Port partners support economy

James Dean Construction (operator of the port's mine in Dallesport) has been awarded a contract by Northwest Aluminum to deliver 140,000 tons of rock to, and crush 100,000 tons of concrete at, its site in The Dalles over the next four to five months.

"This project will employ twenty Klickitat County residents and deliver nearly $300,000 in local wages," said Jeff Dean, spokesperson for the company. "We hope this illustrates the benefits provided to local residents through our partnership with the Port in utilizing its rock resources at Dallesport."

James Dean has also been given approval by the Washington Department of Ecology to begin work on what is expected to be the final phase of cleanup at the R. A. Barnes disposal site near the eastern edge of the Port's Dallesport Industrial Park.

The $425,000 in funding to complete the cleanup was provided through the Governor's Washington Jobs Now plan, an economic stimulus package aimed largely at existing construction and cleanup projects managed by state agencies.

For its part, Insitu recently renewed its lease of Building 1D at the Port's Bingen Point Business Park for an additional five years.

"Since its acquisition by Boeing Inc., questions have swirled around whether the company will stay in this area," said Marc Thornsbury, the Port's executive director. "Their statements have always been that they intend to stay and this renewal lends substance and credibility to those statements. The Port is pleased to be able to continue supporting both of these local companies as well as our other tenants."