Washington Public Ports Association

06/11/2026

Staff is spending today and tomorrow in Spokane at the Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board meeting hearing more about the essential work they do in supporting Washington’s freight funding efforts. The Board also had an active discussion on freight mobility trends with WSDOT, which is currently in the process of updating Washington’s Freight Systems Plan.

This was coupled with a fantastic tour of the Spokane International Airport rail-truck transload facility. This was a valuable opportunity to learn how the facility acts as a centerpiece for economic development in the West Plains/Spokane Airport area and the region as a whole.

We are always grateful to our state-level partners who graciously invite WPPA staff to their events, especially when they are so focused on vital elements of port activities!

06/11/2026

Our Director of Marinas & Public Policy had a great time attending the first Waterfront Watch Party at the Port of Everett’s Boxcar Park. As an official SeattleFWC26 Fan Zone, the event brought together residents, visitors, and soccer fans from across the region to watch the match between Mexico and South Africa while enjoying Everett’s waterfront.

Hosted by the Port of Everett in partnership with the City of Everett and the Snohomish County Sports Commission, the watch parties showcase how ports can activate public spaces, support local businesses, and create memorable community experiences.

Congratulations to the Port of Everett and its partners on a successful kickoff. We look forward to seeing the continued excitement on the waterfront throughout the tournament.

06/09/2026

Last week, our Environmental Policy Director attended the Northwest Gas Association Annual Energy Conference in Oregon. It was a packed few days of discussions on energy affordability, lessons from Northern Europe’s clean energy transition, regional economic trends, and innovative energy technology projects shaping the future.

For Washington’s ports, these conversations are more important than ever. Reliable, affordable energy is essential to supporting every day port operations, economic development, and the communities our ports serve. This was a great opportunity to learn more, build relationships with key energy stakeholders, and ensure the needs of our port members are represented in critical energy discussions.

As energy adequacy and infrastructure constraints continue to impact ports across the state, WPPA remains committed to advocating for practical solutions and strong partnerships that maintain long-term energy reliability, keep momentum moving on decarbonization projects, and support economic growth. We look forward to continuing this work on behalf of our port members and strengthening the partnerships needed to meet the region’s future energy challenges.

06/05/2026

We are excited to have a great group of members at the Port of Moses Lake today for the second Port Academy Series event of 2026.

Our Port Academy Series gives our hosts and attendees a chance to show off their hard work, talk about their successes, highlight the challenges they are facing, and share knowledge with their fellow members.

We appreciate everyone joining us and the Port of Moses Lake for hosting.

06/04/2026

WPPA staff spent time today with two Grant County ports that are laser focused on creating economic growth in their communities. At the Port of Royal Slope, we saw how investments in their water system and rail infrastructure have brought new development to their industrial parks.

The Port of Ephrata is working hard to plan for the future at their Airport and the surrounding industrial properties. They are in the beginning stages of some exciting infrastructure projects.

Both ports are great examples of the power of intentional planning and partnerships with their surrounding jurisdictions and it will be exciting to follow their efforts in the coming years.

Thank you to the staff and commissioners at both ports for hosting us.

06/03/2026

It’s fun when we get to work together to celebrate and preserve the stories that connect our communities!

Last week WPPA was happy to be on site with the Port of Poulsbo and the Poulsbo Historical Society to support the Liberty Bay Festival! This event is a waterfront celebration of Poulsbo’s rich maritime heritage, local arts, and community spirit.

Events like the Liberty Bay Festival highlight the importance of preserving our maritime history while creating memorable experiences that bring residents and visitors together. We’re honored to support this effort that showcases the region’s waterfront heritage and celebrates the communities that make Washington’s ports so special.

Learn more about the Liberty Bay Festival and upcoming activities: https://poulsbohistory.org/libertybayfestival/

06/02/2026

The WPPA May Manifest is here!

Get the latest updates from your port association, and take a closer look at Washington’s youngest port, the Port of Grandview, and how it’s helping drive growth and opportunity in its community. You’ll also find helpful guidance in this month’s Knowing the Waters, covering best practices for managing public comments on port social media pages.

Plus, don’t miss As Arthur Sees It, where Arthur reflects on a meaningful gathering of port friends and the connections that continue to strengthen our shared work.

Check it out below!

Download the May 2026 Manifest Here Manifest 05.31.2026Download

06/01/2026

A great day to be on the water with the Washington Maritime Federation. WPPA Staff joined our partners in maritime for a boat tour hosted by the Port of Anacortes to show off their working waterfront. We heard from representatives of commercial fishing, ship building and repair, workforce training, recreational boating, and oil refineries about how they partner with the port to bring jobs and significant tax revenue into Anacortes. We were pleased to be joined by members of the Legislative Maritime Caucus including Representatives Julia Reed, Alex Ramel, Sam Low, and Senator Liz Lovelett. Thank you to our hosts and partners for coming together for a great conversation.

05/20/2026

The WPPA Spring Meeting is about more than great sessions and industry insights — it’s also about building connections and having fun with fellow port professionals along the way! ☀️

It’s a busy 4 day conference so we try to have some time for attendees to unwind and connect through some favorite Spring Meeting traditions, including a very competitive mini golf tournament and the early morning “Rise & Shine Walk” with Executive Director Eric ffitch. The Port of Skamania hosted a wonderful open house to kick off the week.

These moments give us the chance to strengthen relationships, share ideas, and enjoy the incredible port community that makes WPPA so special! With a week of learning and collaboration, it’s the perfect way to recharge, laugh together, and continue building partnerships across Washington’s ports.

05/07/2026

Today was a beautiful day for our Environmental Policy Director, as a member of the Puget Sound Partnership Ecosystem Coordination Board, to attend their quarterly meeting and site tour of the Skokomish River Estuary hosted by the Skokomish Tribe.

The visit provided an opportunity to see firsthand the important restoration and habitat work taking place in the estuary and discuss ongoing regional efforts.

It was great not only to see and walk this project, but hear about all the local efforts through the Hood Canal Local Forum. Collaborating with partners across the region makes these projects successful!