FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington Public Ports Association presents 2025 Creative Partnership Award to Port of Coulee City
SPOKANE, Washington – Every year, the Washington Public Ports Association (WPPA) recognizes ports across the state for extraordinary accomplishments in the categories of job creation, community engagement, creative partnership, and environmental stewardship.
This year, the WPPA is proud to recognize the Port of Coulee City with the 2025 Creative Partnership Award for its work on the Coulee City Medical Clinic and Library Project.
Located in the town of Coulee City, with a population of just over five hundred according to the most recent census, the Port acts as a creative problem-solver addressing the needs of the community it serves. The project we recognize today exemplifies the role they play in their local community. As the port and other local partners come together to tackle two pressing issues in Coulee City: the lack of a modern healthcare clinic and the need for a new library.
Since 2015, the port and its partners have worked to secure funding for phases one through four of the clinic and library project. Funding partners have included the State of Washington, Grant County’s Strategic Infrastructure Program, and the ports own taxpayers.
With sufficient funding in hand, the port led the construction process and in December 2024 invited stakeholders, partners, and community members to a ribbon cutting at the new building in downtown Coulee City. The facility replaced the cramped and dated locations of both the old library and the clinic and now offers improvements in accessibility and acts as a welcoming community space.
The WPPA is pleased to present this award to the Port of Coulee City. Their stellar work executing this project with a strong collaborative mission serves as a prime example of creative partnership for the port industry and across public agencies in general.
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As a nonprofit trade association representing Washington’s independent port districts and their partners, the Washington Public Ports Association (WPPA) fosters public policy that supports our members and helps them execute their community-supported goals. The WPPA was charged by the Legislature in 1961 with acting as the coordinating agency for public port districts throughout Washington, serving as the focus through which ports work cooperatively to develop policy direction, share information, and address issues on economic development, trade, transportation, and environmental stewardship. Public port districts offer a wide range of locally governed services, including the operation of marine terminals and barge facilities, tourism promotion, development of industrial parks, management of public access points, marinas, airports, railroads, and more.
Contact: Eric ffitch, Executive Director
360-763-1179 cell
effitch@washingtonports.org
