Inland Industrial Development
The 1980 off-water industrial development goal was to support the economic stability of District communities through providing industrial park facilities. In 1982, the Port Commission adopted Resolution #190 stating that the Port will insist upon communities taking an active and vigorous approach to industrial development and procurement of possible tenants before the Port will consider development in the community.
In response to the heavy involvement of the City of Pullman, Washington State University, the Pullman Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Pullman Economic Development Corporation, as well as a positive feasibility study, the development of the Port constructed the Pullman Industrial Park. In 1988, the Port acquired its first "tenant" at the park, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL). The Port, in response to expansion by SEL and other Port tenants, since expanded the park to 100.5 acres of fully developed sites.
In the 1980s, the Colfax Chamber of Commerce approached the Port concerning the possible construction of an industrial park at the Colfax Airport. The Port commissioned a feasibility study on the proposed project. The study concluded that investment in a full-fledged industrial park, complete with roads, utilities, and buildings, was not recommended. The study recommended alternate steps for the City of Colfax to take concerning the development of the airport and economic development in general. The Port reflected on the need for industrial development in rural Whitman County and decided to proceed with the project. The Colfax Industrial Park was completed in 1998. In 2002, Whitman County Commissioners communicated to the Port Commissioners their intent to close the Whitman County Memorial Airport. The Port Commission elected to take it over for three reasons: preservation of rural airport infrastructure in Whitman County; its location adjacent to the Port’s Colfax Industrial Park; and it housed three existing businesses. The Port combined the acquisition of this land with the Colfax Industrial Park to form the Port of Whitman Business Air Center.
In 2007, the Port received state funding to purchase land to expand its Pullman Industrial Park as part of the newly designated Innovation Partnership Zone. The Port is purchasing land across the highway from the existing Park to construct Pullman Industrial Park #2. This park will be developed in 2-5 years and is located northwest of the Pullman Industrial Park.
Water Industrial Development Sites
The on-water port industrial sites of the Port of Whitman County are located between river miles 83 and 138 on the Snake River with the Central Ferry site being about 408 miles from the Pacific Ocean. The original Port of Whitman County Comprehensive Plan called for land acquisition at seven sites along the Snake River. Since then, three of these have been developed and four have been abandoned due to various reasons, mainly siltation problems and poor road access.
The Wilma site is located near the terminus of the Columbia-Snake River inland waterway. Only the Ports of Clarkston (Washington) and Lewiston (Idaho) are further upriver. The Wilma site also has the distinction of being the most diverse in function of the three active Whitman County port sites.
The Almota site is about thirty miles downriver from Wilma. Almota serves as a main Whitman County trans-shipment point for local white wheat.
The Central Ferry site is approximately twenty miles downriver from Almota. Central Ferry is a major trans-shipment point for local white wheat and is developing into a major site for the manufacturing and wholesaling of fertilizer.