The post Port of Anacortes and Port of Skagit Begin Work to Formalize Regional Economic Partnership appeared first on Port of Skagit.
]]>On Thursday, March 26, the two ports held a joint commission meeting, bringing together the Port of Anacortes’ five commissioners and the Port of Skagit’s three commissioners. Together, they heard a presentation on each port’s respective strengths and challenges, emerging opportunities, and the 2024–2029 Skagit County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). The CEDS is a county-wide plan that includes a section focused on the ports’ roles in supporting its implementation.
The CEDS identifies the Port of Skagit’s key roles as growing industries—including advanced manufacturing, maritime manufacturing, and value added agriculture—and fostering an innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. The Port of Anacortes, on the other hand, is targeted with promoting bulk cargo trade through its deep water port, supporting aviation and aerospace sectors, advancing decarbonization and clean technology strategies, and for its strong role in tourism and quality of life in Skagit County.
A Complementary Partnership
The two port districts were established nearly forty years apart, each with a distinct mandate. As Port of Skagit Commission President Melanie Mankamyer explained: “the Port of Anacortes was formed to utilize their deep-water access and working waterfront, and the Port of Skagit was formed to build a manufacturing base for a more diversified economy in the county. Formalizing our Ports’ partnership through an interlocal agreement is a logical and effective action to further align our efforts, capitalize on our respective strengths and resources, and pursue new opportunities together that will support our thriving and diverse industries.”
That complementary structure is central to the vision behind the potential ILA. Port of Anacortes Commission President Kathy Pittis described the opportunity as creating “a stronger, more connected framework that links our deep-water terminal capabilities with valuable upland development opportunities.” This positions both ports to attract new investment and support long-term job creation across the region.
Through an ILA, the ports see opportunities to:
Building on Years of Collaboration
The potential ILA, made possible by Revised Code of Washington 39.34, would build on a long-time collaboration with deep roots. The two ports established joint ownership of Skagit Regional Airport in 1964, and Port of Skagit purchased the airport in 1975. In 2008, the ports entered into a formal ILA, committing to work cooperatively and proactively on services, resources, and issues of mutual concern. Though that agreement expired in 2018, the spirit of collaboration it embodies has continued.
The ILA would pick up that thread with renewed focus. “I think a strong and consistent partnership between Port of Skagit and Port of Anacortes would deliver additional energy towards economic growth and job creation, which is truly the core mission of Ports,” said Port of Anacortes Executive Director John Dumas. “We are eager to get underway and engage our complementary strengths to create regional economic benefits for Skagit County.”
A Shared Regional Vision
The agreement would be designed to complement the work already being done by regional economic development organizations like the Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County (EDASC). By formalizing their partnership, the ports would signal a commitment to coordinated, strategic investment in Skagit County’s economic future.
Port of Skagit Executive Director Sara Young emphasized the value of that coordination: “Each of our ports brings talented, dedicated staff and strong elected leadership to the table. By formalizing this partnership and investing in a shared regional vision, we are demonstrating a thoughtful and efficient use of public resources that will deliver lasting economic benefits to Skagit County.”
Together, the two ports are positioning Skagit County to compete for new investment, support existing industries, and create durable economic opportunity as a collaborative regional force.
The post Port of Anacortes and Port of Skagit Begin Work to Formalize Regional Economic Partnership appeared first on Port of Skagit.
]]>The post Senator Murray Visits WSU Breadlab at Port of Skagit appeared first on Port of Skagit.
]]>
Senator Murray, who serves as the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, held a roundtable discussion with Breadlab researchers and Port officials on some key federal investments to move the region forward.
“I want you all to know just how serious I am about delivering federal investments to support the Port of Skagit and agricultural initiatives like Breadlab, which keep our economy running and food on our tables,” stated Senator Murray.
The WSU Breadlab has been located at the Port of Skagit since 2015 and was the Port’s first partner in building the value-added agriculture sector at the Bayview Business Park. With more than 80 different crops grown commercially in the Skagit Valley, agriculture is an important industry within our community and beyond.
“We appreciate Senator Murray’s support of value-added agriculture in our community and her commitment to ensuring its viability,” stated Port Commission President Steve Omdal. “We look forward to partnering with her to enhance the opportunities for continued growth and successful outcomes for local agriculture.”
The Port of Skagit is home to about 20 different value-added agriculture businesses. The diverse agricultural work being done by Port tenants include research, wheat-breeding, milling, brewing, baking, malting, farm incubator, trainings and workshops, seed, bulb and fertilizer companies, pickle and meat processing, active farmland and more.
