|
A sign sets
the stage for new WW County
produce train
What
may be the most exciting shipping concept ever for Washington State’s
fresh produce ended up in Walla Walla County because of a sign -
and a lot of co-operation among local, state and federal agencies.
Paul Schneidmiller, Port Commission President,
explains that officials of a company called Railex, a subsidiary
of an East Coast produce distributor, were exploring sites for a
shipping center when they saw the Port’s sign near Burbank.
“Because of that sign, they called us and the rest is history,”
Schneidmiller said.
From that point on, the Port had its work cut
out for it. Railex needed help with infrastructure improvements
at the Port’s Dodd Road Industrial Park. Included were an
access road, a public water system, a railroad loop for the special
55-car train that would make the cross-country trip in five days.
Schneidmiller says a host of people worked together
to make it happen.
Support came from Washington Governor Christine
Gregoire, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris
and Washington State legislators, Senator Mike Hewitt and Representatives
Bill Grant and Maureen Walsh. (More on Page 4)” |
Port “incubators”
designed to grow
start-ups, create private sector jobs |
The
Port of Walla Walla’s unique
winery incubator program was created to provide reasonably priced
space for startup wineries. According to Port
Commissioner Mike Fredrickson, “The incubator buildings
are shell buildings with a HVAC system and outside crush pads.
Tenants are required to supply all wine processing equipment and
machinery, including tanks, pumps and barrels.”
Lease agreements are limited to six years; early
graduation from the incubators will be encouraged. Fredrickson
said, “The success of the incubator program will be measured
by the number of startup wineries that graduate and establish
new jobs and wineries in the private sector.”
Two of the three incubator buildings have been
leased by Trio Vintners and Adamant Cellars.
Trio Vintners is owned and operated by Denise
Slattery, her husband, Steve
|
Michener,
and a partner, Tim Boushey. All recently graduated from the Walla
Walla Community College enology and viticulture program. Slattery
said access to the ready-made space is crucial for the winery to
“hit the ground running.” Adamant
Cellars is owned and operated by Devin and Debra Stinger, a husband-wife
team that began making wine in their basement in Portland, Oregon,
a half-dozen years ago. Stinger says the first
Adamant Cellars white wine will be release next spring. Funding
for the $1.1 million project came from a $985,000 Washington State
grant and a Port contribution of $153,000. Port
officials said Representative Bill Grant played a leadership role
in obtaining state funding. Senator Mike Hewitt and Representative
Maureen Walsh were also instrumental in helping to secure state
funding. |
