Port granted $1.6 million CERB loan

COLFAX — The Port of Whitman received a $1.6 million low-interest loan for its “Central Ferry Rail Spur and Water Extension Project from the Washington Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) through the Washington State Department of Commerce.

Port of Whitman Assistant Communications Director Patty Kietburtz said the project has yet to start. Still, the engineering company estimates the public infrastructure project at approximately $2 million, including engineering, fees, contingency and construction.

The project will construct a rail siding and waterline extension serving Lot I, approximately 11 acres, of the Port’s Central Ferry Site. It is located on the port’s southeastern end adjacent to the lower Snake River.

Infrastructure expansions that the CERB loan supports include extending the property’s port-owned rail lead and installing a well.

“It will benefit the entire port at Central Ferry,” Kieburtz said of extending the utilities, especially the rail, “it will be more active, so we’ll be able to move more cars along that rail system,” she said.

On March 16, the port Board of Commissioners approved a corresponding resolution to submit the CERB loan application with committed private partner AgrowSolutions LLC.

Agrow is investing $2.5 million in the project to develop a new fertilizer manufacturing and distribution facility on the lot, which is expected to create 14 jobs.

After approaching the port in late 2022 to discuss expanding the Agrow Solutions facilities to the Port of Central Ferry property, Agrow Solutions determined that rail and water service was critical to doing business at the location.

“We’re an agronomy services company using our knowledge with the crop requirements to figure out what blend is needed,” Agrow Solutions Owner Ben Moehrle said, adding that they figure out what fertilizer to apply to the soil or the plant. “We’re that middle ground of matching the farmer with their required product,” Moehrle said.

Moehrle said they’ll use the site to bring fertilizer products and make custom blends. “We custom tailor the fertilizer blends based on the soil and the goals of the farmer,” he said.

For AgrowSolutions, Moehrle said that putting rail and water to the Central Ferry site is essential in moving everything forward. “We’re excited to partner with the Port of Whitman County for Agrow Solutions’ next chapter,” he said.

In addition to its private investment of $2.5 million in the facility, Agrow Solutions is providing the required $400,000 match for the public infrastructure project.

Kieburtz said that jobs projected for the private facility include mixing manufacturing office staff, sales, and staff working on mixing the fertilizer.

“CERB’s mission of creating jobs and building sustainable economies statewide is vital to Washington. Infrastructure investments are a fundamental piece of community growth and stability. This funding will help strengthen the future economy of these communities by creating high-wage jobs and helping these businesses thrive,” CERB Chair Michael Echanove said.

Kieburtz said that it is listed as part of the application that the wages from the jobs will exceed Whitman County’s minimum.

Office, administrative and skilled craft jobs are expected to make an hourly wage of $28 an hour, and Sales is expected to earn $38.

Kieburtz said the public rail and water infrastructure construction is anticipated to begin in early 2024, pending engineering design and construction bid collection and selection.

The CERB loan will cover the permitting, engineering, and construction of the public utility infrastructure, which is anticipated to be completed in the early summer of 2024.