship assist services, numerous public waterfront access facilities, in addition to industrial and business parks throughout the County. The addition of Satsop Business Park increased the Port’s properties to more than 1,000 acres of industrial properties and an additional 1,200 acres of sustainably managed forestland. Strategically located midway between Seattle and Portland and less than 1 ½ hours from open sea, the Port of Grays Harbor provides businesses a diverse portfolio of facilities. More information on the Port of Grays Harbor’s facilities and operations is available at portofgraysharbor.com or satsop.com.