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April 29, 2014
In this issue:
Commissioners are expected at their Thursday meeting to consider a lease with Northwest Innovation Works at the site of the former Kaiser Aluminum smelter.
Northwest Innovation Works is proposing to build a facility to convert natural gas to methanol for export to Asia, a process that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 70 percent compared to traditional coal and oil methods. The lease includes a feasibility period that is expected to last 18 months.
The proposed development includes $1.8 billion in investment and will further diversify the Port’s cargo mix. It is expected to create 1,000 jobs during construction and more than 200 permanent, family-wage jobs upon completion.
See the full agenda.
Commission meetings begin at noon in Room 104 of the Fabulich Center, 3600 Port of Tacoma Road. Meetings are streamed live on the Port's website.
Container volumes through the Port bounced back in March, posting a nearly 8.5 percent gain over the same month last year.
The increase in international volumes was expected as production ramped up in China following factory closures during the Lunar New Year holiday in early February and empty containers were sent back to Asia ahead of the peak shipping season that traditionally begins in the summer.
Through the first quarter of the year, Tacoma container volumes remained flat, down 0.3 percent year to date. Breakbulk cargo volumes and auto imports continued to perform well, and grain exports appear to be rebounding.
Find the March cargo reports.
Learn more about one of Washington state’s most famous agricultural commodities at the Transportation Club of Tacoma’s May 12 lunch meeting.
Guest speaker Todd Fryhover, president of the Washington State Apple Commission, has worked with apple shippers for more than 20 years to sell their product overseas. He’s served as president of the commission since 2008.
The meeting begins at 11:30 a.m. at La Quinta Inn and Suites, 1425 E. 27th St. in Tacoma. Cost is $20. Learn more and reserve your seat online.
The Tacoma Propeller Club awarded $9,500 in scholarships to Pierce County high school students at their April 23 meeting.
The $4,000 2014 Lelli Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Caroline Siewert from White River High School. Adenike Omomukuyo from Emerald Ridge High School received the second place $2,000 award, and Haylee Ryan of Gig Harbor High School received the third place, $1,500 award. The other 10 applicants each received $200.
Scholarship winners are selected based on grade point average, community and school involvement, financial need, letter of recommendation and a verbal presentation on what port-related job they would like to have.
Learn more.
Port commissioners will travel to Washington, D.C., twice in May to meet with our Congressional delegation on a variety of trade-related issues.
Commissioner Connie Bacon will join local business and civic leaders May 5 to 9 for the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber’s Washington-to-Washington, D.C. conference. The delegation will advocate for several issues, including surface transportation reauthorization and the comprehensive reform of the Harbor Maintenance Tax.
Commissioner Clare Petrich will participate in the Washington Council on International Trade’s D.C. Fly-in May 20 to 22 to encourage members of Congress to complete negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement and reauthorize the Export-Import Bank.
Join the Friends of Julia’s Gulch regular work party May 10 from 9 a.m. to noon to remove invasive Himalayan blackberry.
Volunteers will meet rain or shine at the picnic tables under the big leaf maple trees. Park in the lot for View Point Park on Norpoint Way, and bring your own garden gloves and water bottle. Refreshments and tools will be provided, but bring your favorite tool if you can.
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