The Oregon Transportation Commission today approved $6 million in funding for the Port of Morrow’s cold storage rail transload facility.
The port will provide an $8 million match with the sale of port revenue bonds and the ConnectOregon funds will make up the remaining cost for the $14 million facility, which is expected to begin operations in Spring 2015.
Specifications include a 2,500-foot rail spur with switches, and 100,000 square feet of warehouse space. The cold storage facility – in the port’s East Beach Industrial Park – will have 75,000 square feet of frozen space and 25,000 square feet of refrigerated space.
Port of Morrow General Manager Gary Neal said the facility will be a public warehouse that is owned and operated by the port. The facility manager has been hired and will bring on an additional 25 employees, all of which will be Port of Morrow staff. Construction plans include paved truck access, lighting, and fencing.
“Cold storage space at the Port of Morrow is a critical part of the port’s infrastructure to utilize the intermodal transportation benefits of the port’s strategic location,” Neal said. “This new facility at the port and the interconnection to all modes of transportation was the reason Connect Oregon was conceived and implemented by the Oregon legislature.”
The commission approved 36 out of the 37 recommended projects. According to the Oregon Department of Transportation, ConnectOregon focuses on improving connections and supporting local economies throughout the state. The Oregon legislature first approved ConnectOregon in 2005.
The region’s food processing industry, including many businesses in the port’s industrial park, will be able to take advantage of the warehousing capacity to assist them in freezing and distributing products across the United States via the railroad, highways, and barging to export terminals in Portland.
“With increased growth in our region’s agricultural industry, the need for this facility has reached the level where the port has determined this to be its highest priority in our strategic investment plans to address these needs,” Neal said.
The port received word in June that it was in line to receive funding for the project, but didn’t know for sure until the transportation commission made its announcement today.
