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Economic Impacts: Grays Harbor, Port Angeles, San Diego

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Activities of the Port of Grays Harbor’s marine terminals, marina, airport and industrial properties generated more than 5,700 jobs and $564 million in business revenues, according to a consultant’s analysis of 2013 data. A report released by the Port of Port Angeles shows potential gains in employment, income and business taxes stemming from the port’s proposed composite recycling center. The Port of San Diego’s newest educational video focuses on the industrial and maritime waterfront of San Diego Bay.

Grays Harbor Port Economic Impacts


Port of Grays Harbor
Photo/Port of Grays Harbor 

Activities of the Port of Grays Harbor’s marine terminals, marina, airport and industrial properties generated more than 5,700 jobs and $564 million in business revenues according to 2013 data compiled and analyzed by a consulting firm retained by the port. More than $32.1 million in state and local taxes resulted from these activities in 2013.

The study focused on the port’s four operating areas – marine terminal cargo activity, commercial fishing/processing, recreational fishing and non-maritime real estate tenants. The researchers surveyed firms that provide services or use the port’s facilities to accumulate employment, purchasing and tax impact data.

The employment impact consists of four levels of job impacts: 

  • Direct job impacts total 2,727: jobs directly generated by marine cargo, marina operations, commercial fishing activity and real estate tenants. Examples are longshoremen, rail workers, fishermen, seafood processors, suppliers, employees of port tenants, etc. The study found that over 85 percent of the direct jobs are held by people who reside in Grays Harbor County.
  • Induced job impacts total 1,608: induced jobs are created throughout the local economy because individuals employed due to port activities spend their wages. Examples are food servers, retail sales, home improvement contractors, etc.
  • Indirect job impacts total 1,368: indirect jobs result from the business activities of the firms purchasing goods and services in the region. Examples are electricians, office supply companies, maintenance and repair, and equipment suppliers.
  • Related jobs total 36,909 in the United States: In addition to the direct, induced and indirect jobs generated at the port, the study quantified the related user employment impact of firms that use the cargo facilities of the Port of Grays Harbor. These jobs are not directly dependent upon the port but they rely upon port facilities for their operations. Examples of related jobs are farmers in the Midwest who ship their products through Grays Harbor. 

The study found that $564 million in business revenues were generated by firms using and providing services at port facilities, which does not include the value of cargo shipped or the value of seafood landed. Local purchases totaled more than $136 million.

"The results of the study confirm the port is carrying out its mission to facilitate, enhance and stimulate international trade, economic development and tourism for the region," stated Port Executive Director Gary Nelson. "It is nice to see the diversity of the jobs created by the port’s activities and to see local businesses flourishing as a result of the growth at the port and its facilities. Through diversification we can create a stronger Grays Harbor economy."

Click here for the full study.

Port Angeles: Study Details Economic Impacts of Port’s Proposed Composite Recycling Technology Center

A report released October 14 by the Port of Port Angeles shows potential gains in employment, income and business taxes stemming from the port’s proposed composites recycling center .

The port commissioned the study, "Economic Impacts of the Composite Recycling Technology Center: A Preliminary Analysis," as due diligence for the evaluation of the potential impacts of establishing a recycling center in Port Angeles focused on repurposing composite waste materials into new products.

Research engineers from the University of Washington, Washington State University, University of Alabama-Birmingham and University of California, Los Angeles provided letters of interest and have been instrumental in shaping the center’s development. The Composite Recycling Technology Center would be able to host the county’s advanced manufacturing workforce training programs and enable product development, demonstration and full scale manufacturing using recycled composite raw materials.

County economic benefits were calculated using employment data for a sample user-end-product that was developed by a project team of composite industry and workforce experts. Additional innovative products are currently being analyzed by the project team, each targeting a high-growth, high-value market. By the end of year five, the annual impact from this production example would be: 

  • Creation of family wage jobs in Clallam County
  • 105 direct manufacturing jobs, with an average income of $67,000
  • 66 supporting jobs (indirect & induced)
  • ~$580,000 in annual business taxes (sales, property, fees)
  • Repurpose of 250,000 lbs. of waste raw carbon fiber materials 

Annually two million pounds of scrap raw carbon fiber composite materials are landfilled. Applying the local production example to the statewide waste stream, at end of year five is projected to create: 

  • 840 direct family wage jobs state-wide and 533 additional support jobs
  • Annual business tax revenues of $4.7 million
  • Elimination of 2 million lbs. of composite waste 

"This analysis confirms that a center leveraged by researchers, workforce, local entrepreneurs and industry across the state would potentially have a huge economic impact in our county," said Port Executive Director Ken O’Hollaren.

The Port of Port Angeles operates and manages industrial and commercial properties, five deep water berths, two airports, two marinas, a boat yard and a log yard. The port also operates the Composite Manufacturing Campus, supporting composite-related businesses that currently occupy 192,000 square feet of building space.

San Diego: New Port Video Focuses on Jobs

The Port of San Diego’s newest educational video focuses on the industrial and maritime waterfront of San Diego Bay.

The video seeks to define the port's industrial and maritime sector and demonstrate its significant contributions to the regional economy by featuring skilled workers and their unique waterfront jobs.

"This video explores the port's industrial and maritime sector, an important, often overlooked, and sometimes misunderstood segment of our economy," said Acting Chief Executive Officer John Bolduc. "It's very meaningful to see how cargo movement, cruise ship calls, shipyard contracts and marine research translate into good jobs right here in the Port of San Diego. This is a look at how our waterfront puts people to work every day."

The four-minute video features original footage of business activity in a diverse range of industries including cruise, cargo, shipbuilding, research and manufacturing.

Its "Hands of the Harbor" title refers to the labor of the 11,000 men and women who work in this sector. Jobs pictured in the video include crane operator, tugboat captain, machine operator, journeyman shipfitter, dockworker, tankerman (refuels ships), shipyard electrician, produce inspector, marine researcher, and many more. Click here for a viewing.

 

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