Photos Provided
Jake Fay, Executive Director for Southwest Washington Growers Co-opertive.
By Cynthia Mudge
For the C-C Chamber of Commerce
The Port of Chehalis Grain Terminal & Transload Facility represents years of vision, collaboration, and investment in Southwest Washington’s agricultural future.
The project began in 2019 when the Southwest Washington Growers Cooperative and the Port of Chehalis partnered to improve transportation options for local farmers. Together, they successfully petitioned the Lewis County Board of County Commissioners and secured $800,000 through the .09 Rural Economic Development Fund to install a rail spur on Port property.
The rail spur created new opportunities for growers to transport malting barley to Great Western Malting in Vancouver, Washington. In its first year of operation, approximately 600 metric tons of barley were shipped. By 2021, that number had grown to 1,400 metric tons and continues to increase as demand expands.
Following the rail spur installation, Phase I of the project added grain storage bins and conveyor systems capable of loading grain directly onto rail cars. These improvements enhanced efficiency and provided local producers with a reliable transportation and storage solution.
In June, community leaders, agricultural partners, and government representatives celebrated the completion of Phase I with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. This phase expanded grain storage capacity and marked another milestone in a project made possible through strong partnerships among local, state, and federal agencies, as well as the agricultural community.
The facility plays an important role in supporting regional agriculture by allowing farmers to efficiently ship locally grown products to customers while also receiving agricultural commodities and supplies. The grain silos have a storage capacity of approximately 100,000 bushels and were designed to accommodate future expansion through the addition of more silos. The largely automated transloading system can move approximately 5,000 bushels per hour, providing significant operational efficiencies.
The Grain Terminal & Transload Facility demonstrates what can be accomplished when creative thinking, strategic investment, and regional partnerships come together. The project strengthens the local economy, supports agricultural producers, and helps position Southwest Washington for continued growth in the years ahead.
PROJECT FUNDING PARTNERS
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, a Community Partner Funding Project through the office of Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez
• U.S. Economic Development Administration
• Legislative directed funding through Washington State Department of Commerce (Grant #22-96634-81), by Representatives Orcutt and Abbarno
• .09 Rural Economic Development Fund through the Lewis County Board of County Commissioners
• The taxpayers of Washington State