The post Senator Murray Visits WSU Breadlab at Port of Skagit appeared first on Port of Skagit.
]]>The post Port Purchases Two Hangars on Airport appeared first on Port of Skagit.
]]>The Port of Skagit added to its holdings at Skagit Regional Airport with the purchase of two box hangars.
Port Commission formally approved the acquisition of the aircraft hangars during a special meeting last Thursday. The two separate transactions will provide the Port with nearly 14,000 square feet of additional publicly-owned hangar space along Flightline Road, adjacent to the northwest apron off the main runway. These strategic purchases align with the Port’s Airport Master Plan, which focusses on general and business aviation growth at Skagit Regional Airport.
“The airport flightline is increasingly critical to conducting the Port’s work of bringing more business aircraft and more jobs to our community, helping us realize our long term goals,” stated Port Commissioner Dr. Kevin Ware.
The first hangar is 3,600 square feet and was purchased from Thomas Paulus for just over $400,000. The second hangar is just over 10,000 square feet and was purchased from Chuckanut Building LLC for $1.45-million. By purchasing these two hangars, the Port can make them available to lease to a new or existing aviation-related business. The purchase also secures important real estate along the flightline that can be used to provide more aviation-related services to meet the growing demand on the airfield.
“In the short term, the Port will lease the buildings to businesses wishing to expand their operations on the airfield, adding jobs and services,” Commissioner Ware said. “These additional hangars will produce a financial return for the taxpayers and increase revenues for the Port, so this serves well our future needs and provides short term benefit for existing tenants providing maintenance and other aviation services.”
Private development at the airport has been booming over the past few years, with six new large hangars constructed or still under construction, and 20 new T-hangars for smaller aircraft. This private sector investment is a testament to the value of Skagit Regional Airport as a transportation asset to our local community and beyond. The airport is also experiencing steady growth in international flight arrivals since adding US Customs and Border Protection services in 2019.
The post Port Purchases Two Hangars on Airport appeared first on Port of Skagit.
]]>The post Port of Skagit Receives Statewide Airport Award appeared first on Port of Skagit.
]]>Skagit Regional Airport, which is owned and operated by the Port of Skagit, was recognized as the Washington Airport Management Association (WAMA) 2021 Management Member of the Year. The award was presented during the WAMA annual conference, which brings together airport management teams and aviation professionals from across Washington state. Awards are presented to recognize members for excellence in overall airport management and for specific airport projects. Skagit Regional Airport was honored for outstanding airport management.
In the nomination, submitted by Precision Approach Engineering, the Port’s management team of Sara Young, Heather Rogerson and others were applauded for their response and resilience to the changing landscape of the airport, and the Port’s mindset of looking into the future to identify important projects and selecting capable leaders to accomplish their goals.
“The combined strength of these individuals provides the Port of Skagit with the talent to grow, operate and maintain infrastructure dating back to the 1930’s,” the nomination form states. “While keeping up with the daily requirements of running the airport, the team is also focused on completing capital improvement projects that support the Port’s mission of providing good jobs for the Skagit Valley community.”
Skagit Regional Airport has recently expanded the apron surface to accommodate large general aviation aircraft and their increased use of the airport. Several hangar developments are underway, with some nearing completion, to provide additional infrastructure for business and general aviation to grow and bring more economic development opportunities to the community and region.
The Washington Airport Management Association is a 501c3 non-profit organization that works to strengthen airports and airport management in Washington State by connecting aviation professionals throughout the industry. The group holds conferences, tours, trainings and offers scholarships to support their mission.
The post Port of Skagit Receives Statewide Airport Award appeared first on Port of Skagit.
]]>The post Port of Skagit Receives $2-Million in Funding for Fiber Optic Construction appeared first on Port of Skagit.
]]>The Port of Skagit was awarded a $1,000,000 loan and a $1,000,000 grant through the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) to continue its work to bring fiber optic infrastructure to eastern Skagit County.
This low-interest Rural Broadband Program loan along with the grant from the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, will support the East County Fiber-to-the-Premise (FTTP) Construction Project. This project consists of FTTP construction of aerial fiber in Concrete, Lyman, Hamilton, and Marblemount.
“CERB has been a supportive partner for the Port in bringing economic development opportunities to the Skagit Valley,” said Port Commissioner Bill Shuler. “ This funding is an important piece of the puzzle as we help bridge the digital divide in the eastern part of our county.”
