Grays Harbor Blog

Last month the board of Greater Grays Harbor, Inc. invited Imperium Renewables to talk with us about their project to bring Crude by Rail to the Port of Grays Harbor. We had heard a great deal of speculation about what these projects would mean to Grays Harbor – and the predictions ran the gamut from 100 jobs to almost certain environmental ruination of the estuary. We wanted more information about what the projects entailed and what it meant for our Harbor. The following is what we have learned.

Imperium, along with Westway Terminals and U.S. Development, plans to transfer rail car shipments of crude oil from North Dakota to tankers in the Port. Those tankers will transport the oil to refineries on the West Coast, as American law mandates U.S. oil be refined here.

North Dakota oil is expected to last for decades. That is why the three companies are looking to build millions of dollars of infrastructure at the Port of Grays Harbor. The tanks they build will be used for the storage of crude oil, not for its processing.

Both Imperium and Westway have years of experience working with biodiesel and bulk liquid in much the same way they are proposing to do with crude oil, in many cases complying with the very same laws that apply to crude with their current products. We also learned that Crude by Rail is not a new business model. There are Crude by Rail operations in the Port of Tacoma and along the Columbia River that have been operating with solid safety records.

We learned Imperium has received over 60 vessels and thousands of railcars with zero incidents. It and Westway have been doing business successfully and safely, and we have no reason to think it will be any different here. Oil, railroads and maritime shipping are three of the most highly federally-regulated activities. We feel those regulations adequately protect our Harbor, and we know the companies operate in good faith.

We believe that Crude by Rail is compatible with tourism, commercial fishing, and shellfish aquaculture. We would not support these projects if we felt that they put the Harbor’s estuary at risk. We don’t have to “choose” between environmental safety and industrial development, and to imply that there is a trade-off is a false choice.

We also looked at the potential economic benefits to the Harbor.

Millions of dollars in infrastructure will be invested in the Port, which will return sales and B&O taxes to our cities and county, and the investment will create hundreds of short-term construction jobs. The multiplier effect for each of the 90 or so new long-term industrial jobs – not to mention new jobs for pilots and longshoremen – could be 2.5 indirect jobs or higher.

The investment at the Port will provide lasting returns in other ways. First, it will help diversify its product base. Second, it will help the Port attract interest from other businesses, furthering its ability to bring industry and jobs to the Harbor.

Growth at the Port, no matter the cargo, will lead to increased train traffic. The Port has seen 400 percent growth in the past five years, and we anticipate that growth, and train traffic, will continue. Currently, the existing traffic is already a stressor for our communities. But we have reasons to be encouraged that we are going to see short and long term solutions come into play. Already the Port, the City of Aberdeen and Genesee & Wyoming, the company that now owns the track, have made progress in identifying potential short and long term solutions to alleviate access issues at the Olympic Gateway Mall.

Genesee & Wyoming is the largest short-line railroad in North America, and it is in their best interest to invest in and develop our rail line to its maximum freight potential. And, with their partnership with the Port and Greater Grays Harbor, Inc., they will help our area attract even more business investment to further use the railroad line.

When the board heard that, not only could we feel good about Crude by Rail on its own merits of increasing employment and investment, but we could feel good that it would bring additional attention, investment and improvement to Grays Harbor. It was a rare triple win, for the community, for the local businesses and for the future.

I received the following email from Grays Harbor College. This is an event that has business ramification, folks. Think of all the work to do and all the ways we can supply the project and workers! To get to it:

We have a unique opportunity later this month when noted University of Washington oceanographer Dr. John Delaney will be on the Grays Harbor College campus and in the community speaking about his team’s efforts to create a cable network of deep-ocean sensors off the Harbor and along the Pacific Coast.

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Join Greater Grays Harbor, Inc. for our monthly Business Forum, featuring speaker Reid Bates of Express Employment Professionals. He will discuss the five greatest threats to your business in the new year, and how you can avoid them.

How do you avoid Inability to Innovate, or Regulatory Nightmares, or the Cost of Reckless Hiring? Reid will give you strategies to help your business be nimble.

When: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22.

Where: Aberdeen Elks, 1712 S Boone Street, Aberdeen.

Reservations are required by Friday, Jan. 18: Cost is $15 for members, $20 for non-members. Leaders Circle members can send an attendee for free, call for details. Call 532-1924.

John Nacht

Greater Grays Harbor, Inc. will present a Business Forum featuring speaker John Nacht, risk manager for the state Employment Security Department on August 28.

Nacht will discuss how you can reduce your business costs by better managing risk. Nacht, a retired Navy pilot, started as Lewis County’s risk manager in 1992. He has worked as a risk manager for the state since 1998 and has been a board member for Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA). His responsibilities include liability, emergency management, public security and records and public disclosure.

This presentation is made possible by a partnership with WorkSource Grays Harbor.

When: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, August 28.

Where: Aberdeen Elks, 1712 S Boone Street, Aberdeen.

Reservations are required by Friday, August 24: Cost is $15 for members, $20 for non-members. Leaders Circle members can send an attendee for free, call for details. Call 532-1924 or email info@graysharbor.org.

We were thrilled to be the messenger for the following:

Harbor Paper LLC today announced the acquisition of the former Grays Harbor Paper Mill located in Hoquiam, Washington. The new owners expect to take possession of the facility immediately and begin producing paper within 45 days.

