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Kalama, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, toured the brand-new Mountain Timber Market at the Port of Kalama and heard from local leaders about the Port’s economic development initiatives.
“The Port of Kalama has really created something special with the Mountain Timber Market on the waterfront—this is such an incredible space for small businesses to reach new customers and for people to come together, shop small, and enjoy something to eat,” said Senator Murray. “I have been a big supporter of the Port for many years, and I will stay in close touch with them to ensure their needs are heard and acted on in the other Washington. I already know the Mountain Timber Market is going to be a boon to the economy and the tourism industry here in Kalama—it’s great to experience it firsthand today and I’m excited to see what the future holds.”
“My fellow Commissioners and I—along with our staff—were thrilled to welcome Senator Murray back to Kalama,” said Randy Sweet, Port Commissioner. “The Port of Kalama’s recreational waterfront has undergone a remarkable redevelopment since her last visit, and we were delighted to show the Senator the many ways the Port has contributed to our community, and to our state and national economy.”
The roughly 33,000-square-foot Mountain Timber Market—a two-story multi-use market that serves as a destination for shopping, dining, and community events, and serves as a small business incubator—opened in November and includes about a dozen businesses so far. The Association of Washington Business recognized the Port of Kalama in November for their vision and work opening the Mountain Timber Market; the Port was one of ten businesses recognized for growing the local and state economy with recent projects.
Ports are the backbone of Washington’s economy, and Senator Murray has been a longtime champion to ensure their competitiveness. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Senator Murray helped pass invests more than $17 billion in port infrastructure and waterways with the primary aim of addressing needed repairs and maintenance backlogs, reducing congestion to strengthen our supply chains and remove bottlenecks to expedite commerce, cutting emissions near ports by boosting electrification, and investing in other low-carbon technologies to reduce environmental impacts on neighboring communities.
In particular, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law designates $450 million annually for five years for the Port Infrastructure Development Program. This will allow significant improvements to port facilities and projects that include: loading and unloading of goods at a port; movement of goods into, out of, around, or within a port; resilience projects addressing rising sea-level, flooding, extreme weather events, and natural disasters; and environmental and emissions mitigation measures.
The 2020 Water Development Resources Act includes changes secured by Murray to the Harbor Maintenance Tax and Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund. These changes will provide billions of dollars each year to invest in and enhance the global competitiveness of ports in Washington state and across the country.
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