The Port is working in partnership with Ziply Fiber to construct 22 miles of fiber infrastructure between Concrete and Rockport, with the goal of producing more than 1,200 connections for residents in these areas. These connections will bring high-speed internet service to these areas of our community, which have previously been unserved or under-served, providing enhanced access and opportunities for economic development, education, and health and safety.
In addition to CERB funding, this construction project has been supported at the state and local levels, including funding from Skagit County, the state Public Works Board and the Port of Skagit. FTTP construction within the four eastern Skagit County communities is expected to be complete by the end of 2022.
The post Port of Skagit Receives $2-Million in Funding for Fiber Optic Construction appeared first on Port of Skagit.
]]>The post Port of Skagit and Ziply Fiber Bringing Fiber Optic Infrastructure to Eastern Skagit County appeared first on Port of Skagit.
]]>
The Port of Skagit and Ziply Fiber entered into an agreement last week to connect homes and businesses in eastern Skagit County to fiber optic infrastructure, putting the speed, capacity, and reliability of Internet service for Skagit communities on par with larger cities around the country. This agreement will provide fiber-to-the-premise construction to more than 1,200 homes and businesses in Lyman, Hamilton, Concrete and Marblemount by the end of 2022.
Ziply Fiber, which acquired the Northwest operations of Frontier Communications last year, is in the midst of a significant expansion of its fiber network and has committed to invest more than $500 million in its network and services throughout the Pacific Northwest. In communities such as Skagit County, the company is investing resources in rural markets that have never seen fiber optic infrastructure.
“At Ziply Fiber, we believe you shouldn’t have to live in a big city to get great Internet. This partnership with the Port of Skagit allows us to build out fiber more quicky and to a larger geography than we’d be able to do on our own,” said Harold Zeitz, CEO of Ziply Fiber. “As a local company, we are proud to work with the Port of Skagit County and other public entities that see the value that public/private partnerships can bring to enabling their residents and businesses to access state-of-the-art fiber-optic networks and services both today and into the future.”
For the Port, this agreement presents the opportunity to accelerate deployment of high-speed Internet in these communities at levels of affordability typically only seen in urban markets. “This is one of the most significant economic development projects the Port of Skagit has ever been involved with,” said Patsy Martin, Port Executive Director.
Port Commissioner Bill Shuler noted this project will advance the construction of fiber optic infrastructure in eastern Skagit County by 10 years or more and will save money by utilizing existing infrastructure in a collaborative business model. “This is something I’ve been focused on for many years,” stated Commissioner Shuler. “This will bring dependable, high-speed Internet service to residents and business owners who haven’t had access to it before.”
Earlier efforts to improve access to fiber optic infrastructure led to the creation of SkagitNet in 2018, which is jointly operated by the Port of Skagit and Skagit PUD. SkagitNet is an open access, wholesale, fiber optic network that promotes competitive services and consumer choice—essential elements that are retained in this agreement with Ziply Fiber.
The Community Economic Revitalization (CERB) Board of Washington supports the Rural Broadband Program with grant awards for construction and creative partnership opportunities with telecommunications providers such as Ziply Fiber. In turn, Ziply Fiber’s strategy and focus in the Pacific Northwest is providing the best possible Internet services to residents and businesses in small, rural towns.
The COVID-19 pandemic has drawn attention to the digital divide in terms of accessible Internet connectivity. It has also created substantial policy focus from the state legislature and from funding organizations trying to determine how to solve this problem, especially in rural communities that are often unserved or under-served. Public-private partnerships like this one between the Port of Skagit and Ziply Fiber is a creative and effective way to help bridge that divide and make a difference on a local level.
About Ziply Fiber
Ziply Fiber is headquartered in Kirkland, Washington, and has major offices in Everett, Washington; Beaverton, Oregon and Hayden, Idaho. Most of Ziply Fiber’s executive team, which consists of former executives from AT&T, CenturyLink and Wave Broadband, either grew up in the Northwest or have spent the better part of 30 years living here. That local ownership and market familiarity is an important part of the company mindset and culture.
About the Port of Skagit
The mission of the Port of Skagit is “Good Jobs for the Skagit Valley.” The Port focusses on economic development opportunities through job creation, commerce and public infrastructure. Approximately 100 businesses are located on Port of Skagit properties, including Skagit Regional Airport, Bayview Business Park, La Conner Marina, and the SWIFT Center in Sedro-Woolley.
The post Port of Skagit and Ziply Fiber Bringing Fiber Optic Infrastructure to Eastern Skagit County appeared first on Port of Skagit.
]]>The post Mavrik Marine Facility Expansion Complete appeared first on Port of Skagit.
