OLYMPIA, Washington—As the year comes to a close, the Washington Public Ports Association (WPPA) annually recognizes outstanding work within the port community at our Annual Meeting with the Port of the Year Award. the association’s Annual Meeting.
This year, WPPA is excited to announce that the 2025 Port of the Year is the Port of Grays Harbor. The Port is honored this year for their remarkable ability to spark economic opportunity in Grays Harbor County, their substantial investments in public infrastructure, and the partnerships they’ve built not just this year but over decades.
“The Port of Grays Harbor stands as a strong example of what ports can do in their communities. The Port has a long record of developing public-private partnerships that provide jobs and prosperity to the residents of Grays Harbor County, and to the national and international economy,” said WPPA Executive Director Eric ffitch. “Their grain exports and auto imports connect a county of 80,000 people to the entire world, and they are a national leader in the commercial fishing industry as well. Local Longshoremen unload cars manufactured in South Korea. Thousands of AGP farmer members in the Midwest rely on the port’s infrastructure to get their value-added soymeal to international markets. And small businesses from around the region have found a place to grow at the Satsop Business Park. We celebrate the Port of Grays Harbor as a leader not just in the Washington port industry but in the port industry nationally.”
One of the first public ports in Washington, the Port of Grays Harbor was founded in 1911 just after the passage of the Port Districts Act in Olympia. Originally focused on supporting the marquee industry of the time – timber and logging – in the century since they’ve diversified and adapted to serve the demands of the community they serve.
Consider a few highlights of the Port of Grays Harbor’s recent accomplishments:
- Marine Terminals: This year, the Port broke ground on the Terminal 4 Expansion &Redevelopment Project, which includes over $60 million of public infrastructureimprovements in support of private partner AGP’s new bulk agricultural export facility atTerminal 4. The project, once complete in 2026, will double vessel calls at the Port ofGrays Harbor and create 80 full-time, family wage jobs.
- Fishing: The port’s Westport Marina is the number one commercial seafood landing portin Washington state and has been for more than a decade. The Marina currently ranksnumber twelve in the Nation for both volume and value of commercial seafood landed.Seafood landed in Westport is exported to more than 85 countries around the world, andthe fishing activity supports more than 2,700 jobs in the region.
- At Satsop Business Park, the Port has leased more than 300,000 square feet ofwarehouse space in the past five years. They host the Grays Harbor College’s CDLtraining program, as well as their two and four-year forestry degree programs of whichthe port is also a financial supporter. Bowerman Airport remains a critical asset to the region and recently celebrated thecompletion of Life Flight’s $1.3 million hangar.
Learn more about the Port of Grays Harbor at www.portofgraysharbor.com
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As a state legislative and regulatory advocacy organization, the Washington Public Ports Association (WPPA) fosters public policy for ports to achieve their goals. The WPPA was authorized by the Legislature in 1961 to represent 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 marine terminals, barge facilities, industrial development, marinas, airports, railroads, and tourism promotion. Learn more at washingtonports.org.
CONTACT
Eric ffitch, Executive Director
Washington Public Ports Association
E: effitch@washingtonports.org
T: 360-763-1179
