PORT ANGELES — The Composite Recycling Technology Center created about 2,300 commemorative coins for Gov. Jay Inslee’s inauguration last week.
The coins, made of 16 layers of recycled aerospace-quality carbon fiber, were a gift to the state from the CRTC, said Bob Larsen, its CEO.
On one side of the coin is a photo of Inslee. The other side features the state.
“It was another first for Washington state and Port Angeles that we were able to produce something like this for the governor’s inauguration,” he said.
“It’s a high-tech example of the ability of this material to be shaped and formed to most anything.”
Larsen said the state reached out to the CRTC in November. Over the course of one day, CRTC officials decided it was possible to produce the coins.
Now, officials hope to make similar products the CRTC could sell, he said.
“This concept has been so well-received, we’re actually thinking about something similar to this and turning it into a product we could customize for people,” he said.
Larsen also plans to make similar coins with CRTC branding that can be handed out during trade shows.
The state previously gave the CRTC a $1.7 million grant that was matched by the Port of Port Angeles over 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Inslee was at the groundbreaking for the CRTC in 2015.
“We’re grateful to the state for believing in us and investing in us,” Larsen said. “This is another example of how we’re leveraging local and state money to attract even more resources.”
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsula dailynews.com.
