PORT ANGELES — Angeles Composites Technologies Inc. will expand its business in Port Angeles after rejecting offers from other areas to move away.
The expansion of ACTI, which is next to William R. Fairchild International Airport, will add 50,000 square feet overall and between 40 and 50 new jobs next year — with perhaps more in the future, said Mike Rauch, president and CEO of ACTI.
The organization, which employs 110 people, makes composite parts for many companies in the aerospace industry including Boeing Co., Lockheed Martin Corp. and Bombardier Inc.
Rauch said the expansion could eventually mean “hundreds” more jobs.
Other cities and states have tried to lure the company away from the Port of Port Angeles Airport Industrial Park, Rauch said.
Although Rauch wouldn’t elaborate on the locations or offers, he said the board voted last week to remain in Port Angeles.
“It was a tough decision,” he said.
“But I have a vested interest in this community, my shareholders have a vested interest in this community, and our employees have a vested interest in this community.”
Rauch has signed a letter of intent to lease two new buildings from the Port of Port Angeles.
Port of Port Angeles Commission President George Schoenfeldt said work will begin on a 25,000-square-foot building soon and will be completed by the end of 2011.
A second 25,000-square-foot building for the company will begin construction in 2012, he said.
“We have successfully competed against other areas to keep Angeles Composites here and also expand here,” Schoenfeldt said.
“Between construction and Mike’s expansion, it will create 100 new jobs in the community next year.”
The Port of Port Angeles will invest $4 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act bonds.
The bonds will be repaid through rent from ACTI and through the port’s property tax levy.
The city of Port Angeles will install about $540,000 in infrastructure to prepare the site.
A third building is in the planning stages for construction later, the port has said. No tenant for that building has been determined.
Rauch said the expansion is part of the first phase of the company’s plans.
“We are expanding a key part of our operation,” he said.
“We are looking into strategic acquisitions and partnerships to develop a mature, scalable local infrastructure.”
He said another phase of expansion would include two new contracts but wouldn’t elaborate.
The business has been a port tenant since 1996 and currently rents 75,000 square feet of space, Rauch said.
Deputy Mayor Don Perry said keeping the company in town was a result of cooperation between many agencies in the county.
“The port staff worked closely to ensure that the long-range needs are met,” Perry said.
“I look forward to many years in the future, and I look forward to turning some dirt.”
Clallam County also had a part to play in that the federal stimulus bill bonds originally were offered to them.
When the county decided not to issue them, the commissioners designated the bonding authority to the port.
The bonds have a lower interest rate than other bonds that the port has the authority to issue.
The port will collect $1,341,998 next year through its property tax levy.
The estimated levy rate will be $0.1676 per $1,000 assessed valuation. That compares with the current rate of 16 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation.
Schuyler Hoss, representing Gov. Chris Gregoire, also spoke at the Wednesday press conference.
“This expansion will create 100 new, living-wage jobs at a time when far too many Washingtonians are out of work and struggling to pay their bills,” a letter from Gregoire said.
“ACTI has grown steadily over the past few years and we look forward to supporting its future growth.
“The only way to climb out of this recession is to create jobs one at a time.”
At an economic summit earlier this year, composite manufacturing was listed as a growth opportunity for the area.
“Composite manufacturing is among the four areas of focus that have been identified by Clallam Economic Development Council for support and development,” said port Commissioner John Calhoun.
“This announcement noted an excellent example of the port and larger economic development community cooperating to achieve quality job creation for our community.”
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladaily news.com.
