With the year coming to an end, the Port of Chehalis authorized the sale of an “unprecedented” amount of properties, beating the previously set record of two property sales in a year.
Port of Chehalis commissioners met on Thursday and unanimously approved the sale of three port properties to three separate buyers.
The sales are to existing local businesses, allowing them to expand their operations in the area.
As a result of the sales, over 50 jobs will be retained while another 30 will be created over the next couple of years, according to Port of Chehalis officials.
The first sale of property was authorized to Pacific Mobile Structures, a company that sells and leases mobile office space and builds modular structures.
Currently headquartered in Chehalis, the company is purchasing 13.19 acres of land south of Maurin Road to construct a branch office, shop and corporate office. The sale price is $1.5 million.
The company will be retaining 31 existing jobs between employees at the corporate headquarters and local branch office, and will eventually provide 17 new jobs.
Buck Hubbert, of The Industrial Commission, voiced his support for the moves being made by Pacific Mobile Structures during the public hearing portion of the meeting.
“They could have gone anywhere and relocated,” he said. “It’s really great to have them stay here and use this property; it’s a real win.”
The second authorization of sale was for 8.44 acres of land and the associated structures on the property. Sound Wood Products is currently leasing the property and buildings located at 195 Ribelin Road. Once the purchase if finalized, Sound Wood plans to expand its operations and construct a new production facility on the property.
The sale price is $1.08 million.
Rory O’Shaughnessy, a representative of the company, said by purchasing the property, there is growth potential for the business as it can expand into several other products.
“This allows us to expand a fair amount in the base we are producing, and hire a number of people in the local area to accommodate that,” he said.
Eight jobs will be retained, with the potential of 10 new jobs in the future, he said.
The sale of the land and buildings was to Sound Wood Properties, LLC, the holding company for the business.
The third transaction, the smallest of the bunch, is the sale of .38 acres of bare land to Douglas and Connie Patterson for use by The Water Doctor of Washington, Inc. The sale price is $12,500. The property will be used for the sales of water treatment products and services, retaining 13 jobs, with the potential to add four new jobs in the future.
Located at 2556 Jackson Highway, the land purchase will allow the company to link their properties into one contiguous site, which currently sits divided by the piece of property.
“It’s just something we need to take care of,” Gary Mattson, of Water Doctor, said. Mattson is in the process of purchasing the property from the Pattersons.
Alicia Bull, with the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce, supported the three transactions.
“Coming from a time period where we haven’t seen a lot of expansion or growth, I was really excited when I saw these transactions were ready to come about,” she said. “When I look at those sites and see not just the sale and amount of money going back and forth, but the number of jobs that are going to be created … the chamber supports this and is excited to see it.”
Chehalis City Manager Merlin MacReynold was also in support of the sales.
Randy Mueller, CEO for the port, said the authorization to sell the properties are contingent on meeting legal requirements first. He anticipates the final closing of the property sales to occur over the next few weeks or months, once all the required steps to sell the properties have been completed.
