graysharbor – Pacific Maritime Magazine

09 Jan

Port of Grays Harbor Selects New Executive Director

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsgraysharbor, leonardbarnes, newsmakers

Port of Grays Harbor Deputy Executive Director Leonard Barnes has been chosen as the port’s next executive director. He is succeeding Gary Nelson, who is expected to retire in March. The Port of Grays Harbor Commission is expected to consider Barnes’ employment agreement at its Jan. 9 meeting. It was at a special Dec. 14 meeting that the commission authorized port Director of Finance and Administration Mike Folkers and legal counsel Art Blauvelt to begin employment agreement talks with Barnes. Barnes began his career at the port in 1984. Since becoming deputy executive director role in 2005, he has been…

05 Dec

Port of Grays Harbor Executive Director Nelson to Retire

Mark Edward NeroNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsceo, graysharbor, newsmakers

After nearly 24 years on the job, Port of Grays Harbor Executive Director Gary Nelson has said that he’ll retire March 31, 2024. Nelson, whose pending retirement was announced by the port Nov. 14, was hired as executive director in April 2000, when the port had only 21 vessel calls handling 85,000 metric tons of cargo with an operating budget of just $5.2 million. More than two decades later, Grays Harbor is projected to have 100 vessel calls and handle more than 3 million metric tons of cargo with an operating budget of nearly $40 million by the end of…

07 Nov

Port of Grays Harbor Completes Haul Road Erosion Project

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newserosion, graysharbor

A project addressing erosion issues that threatened vital utilities to Satsop Business Park is now completed, the Port of Grays Harbor announced Oct. 6. Civic and harbor officials recently celebrated the port’s Haul Road Erosion Mid-Term Strategy Project, which called for building and installing “self-mitigating bioengineered log structures” at the area of erosion, reshaping the embankment, putting in riparian plants to enhance aquatic habitats and furthering larger restoration efforts at the Chehalis Basin. The project was funded by the port, the Office of the Chehalis Basin, the Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority, Grays Harbor Energy and Grays Harbor County’s .09…

13 Jun

Port of Grays Harbor Designates TIA to Help Fund Terminal Expansion Project

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsgraysharbor, tia, tif

In an effort to help fund infrastructure improvements at its $46.85 million Terminal 4 Expansion and Redevelopment Project, the Port of Grays Harbor (Wash.) Commission has designated Grays Harbor County’s first Tax Increment Area (TIA). The designation, announced May 31, is a major step toward Tax Increment Financing (TIF), which could help pay for public projects critical for economic development by setting aside a portion of property taxes paid by development in the TIA for up to 25 years, according to the port. This also allows the port to leverage investments already being made by AGP, the port’s largest customer,…

10 Jan

Port of Grays Harbor’s Westport Marina Modernization Project Nets Funding

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsgraysharbor, westportmarina

The Port of Grays Harbor plans to begin the first phase of its Westport Marina Modernization Project this year, an effort made possible by Rep. Derek Kilmer, who secured Community Project Funding in the federal 2023 fiscal year budget, the port announced Dec. 30. The $750,000 is expected to pay for designing the project’s float modernization and reconfiguration, with a focus toward replacing floats 11, 15, 17 and 21. Port Commission President Tom Quigg said the port is grateful for Kilmer’s work in securing funding for the project. “Community Project Funding at this critical early stage supports the important work…

16 Dec

Port of Grays Harbor Approves Invenergy Lease Option

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsgraysharbor, invenergy, satsopbusinesspark

The Port of Grays Harbor on Dec. 14 announced that its commissioners have agreed to an Option to Lease contract with private sustainable energy solutions firm Invenergy for acreage and a warehouse in Satsop West Park. The option allows Invenergy to evaluate the area as a possible site for a new facility that could generate as much as 45 tons a day of carbon-free green hydrogen using electrolysis. If the project advances, the facility could be in service as early as 2026, according to the port. “We are extremely excited that Satsop’s infrastructure could play a role in Grays Harbor’s…

09 Dec

Port of Grays Harbor Deputy Executive Reappointed to State Board

Karen Robes MeeksNews, News Briefs, PMM Online Newsfreightmobility, graysharbor

Washington State Governor Jay Inslee has reappointed Port of Grays Harbor Deputy Executive Director Leonard Barnes as a port district representative to the Washington State Freight Mobility Investment Board, the port announced Nov. 23. First appointed in April 2017, Barnes is part of the 12-member board responsible for “creating a comprehensive and coordinated state program to facilitate freight movement between and among local, national and international markets which enhances trade opportunities,” according to the port. The board also works to find ways to reduce the effects of freight movement on communities. “With more than three decades of experience in freight,…