Port of Clarkston industrial park could break ground in July

Tools

Story Published: Dec 1, 2009 at 11:12 PM PST

Story Updated: Dec 1, 2009 at 11:12 PM PST

By Stephanie Smith

Watch the video

CLARKSTON - $1 million in funding is headed to the Port of Clarkston and maybe to jobs for Asotin County.

The Port applied for $300,000 in grants and $700,000 in loans from the Washington State Community Revitalization Economic Development Board for a proposed industrial park and last month the request was granted.

"The loan will be at zero percent interest rate and payment will be deferred for five years,” said Port Manager Wanda Keefer. "So we believe that shows confidence in our ability to create jobs here in Asotin County."

Keefer said the money will go toward preparing the property for development. This will include roads, curbing and getting sewer, water and broadband to the Evans Road property.

"By securing this funding then we've got match for other types of grants that we can get for Phase 2," said Keefer. "So for Phase 1 we will have 25 acres open up for development for businesses and if we are able to do Phases 1 and 2 together, we get the added benefit of cost efficiencies and we have 55 acres. That gives us far greater flexibility when we put together packages for businesses."

Keefer said they could be ready to break ground as early as July 2010 and are preparing to market the property to prospective businesses.

"When we say industrial park people think of smokestacks. We aren't thinking of that at all," said Keefer. "In fact what we want to do is grow the manufacturing sector. We see a lot of collaboration going on right now with the manufacturers in the Inner Mountain Manufacturing Association. They are developing new and innovative ways, they are doing research and development. We think that having a geological location for that base is an important option for those businesses or others that may be attracted to the area."

Current Weather

Current Temp 43.0 °F

Fair

More Weather

Current Weather

More Weather

Upload directly from your mobile device.

Learn how

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.