The Port of Centralia will be one of 99 economic “Opportunity Zones” in the state selected to benefit from the second edition of a federal program meant to spur development.
The port announced its selection Friday morning, informing the public that its industrial park on the west side of town was selected to participate in the Opportunity Zones 2.0 program.
The announcement follows a state-level selection process that included 152 applicants.
In a news release, the port asserted its land was nominated "because of its strong potential to attract private investment, support new development and create jobs in Lewis County.”
“We have available land and a workforce ready to support new opportunities,” Centralia Port Commissioner Ally Pickard said in the release. “This designation helps put Lewis County on the map for future investment.”
The port believes the designation will make its industrial properties “more attractive” to growing companies considering locations in Lewis County. The port added that it expects the incentive to attract private investment into its master-planned areas that can create family-wage jobs and also contribute to improving local infrastructure and economic development.
The port also gave a brief shoutout to partners that helped advocate for its designation as an Opportunity Zone, sharing credit with the Economic Alliance of Lewis County, local governments and unidentified “private-sector partners.”
“This is great news for our community,” Port Executive Director Amy Graber said in the release. “The Opportunity Zone designation gives us another tool to attract businesses, create family-wage jobs and continue building a strong economic future for Centralia.”
According to information provided by the Washington state Department of Commerce, this will be the second time the Port of Centralia has benefited from the federal Opportunity Zone program, which was originally launched in 2018.
A state dashboard of the Opportunity Zones identifies the Port of Centralia as a nominee in both the 1.0 and 2.0 programs, with the first iteration attracting investment from national warehouse builder Logistics Property Company (LPC) Inc., which has been at the center of local debates of warehouse construction in and around the Port of Centralia and Galvin Road.
For the most recent reporting by The Chronicle on LPC and local warehouse development, visit https://tinyurl.com/mrxfpf6e.
According to the dashboard, the second iteration of the project will primarily benefit an existing manufacturing-based port tenant and create space for a new tenant that could bring a small number of jobs — between five and 10.
“These projects will also create opportunities for auxiliary businesses and supporting industries, including construction, transportation, maintenance and service providers,” reads the dashboard commissioned by the Washington state Department of Commerce.
Gov. Bob Ferguson submitted the nominations, representing 27 counties and 17 tribal lands, to the U.S. Treasury Department. The new designations will take effect January 1, 2027.
“Washington is a great place to do business,” Ferguson said in a news release from his office. “Opportunity Zones help shine a light on communities that have exceptional potential for investors.”
According to the governor’s news release, members of the public, business leaders and the state’s 29 federally recognized tribes participated in months of feedback and strategic planning, led by the state Department of Commerce.
“We started by listening to communities about their strengths, their ambitions, and what they need to grow,” said Sarah Clifthorne, interim director of the Washington State Department of Commerce. “There is immense untapped potential across Washington for private investments to thrive and unlock the next chapter of growth. Our goal is to encourage that partnership with local people and the variety of spaces ready for impact.”
