May 17, 2024

Washington Public Ports Association recognizes Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority as 2024 Outstanding Job Creator

STEVENSON, Washington – Every year, the Washington Public Ports Association (WPPA) recognizes ports across the state for their extraordinary accomplishments in the categories of job creation, community engagement, creative partnership, and environmental stewardship.

This year, the WPPA is pleased to announce the Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority as the winner of the 2024 Job Creator Award for their Microsoft Data Center projects. The regional port’s efforts to recruit these projects to Chelan and Douglas counties resulted in a $3 billion dollar investment in each county, supporting jobs, local businesses, and the long-term economic health of the region.

The regional port worked extensively with several partners to attract and support these projects, including the Douglas County Board of Directors, Chelan County Board of Directors, Douglas and Chelan County PUDs, the East Wenatchee Water District and Malaga Water District. These long-standing partnerships align around a vision of a sustainable economy and growth-oriented development and helped the port demonstrate a strong case for attracting Microsoft to the region.

The port contributed significant work and investments throughout this process, including strategic land acquisitions and the construction of key infrastructure. These efforts facilitated the establishment of the data centers, expanded utility infrastructure, and allowed for the creation of new subdivision developments, all of which provide long-term community benefit.

The economic impacts of each data center’s development are massive. The projects will create 450 new jobs in each county, for a total of 900 new jobs in the region. Assessed property values in each county will increase by $3 billion, a 12% increase for Chelan County and a 25% increase for Douglas County. They are the largest single private investments in the history of each county. These significant investments will provide substantial revenues that can be reinvested in local communities and sustainable economic development that will provide Chelan and Douglas counties with jobs for years to come.

The port’s hard work, strategic actions, and collaboration with key partners to ensure the data centers landed in Chelan and Douglas Counties all resulted in the creation of 900 new jobs and $6 billion in private investment in the region. This approach shows initiative and dedication to the goals of the port, and the WPPA is glad to present the Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority with the 2024 Job Creator Award.

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As a state legislative and regulatory advocacy organization, the Washington Public Ports Association (WPPA) fosters public policy for ports to achieve their goals. The WPPA was formed by the Legislature in 1961 to represent public port districts throughout Washington, serving as the focus through which ports work cooperatively to develop policy direction, share information, and address issues on economic development, trade, transportation, and environmental stewardship. Public port districts offer a wide range of locally governed services, including marine terminals, barge facilities, industrial development, marinas, airports, railroads, and tourism promotion. Learn more at washingtonports.org. 

CONTACT

Eric ffitch

Washington Public Ports Association

E: effitch@washingtonports.org

T: 360-763-1179