Port of Whitman withdraws from Ag Campus

COLFAX - The Port of Whitman County held its regular meeting Thursday, April 20, during which discussion occurred on the proposed Agriculture Advancement Campus, resulting in a vote of 2-1 on withdrawing its application to rezone 88 acres on SW Old Wawawai Road in Pullman for an Industrial Research Park and its offer to purchase a 184-acre parcel to build the campus.

Commissioner Kristine Meyer motioned to withdraw the Port's application and purchase offer.

Meyer stated that continuing the project without the Port's committed private partner and funds from the Community Economic Revitalization Board would tie up the Port's capital and could impact some of its more mature projects that could use the money.

Commissioner Tom Kammerzell, who voted to continue forward, stated that they should let the City of Pullman go through the process to make the rezoning decision.

"We don't know what the future holds," Kammerzell said, noting that he understood the community's different views.

"I believe we should agree to disagree and do it a way that can be respectful of all sides," he added.

Commission Chair Karl Webber stated that It's critical that they work together with their partners and communities to continue developing economic opportunities in Whitman County and that every prospect will have tradeoffs.

Webber stated in the meeting that one of the most significant issues he sees is the threat to the area's most important industry, agriculture.

Webber stated that the attack on agriculture is happening from two opposing directions.

"There's pressure to breech the snake river dams, and if that were to happen, it's going to put more trains and trucks on the road and drive up carbon emissions," he said, adding that legislation is imposed, saying carbon footprints have to reduce.

He stated that if the two merged, it could be devastating to the economy of the largest wheat-producing county in the country.

Webber reaffirmed that the Port's most significant focus is economic growth in the county, but he agreed that they needed help to do a project of that scale. The finances for the project are concerning at this time.

"I think we're going to have to work with the state government and the Department of Ecology and see if there is any way to do a different option," he said, noting that they'd have to work with City governments.

Webber stated that he still believes the value of the Agriculture Campus is imperative at some point because of the risk to the economy that he talked about.

He further stated that there is support for the campus from businesses out there. They have clear proof that the county can benefit from this instead of businesses going to other counties with more suitable facilities.

"We should focus our efforts on the ones that are moving, but a whole lot of effort in the next few years into really trying to understand and develop support from the citizens, the elected leaders, the economic development agencies, private investors, entrepreneurs," he said, adding that they are out there.

"This is about looking out for our community in the future," Webber said.

Citizens who had shown up in protest of the Agriculture Campus had a chance to speak at the end, stating that they appreciated the withdrawal of the land purchase and were not opposed to economic growth in the county.

"I wish you all the best in finding the right spot for the ag campus," one citizen stated, noting that she'd learned during the process that it takes a village.

"I think you guys need a village to get that Ag Campus where you want it and to work," she added.

"What I've seen in attending all of these meetings is you guys have kind of worked in a bubble, and I think you need to expand that bubble," she said, adding that they should bring in the public and other stakeholders.

The Port received a 5 million loan in January 2023 from the Washington State Department of Commerce Community Economic Revitalization Board to develop an Agriculture Advancement Campus for local and regional businesses to create opportunities and synergies.

AgTech OS was the campus anchor tenant, planning to build a biofuel facility on a portion of the property and making the remaining acreage available for business in the agricultural industry.

The Port was negotiating to purchase 184 privately owned acres on the outskirts of Pullman for the campus, between Ardent Mills and the Whispering Hills subdivision. The Port submitted its application to the City of Pullman on March 2, requesting to rezone 88 of the 184 acres to Industrial Research Park.

AgTech OS announced it would seek an alternative location for its biofuels facility on March 21.