]]>Construction of the 17,266 square foot Port-owned manufacturing facility on Pearle Jensen Way was completed this spring, adjacent to Mavrik’s office and existing manufacturing building.
Mavrik Marine specializes in the construction of aluminum commercial boats. This new, larger facility will accommodate the construction of boats that are simply too large for their existing space. Mavrik is under contract to build up to five high-speed, 300+ passenger ferries for the San Francisco Bay Water Emergency Transportation Authority, or WETA.
The Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) supported the project with $3-million in a combination of grant and low-interest loan funding, while Skagit County provided $300,000 in economic development grant funding for public infrastructure. “The Port has been very successful in leveraging funding opportunities for public-private partnerships that are helping businesses expand their footprint and create more jobs,” stated Port Commissioner Kevin Ware.
Mavrik Marine was also able to secure federal funding through the U.S. Maritime Administration, commonly known as MARAD, to support the purchase of manufacturing equipment for the new facility.
Mavrik Marine anticipates adding 25-30 new jobs with this expansion and growth. The Port of Skagit’s mission is “Good Jobs for the Skagit Valley” and the Port focusses on economic development opportunities in four main sectors including marine manufacturing, aerospace manufacturing, general manufacturing and value-added agriculture.
The post Mavrik Marine Facility Expansion Complete appeared first on Port of Skagit.
]]>The post Port Provides Grant to Concrete Chamber of Commerce appeared first on Port of Skagit.
]]>The grant funding, provided to the Chamber as the project sponsor, will go to help offset the costs of replacing the HVAC system at the Concrete Theatre as part of the theatre’s expansion. The Concrete Theatre recently purchased adjacent space in downtown Concrete to provide additional meeting space for different community events, as well as expanded business operations for the theatre.
“The Concrete Theatre is an anchor in the Concrete community, and it provides resources and a central hub for connecting residents in eastern Skagit County,” said District 3 Port Commissioner Bill Shuler. “The Port recognizes the role of the Concrete Theatre in building community engagement and opportunities that support commerce and events that bring citizens together.”
The Port’s grant is contingent on the community raising matching funds of $7,000 to fully cover the costs of the furnace replacement. The Concrete Theatre hosts several community and Chamber events throughout the year, including workshops, music events, historical and educational presentations, holiday events, documentary screenings, group fitness classes and special fundraising events for community groups.
The Port’s Targeted Community Partnership Program is designed to provide one-time grant funds for communities in need, to support opportunities related to economic development, commerce, and tourism. There are several new jobs being created with the expansion, which includes a multipurpose room for meetings and gatherings.
For more information on how to help, please contact Valerie Lee, Chamber Manager, at [email protected].
The post Port Provides Grant to Concrete Chamber of Commerce appeared first on Port of Skagit.
]]>The post U.S. Representative Rick Larsen Tours Port of Skagit Projects appeared first on Port of Skagit.
]]>The day included tours and conversations with representatives from Island Grown Farmers’ Cooperative, Corporate Air Center, Systima Technologies, Dyberg Aviation and Mavrik Marine. Representatives from each of the businesses, along with Port staff, shared project updates with the District 2 Congressman, discussed the Port’s role in economic recovery, and how working with the Port has benefited their businesses.
“We couldn’t have done it without the Port’s partnership,” stated Zachery Battle, owner of Mavrik Marine. “I can’t imagine a better situation with them.” The Port is nearing completion of a 17,000 s.f. building for Mavrik Marine that was funded by a combination of state and local funding. The Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) Committed Private Partner Program provided $3 million in grant and loan funding, a Skagit County economic development grant offered $300,000, and the Port of Skagit supported the project with $500,000 in capital funds.
Port of Skagit Commissioner Kevin Ware explained that adding more infrastructure will in turn attract more businesses and create more jobs—which is the core mission of the Port of Skagit. “The Port of Skagit has the unique opportunity to focus primarily on economic development. With that, we have been very successful in leveraging funding opportunities for public-private partnerships that are helping businesses expand their footprint and create more jobs.”
Representative Larsen serves as the Chair of the Aviation Sub-Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, so the FAA-funded apron expansion at Skagit Regional Airport was of particular interest to him. The Federal Aviation Administration provided approximately $4.5-million of $5-million project, an investment that will continue to build business development opportunities at the Port of Skagit and job creation in our community.
The post U.S. Representative Rick Larsen Tours Port of Skagit Projects appeared first on Port of Skagit.
]]>The post Broadband Work Featured in Pacific Ports Magazine appeared first on Port of Skagit.
]]>The post Broadband Work Featured in Pacific Ports Magazine appeared first on Port of Skagit.
]]>