It’s been almost a year since we launched our Discover! campaign—a bi-weekly blog planned to help Kalama residents and visitors better understand what we do, and why!
We explored questions like Who are we? What do we do? Why do we do it? Who makes the decisions and how? And we’ve received excellent responses—we look forward to continuing the discovery with you in 2019!
Now let’s take a look back at some highlights of Discover! before we continue our journey into 2019.
What is the Port of Kalama?
The Port of Kalama is a local government agency considered a Special Purpose District in the State of Washington, which has the largest system of public ports in the world. In Washington, Special Purpose Districts are limited purpose local governments separate from a city, town, or county government.
What is the Port’s mission?
The Port of Kalama’s mission is ‘to induce capital investment in an environmentally responsible manner to create jobs and to enhance public recreational opportunities.’ The Port Commission ensures a sound economic development strategy for the Port creating a balanced and diverse industry base to provide living wage jobs and a range of community recreational amenities.
At the core of the Port of Kalama’s mission is a promise to carefully evaluate community investments to create jobs and enhance public recreational opportunities all while protecting and enhancing the environment and natural resources. That careful balance is in the DNA of every single project the Port embarks upon. It is the Port’s job to follow an approved Comprehensive Plan—required by law—to ensure that the environment, economy and community assets are thoughtfully planned to work in harmony with one another.
What is the role of the Port’s commissioners or elected officials?
The elected Port of Kalama Board of Commissioners sets Port policy and follows the guidelines of the Port’s Comprehensive Plan and Scheme of Harbor Improvements, a legal document that provides a framework to guide day-to-day decisions and help the Port achieve its mission. The Commission helps to create a balanced and diverse industry base to provide living wage jobs and a range of community recreational amenities.
Does the Port levy taxes on the citizens of Kalama?
No taxes! Decades of strategic planning by past and current Port commissioners continue to ensure the required revenue to maintain port facilities, parks and services for all residents with no taxes added. With careful planning and project management, the Port continues to maintain all long-term economic development projects as well as public facilities with the existing revenue it collects from business operations—not from taxes.
What Port projects are underway?
From Spencer Creek Business Park and the North Port Heavy Industrial Site to a new building in the Kalama River Industrial Park, McMenamins locating here, and international businesses choosing Kalama as the perfect place to grow—all of these exist now thanks to years and years of contemplation, collaboration and diligent planning. Port commission predecessors worked thoughtfully for decades to plan and prepare for the regional success the region is now experiencing.
What is the Port of Kalama’s bottom line?
What’s our bottom line? To make Kalama the most livable place it can be. As community stewards, our mission is to ensure that environment, economy and community assets are thoughtfully planned to work in harmony with one another. It is our mission to preserve our natural resources, ensure clean water and fresh air and co-habitat with the wildlife that share this place with us while growing our economy and jobs.
To review more of the Discover! community education campaign, click here to visit more on our blog page.
Thank you for joining us on this informational voyage as we explored all of the complexities, programs, contributions and responsibilities of the largest Special Purpose District in Kalama—your Port of Kalama.
We’ll be back in January with new insights and discoveries!
Season’s Greetings to All!
Have questions? Call us at 360/673-2325
