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Maritime Economic Development: Port Angeles

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$2 Million Federal Grant Awarded for Port Angeles Composite Recycling Technology Center

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded the Port of Port Angeles a $2 million grant to retrofit a building that will house the industrial and workforce training facilities for the Composite Recycling Technology Center (CRTC).

This federal grant was made possible by a $1 million commitment from the Washington State Clean Energy Fund, combined with an additional $1 million in local government funds for the needed dollar-for-dollar match.
 
"This $2 million federal grant brings the Composite Recycling Technology Center one step closer to its goal of converting composite waste materials from our state’s advanced manufacturers into innovative new products," Gov. Jay Inslee said. "I’m pleased that our Clean Energy Fund matching grant contributed to this important funding milestone for the center. This is a tremendous example of a community with a vision for how clean technology will create jobs and opportunity to secure its economic future."

The Washington Legislature this year approved $40 million for the 2015-17 Clean Energy Fund 2. The CRTC plans to apply for $1.35 million in equipment funding, to be matched with local funding sources, to complete the final funding package needed for the CRTC to become operational.

This public-private collaborative effort has been led by the Port of Port Angeles, in partnership with the Washington State Department of Commerce, Gov. Inslee’s Office, Peninsula College, Clallam County, City of Port Angeles, and numerous private companies and research institutions. This project also received a boost by being part of EDA’s Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership program. 

Carbon fiber composites are lightweight, super strong materials used to build everything from aircraft and automobile parts to golf clubs and surf boards. The CRTC will develop a reprocessing center to convert composite waste streams into useful products to create jobs and income, while reducing negative environmental impact.

The port facility is slated to open in early 2016 and will house the CRTC and Peninsula College’s Advanced Manufacturing – Composites Technology program. A consultant’s economic impact analysis estimates the center would provide 111 direct family-wage jobs by its fifth year of operation. By the sixth year, an additional 89 jobs will be created in advanced composites as products are spun off to the private sector. An additional 140 jobs will be supported elsewhere in the economy as a result of these new productive enterprises.
 

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