Port facilities could create 1,900 jobs

Tacoma, Olympia port officials look at multiple sites in county

By Jim Szymanski | The Olympian • Published February 11, 2008

A rail and truck cargo facility under consideration in Maytown could become one of the county's largest employers.

A market study done for the Port of Tacoma projects 1,900 jobs could be created on the 745-acre site by the time it is fully developed in 2025.

"Those numbers are impressive when you look at an economy such as South Puget Sound," Economic Development Council of Thurston County executive director Michael Cade said. "It would allow us to diversify from our state employment base."

State government employed about 24,000 people in the county in 2007, according to the state Employment Security Department. Next in line is Providence St. Peter Hospital, which reported a payroll of 2,400 last year.

"It's a big deal," Cade said of the potential economic effects of a Thurston County cargo center.

Such a facility would have a "multiplier effect" of creating about two support jobs off the property for every one on the cargo site, Cade said.

"The long-term impacts are a very significant economic opportunity," Cade said.

The Port of Tacoma bought the Maytown site in 2006. It foresees using it to transfer cargoes from trucks to trains to speed deliveries of goods by taking trucks off of Interstate 5. The Tacoma port is studying the project with the Port of Olympia.

The consultants Chabin Concepts of Yakima prepared the economic impact report. Other highlights include projections that a cargo center anywhere in South Sound would:

• Generate 450 jobs during construction and 850 jobs during the first year of operation.

• Add $55 million in state and local taxes per year when fully developed in 2025.

• Generate between $8.5 million and $13.5 million in annual lease revenues to the cargo center operator by 2025. It is not known whether the Port of Tacoma, the Port of Olympia, the rail companies or any other company would operate such a center.

• Possibly lure businesses from Tacoma to Thurston County, including American Crystal Sugar Company, American International Forest Products and the Simpson Tacoma Kraft Company lumber operation.