The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON – The Port of Columbia Board of Commissioners held its regular meeting on February 8, 2023, at the Port of Columbia conference room and on Zoom. Executive Director Jennie Dickinson and Commissioners Genie Crowe and Seth Bryan were present, and Johnny Watts attended remotely. Members of the public attended remotely and in person.

Cedar Rain, a tenant at Blue Mountain Station (BMS), increased the square footage of their lease this month, returning BMS to full occupancy.

Dickinson reported the State audit is complete and that it went well.

The commissioners considered Resolution #2023-03, which would authorize an application to the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) for funds to conduct a feasibility and planning study for a craft malting and grain business cluster.

Phil Neumann, CEO and founder of Mainstem Malt, presented information about his company and the possibility of opening a facility in Dayton.

The company works with small farms to create malt for craft distilleries and breweries. Craft distilleries pay a premium price for the distinct craft malts from Mainstem Malt to make their beverages unique, differentiating their product from other producers.

The business does not have a malting facility and contracts with other operations that offer capacity. In the past, it worked with two facilities in the state, one in Skagit Valley and one in Spokane. Those facilities no longer have the extra capacity for outside producers. Mainstream had to contract with a company in Montana which added logistical expenses.

Mainstream is looking to open a malting facility and would consider building on Port property west of Blue Mountain Station’s current buildings. The operation would include malting, shipping, and storage for the company. In the CERB grant proposal, Mainstem Malt and the Port of Columbia would provide some matching funds for the project.

Adding malting capabilities in Dayton, the Port hopes to attract other grain processors, such as millers, bakers, distillers, and brewers, to utilize the facility. