PORT ANGELES — The Port of Port Angeles has approved engineering services for three buildings to be built near the William R. Fairchild International Airport for Angeles Composites Industries expansion or rental by other industrial businesses.
The commission approved the $45,500 contract with Zenovic & Associates by consensus at its Monday meeting. The executive director is authorized to sign contracts for less than $50,000 without commission approval.
It was brought to the commissioners for informational purposes and to garner input on the project, said Executive Director Jeff Robb.
David Hagiwara, port director of trade and development, said that although the port has other properties, buildings in the 25,000-square-foot range are the “sweet spot” for industries that the port is working to attract.
Such housing is ideal for possible expansion by the composites company, which is located next door to the proposed new buildings.
“We’ve got to bait the hook so they’ll come,” said port Commissioner Jim McEntire.
ACTI expects expansion
ACTI President and CEO Mike Rauch said that the company expects to expand because of work it is doing on F-35 Lightening II planes with Lockheed Martin.
“The building expansion would have to do with how much work we end up getting off of the F-35s,” Rauch said.
He said he is close to signing another contract with a different company, which would mean a boost of between 40 and 60 people at the plant, which now employs about 100.
“Those 40 to 60 people would fit in our existing facility, but it would take us all the way to capacity,” he said.
“Therefore there is the need for new buildings.”
Rauch said he wasn’t ready to share the details of the new contract until negotiations are complete and the pact is signed.
He said that in addition to the expansion of ACTI, he knew of two other companies that he is considering contracting with who might also be future port tenants.
“I’ve introduced a couple of other companies that might want to move to Port Angeles to be closer to me,” he said.
“If they do that we’ll utilize them, if they don’t bring in those capabilities we might end up leasing those buildings ourselves.
“One way or another we’ll need them.
“It is like I told the port, no one will come if there aren’t buildings to move into.”
Services budgeted
The engineering services had already been budgeted — in the 2010 budget a total of $615,000 for the whole project was planned, Hagiwara said.
“If we do find that there is a demand and a lease we might be moving forward a bid package to go out to bid if you so choose,” he said.
All three commissioners spoke in favor of the project.
“We’ve got to bait the hook so they’ll come,” said commissioner Jim McEntire.
In addition to the engineering work for the site, Zenovic will also help with permitting from the city of Port Angeles.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
