Marie Gluesenkamp Perez SW WA Grain Project

Marie Gluesenkamp Perez Secures an Additional $4.1 Million in Funding for Southwest Washington Grain Project

 The $4.1 million will be used for the Port of Chehalis to construct a public grain storage and transloading facility to allow local farmers to move grain via rail. Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez’s funding request can be found here, and community letters of support can be found here.

“In 2019, the SW WA Grower’s Cooperative was formed and shortly thereafter contracted with Great Western Malting to produce 500 tons of malting barley on less than 200 acres. Currently, the summer of 2024 harvest is contracted at 3,200 tons from 1,225 acres. Growing various grains in this region is a relatively new opportunity and therefore lacks infrastructure to support the exponential growth we are experiencing as well as creating opportunities for future generations of farmers,” said Northwest Agriculture Business Center SW WA Regional Director Jake Fay. “Financial support for the Southwest Washington Grain Project will undoubtedly have a substantial positive impact on a region that has continually suffered agriculture economic setbacks from historical flooding, loss of production contracts, and pressure to develop farmland.”

“The completion of this project will allow the Southwest Washington Growers Cooperative and Great Western to have an efficient system to market and transport barley. It will also provide the ability to move other grains to other markets and import grain not grown here. There are a number of equipment dealers, repair shops, parts suppliers, fertilizer suppliers, and feed stores in the area that benefit from a healthy farm economy,” said SW WA Growers Cooperative Board President Dave Fenn. “Finally, our thanks to Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. The first day I met her, she said I am here to listen and she actually did. It soon became very clear she was interested in supporting agriculture and forestry as well as craft jobs and smaller communities. Her introduction and passage of this budget item will help complete a project that will have a most beneficial effect on agriculture and the greater community.”

“On behalf of the Port, and the regional agricultural community I would like to convey my sincere gratitude for this vote of confidence in Lewis County and the significant investment in the future of rural America,” Port of Chehalis CEO Lindsey Senter told NABC.” The development of aggregate storage and rail transload for small grains will provide the infrastructure necessary to create access to new markets for regional producers, anchor future development of additional businesses serving the regional agricultural community, and bolster food chain security.”

The Federal support for the Southwest Washington Grain Project has been overwhelming, and a sure sign that people at all levels of government see the economic potential in Western Washington agriculture.