Blue skies, cranes, heavy equipment and a vessel loading at Terminal 2 were the background as the Port of Grays Harbor and AGP welcomed more than 125 elected officials, project partners and community and business leaders for the official groundbreaking of the Terminal 4 Expansion & Redevelopment Project on Tuesday.

The Port’s Terminal 4 Project will add more than 40,000 feet of additional rail within its Marine Terminal Complex, a new fendering system and a stormwater collection and treatment facility at T4 and create more than 30 acres of additional cargo laydown area to support future operations at Terminal 4A.

AGP’s $170 million project broke ground a month ago and will construct a new commodity export facility at Terminal 4B resulting in increased ag exports generating additional vessel calls and more than 80 full-time, family-wage jobs.

“As a public port district, we strive to utilize our public assets to attract private investment in our community to create jobs and opportunities,” said Port of Grays Harbor Commission President Phil Papac. “The Port couldn’t have asked for a better partner than AGP as we embark on this transformational project. This will be the largest infrastructure project the Port has ever undertaken and it will pay dividends well beyond Grays Harbor.”

AGP CEO Chris Schaffer was equally excited.

“We are ready to load more vessels and grow here in Grays Harbor and this project will make that possible,” said Schaffer. “Critical partnerships with our rail partners, ILWU Local 24 and the Port made Grays Harbor an easy choice 20 years ago and we couldn’t be more certain of it today. Today’s groundbreaking is a pivotal step for AGP and the Port, and we look forward to more success here in Grays Harbor.”

Port Commission President Phil Papac was grateful for the cooperation of partners.

“We are so very grateful for all of those who were able to join us to celebrate today, especially the Quinault Indian Nation and our project funding partners of the federal delegation, MARAD, the state of Washington, Grays Harbor County and the Soy Transportation Coalition,” stated Papac. “Your support and recognition of this project’s many benefits are invaluable, and we appreciate the partnership.”

The Port will construct its improvements through three low bid contracts. The first contract, titled T4A & T4B Upland Construction, was awarded to local contractor Rognlin’s, Inc. at a Special Commission Meeting on Nov. 4, 2024, after reviewing and finding them to be the responsive lowest bidder. The next contract, titled T4 Dock Fender & Stormwater Upgrades, will be advertised for bids starting in December 2024, and the final contract to construct a project mitigation site is planned to be advertised for bids in early 2025.

Founded in 1911, the Port of Grays Harbor is one of Washington State’s oldest port districts and Washington’s only deep-water port located directly on the Pacific Ocean. The Port of Grays Harbor operates 4 deep-water marine terminals, the Westport Marina, Bowerman Airport, Grays Harbor Pilotage Services, numerous public waterfront access facilities, and industrial and business parks throughout the County.

The addition of Satsop Business Park increased the Port’s properties to more than 1,000 acres of industrial properties and an additional 1,200 acres of sustainably managed forestland. The Port is strategically located midway between Seattle and Portland and less than 90 minutes from open sea.