OAKESDALE – Today, the Port of Whitman County Commissioners approved the transfer of ownership of the historic Oakesdale Mill property from Innovia Foundation during their regular commission meeting.

This transfer follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Innovia and the Port on September 5 to start the transfer of ownership. 

“We deeply appreciate Innovia Foundation and the community for their dedication to partnership and the preservation of the Oakesdale Mill. Oakesdale has a tenacious community spirit, and we are excited to see the possibilities for transforming the Oakesdale Mill while honoring its historical significance,” said Port Commission President Tom Kammerzell. 

Innovia Foundation, with the support of the Oakesdale community and former Oakesdale resident Larry Stanley, purchased this historic flour mill in early 2024. Shortly after, Innovia Foundation reached out to the Port to discuss transferring ownership of the mill to the Port to support future economic benefit for Oakesdale and Whitman County. 

“On behalf of Innovia Foundation and the communities we are privileged to serve throughout Whitman County, we appreciate our partnership with the Port of Whitman on such an important project. Through the collaborative spirit of everyone who guided this process forward, we have developed a unique opportunity that will benefit Oakesdale and all of Whitman County,” said Shelly O’Quinn, CEO, Innovia Foundation.

 “We want to thank the Port and Innovia for coming together to transfer ownership of the Mill, as well as the Larry Stanley family and all the people of Oakesdale for making this possible,” said Greg Partch, an Oakesdale High School class of 1966 graduate. “Thank you for becoming part of this project. We have seen an overwhelming amount of community support and know now that the real job begins.”  

The Port recently secured a $75,000 grant from the Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board to conduct a planning study to assess the mill’s suitability for development and explore potential future uses for the space. The Port has issued a Request for Proposal for this work, which is expected to start in 2025.  

In addition to planning efforts, the Port will also conduct an environmental assessment of the property as a part of the community-wide project funded through the EPA. 

Future uses of the site may include value-added agriculture, retail services, event venue, and co-working spaces. The anticipated benefits of this project include increased job opportunities within Oakesdale, support for the local economy and tourism, and preservation of this historic landmark. 

The Port anticipates it will be several years before the site is planned out and fully developed. In the meantime, the Port will continue to seek funding support from multiple sources to make this project a success for the community and region. 

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About the Port of Whitman County

The Port of Whitman County is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all citizens of Whitman County through industrial real estate development, preservation of multi-modal transportation, facilitation of economic development and provision of on-water recreational opportunities. 

About Innovia Foundation

As the community foundation for Eastern Washington and North Idaho, Innovia partners with people who want to improve their communities and make the world better. We work together to identify and respond to our region’s greatest opportunities, help those in need, and leave a lasting impact. Our mission is to ignite generosity that transforms lives and communities. Each year, Innovia Foundation invests $10 million into our communities through grants and scholarships.