PORT ANGELES — A project in Forks is on its way to receiving funding.
The Clallam County commissioners during their work session Monday learned about the Opportunity Fund Advisory board’s recommendation that an application from the city of Forks for a loan and a grant be approved.
The loan, in the amount of $260,000 at an interest rate not to exceed 4.5 percent over 20 years, and the grant, in the amount of $675,000, both would be contingent on the city of Forks executing a lease with Riverside Forest Products USA for the Forks Industrial Park.
The funds would be used to make building improvements and upgrade the electrical system, according to the agenda memo.
Riverside Forest Products is a milling company from Surrey, British Columbia, that has been having challenges getting supply, Clallam County Economic Development Council Executive Director Colleen McAleer told the commissioners.
“Because of tariff issues and supply issues, they have determined that locating in Forks and expanding into the Forks area is of benefit to them,” she said. “Right now, Interfor can mill logs that are 19 inches in diameter and smaller. SPI goes up to 28 inches; they can’t use anything larger than 28 inches. Riverside is looking to take oversize logs from Interfor and SPI and also just any harvests that occur and use those logs so they’re not in direct competition with some of the different milling operations.”
If Forks is successful in executing a lease with Riverside, the loan will be used to make improvements to the inside of the existing building as well as onsite lighting, fire suppression and exteriors to the building. The grant would be used to do an expansion of the Clallam County PUD’s equipment from the substation to the Forks Industrial Park.
In addition, the state Commerce Department announced Monday that Gov. Bob Ferguson had awarded $200,000 in Economic Development Strategic Reserve Fund monies to the Clallam County EDC for the project.
“These funds, paired with private investment, make Washington’s economy stronger,” Ferguson said in the press release. “We are working to expand family-wage jobs and support key industries across our state, especially in rural and underserved communities.”
The application for funds estimates Riverside will have between 40 and 50 employees with an average wage of $31.80 an hour. Skilled trades employees would make $36.56 and hour while entry-level employees would make $28.71, commissioners were told.
“This has the opportunity to be transformational in a way for the city and the West End’s economy,” Commissioner Mark Ozias said. “It seems like this facility could generate other economic activities as well. What would your expectations be if this mill moves forward successfully and opens relatively on time and starts milling those logs?”
In response, McAleer mentioned that the Clallam County EDC also is working with the Rockefeller Foundation to determine how biomass such as sawdust can be removed from the forest and used in its own market so it doesn’t rot or burn on the forest floor.
“We are getting so many inquiries from sustainable aviation fuel manufacturers, from biodiesel manufacturers, from biogenic carbon manufacturers,” she said. “These would be hundreds of millions of dollars in investment that would create more high-wage jobs more likely in the Port Angeles area, but they use the resources from the Forks area and the West End.”
During their Oct. 21 meeting, the commissioners are slated to set a public hearing on the topic for their Nov. 4 meeting.
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Reporter Emily Hanson can be reached at emily.hanson@peninsuladailynews.com.