Harbor Paper LLC will specialize in manufacturing uncoated, free-sheet recycled paper using renewable energy sources. The business focus will be on providing high-quality paper at reasonable prices to customers throughout the western United States.

“It’s hard to overstate what a milestone it is to have another shuttered mill reopen on the Harbor,” said Tim Gibbs, CEO of Greater Grays Harbor, Inc. ” This was a complex deal that took a great deal of work. We were able to make it happen thanks to the many partners that were able to come together, including Grays Harbor PUD, the City of Hoquiam, the state Department of Commerce, and WorkSource. We also owe special thanks to the receiver, Richard Hooper of Pivotal Solutions whose efforts were instrumental in bringing this deal to fruition,” added Gibbs.

Another key player in the resurrection of the mill was John Begley, former President of Grays Harbor Paper. Begley worked diligently for over a year to find the right organization to acquire the mill, resume operations, and breathe new life into the 83-year-old facility.

“We are excited about bringing this opportunity to the area,” commented Begley, now President and CEO of Harbor Paper. “The jobs created by Harbor Paper will benefit many individuals and their families. We look forward to creating a great work environment where each employee is rewarded for his or her role in making Harbor Paper a success and a company we can all be proud of.”

Applications for employment at the new facility will be accepted exclusively on Harbor Paper’s website at www.harborpaper.com. The local WorkSource office located at 511 W. Heron St. in Aberdeen will conduct the post application testing.

Randy Ross

At the end of this month, Greater Grays Harbor, Inc. kicks off its annual Shop the Harbor First campaign – and we are really excited about it!

In this issue of the Harbor Insider, you will find a poster that you can hang in the window of your business – or, if you are not a traditional retailer, in your employee break room or business wall – that will give people a reason to consider shopping the Harbor first. There are several versions of this poster, so that there’s more interest, and people will pay attention.

And that’s what it’s really all about, isn’t it? Getting people to pay attention to your business. Helping them find out what exists right here on the Harbor, and why there is an advantage to seeking it out here.

We hope that by having all our members share information with each other, you’ll all know your Harbor better, and can help each other out by not only patronizing each others’ businesses, but by referring your customers to everyone else.

We also want you to have some solid talking points for why it is important to Shop the Harbor First. I’ve got a few here for you:

• When you spend money on the Harbor, the sales tax gets spent on services and infrastructure right here on the Harbor instead of somewhere else. It makes your community a more liveable place, with better parks, streets, and public safety services.
• When you Shop the Harbor First, the businesses you support also support local non-profits, like school Booster clubs, youth sports, the Rotary and Lions clubs and even Greater Grays Harbor, Inc. These are non-profits that are dedicated to making our community a happier, healthier place.
• Local businesses employ people who live here – and we like to see our neighbors employed!
• Local businesses tend to buy from each other, which means your money circulates more within your community.
• When you Shop the Harbor First, your support makes it possible for businesses to invest in new products to sell. If you want to see more here, spending more here helps.
• The more money is spent on the Harbor, the more likely entrepreneurs are to want to start a business here, and the more likely well-known national and regional businesses are to locate here.

There are other, more abstruse arguments for Shopping the Harbor First – like that local businesses help preserve an area’s character, and that they use infrastructure efficiently, and that you can save big bucks on gas shopping in your own town. But it’s not rocket science, and anyone can see, with a little prodding, that the more money is circulating in our county, the better it is for our economy and even our happiness. And it is almost certainly better for your business!

So let’s do what we can to raise the awareness out there of the benefits of Shopping the Harbor First.

The Daily World

Greater Grays Harbor, Inc. is proud to announce that The Daily World is the Business of the Month for July.

The daily newspaper has been in operation in Grays Harbor for 104 years, and a member for 18 years.

The Daily World has supported local schools, Relay for Life, United Way, Union Gospel Mission, Salvation Army, Food Ball, Youth Sports, the YMCA, Historical Seaport, Scouts, food and clothing banks, Habitat for Humanity, Washington Business Week, the Arc of GH and other local Chambers. Employees are involved in Rotary, Elks, Eagles and more.

Employees have also held positions in GGHI as ambassadors, and board members when it was the Chamber and EDC. Many employees have gone through Leadership Grays Harbor, as well.

When asked why Greater Grays Harbor was important to his business, publisher Bill Crawford said, “The opportunity to celebrate success and recognize dedication and passion within the local business community. The optimistic view of life and business in Grays Harbor that starts with a dedicated group of board members and ambassadors. And last, but not least, events like Business After Hours and EXPO that facilitate networking, real human connections and relationship building opportunities.”

“I admire their commitment for the past 18 years plus their community outreach, services and dedication, which exceed expectations for this nomination,” said Ambassador Lorna Grover.

“They help so many non-profits by giving free advertising through sidebars and articles,” said Ambassador Betsy Seidel. “It’s hard to be a print publication in these technological times, but their newspapers continue to serve the community so well with informative articles and important advertising for our businesses.”

The Business of the Month is based on excellence in image, employee relations, community service, support of Greater Grays Harbor, Inc. and customer service. Only 12 awards are made each year and chosen from about 500 members.