The Port of Grays Harbor delivered its 10th Annual Business Report, titled PGH 2025 Expanding Our Horizons, to a packed house at the Rotary Log Pavilion in Aberdeen Wednesday morning.

Dozens of business leaders, Port partners, staff, employees and elected officials filled the pavilion to listen to and watch presentations from Port Executive Director Leonard Barnes, Andy Hunter of Lynch Creek Farm, Vince Magers of Pasha Automotive Services, Veronica Mitchell-Jones of LifeFlight and Wayne Johnson of AGP.

After opening remarks from Port of Grays Harbor Commission President Phil Papac, Barnes recapped 2024 accomplishments and detailed the Port’s seven lines of business which include marine terminals, pilotage services, Satsop Business Park, Westport Marina, Bowerman Airport and Friends Landing.

“It’s awesome to be here with all of you this morning as we review the impressive results from 2024 and what’s on the horizon for the Port of Grays Harbor for 2025,” Barnes said. “We’re a diversified port, we do a lot of things.”

Barnes walked through each one of the Port’s lines of business starting with the Westport Marina.

“Did you know that seafood landed and processed in little old Westport is shipped to more than 80 countries in the world, just get your head around that one,” Barnes said. “I am so proud of the Westport community, our staff and leadership out there, to continue to grow that business, my hat is off to you. Tourism is alive and well in the bustling South Beach, in particular the marina district.”

Barnes discussed the growth and expansion at Satsop Business Park and highlighted the 2024 Construction Try-a-Trade event that hosted 1,100 students from 25 school districts in October, the significance of Bowerman Airport, the features of Friends Landing, the capabilities of the Port’s marine terminals, the importance of the U.S. Highway 12 rail separation and Terminal 4 expansion projects, and pointed out the proficiency of the Port’s maritime pilots.

According to a brochure provided to each guest, the Port handled a record amount of cargo in 2024, 3.8 million metric tons, that included agriculture products, cars, liquid bulks, logs and wood chips.

Hunter detailed the history of Lynch Creek Farm, the company’s exponential growth, and how what was once a family hobby farm came to add a facility at Satsop Business Park in Elma. Lynch Creek Farm produces and sells Christmas and spring wreaths and centerpieces.

“We’re putting a 12,500-square-foot cooler in Elma, it’ll put our coolers’ capacity up to over 30,000 square feet,” Hunter said. “That’s keeping the product fresh, making sure that you as customers get that amazing product delivered to you to your door every day. We’ve expanded our Elma facility a lot in the last year, all of our centerpieces are made in Elma.”

Magers discussed the history of Pasha Automotive Services and its automotive transportation business which runs through the Port of Grays Harbor. Pasha Automotive has been working with the Port since 2010.

“We just celebrated our 75th anniversary,” Magers said. “Partnerships are big to us. The Port of Grays Harbor has been a great partner. We want to make sure we’re good stewards in the community. We had a forecast of about 60,000 autos (for 2025), already we stormed out of the gates, we’re already at 13,000 autos and five vessels year-to-date.”

Mitchell-Jones highlighted the LifeFlight crew and aircraft and the commitment from the Port of Grays Harbor to host the lifesaving service at Bowerman Airport. She also highlighted the ongoing construction of a new $1.3 million hangar which is expected to be completed this summer.

“First they have to be willing, they have to be able to take on the challenge of having 24-hour services available, we at LifeFlight like to be off the ground in eight minutes, that takes an effort,” Mitchell-Jones said. “The airport has to have the right infrastructure, the right support, the right fuel systems, to be able to support that quick interaction, that is incredible. (The Port) just opened your arms and said, ‘What do we need to do to make that happen?’ Thank you so much for offering that support.”

Johnson explained AGP and its relationship to the Port along with the expected increase in exports in the near future thanks to the Terminal 4 expansion project, which is expected to be completed in mid-2026.

“(Our) combined facilities process over one million bushels, 27,000 metric tons, per day of U.S. farm grown soybeans,” Johnson said. “I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the importance of your local Port of Grays Harbor which is so instrumental in the export of 3 million metric tons per year of high quality, value-added soybean meal to over a dozen countries in the Pacific Rim.”

All the speakers thanked partners, colleagues and staff for their contributions.

The brochure highlighted a look ahead to 2025 which included the Terminal 4 expansion, the training of a fourth maritime pilot, enhancements to Friends Landing including a pickleball court, new benches and picnic tables and improved walkways, a multi-year Westport Marina modernization project, and more.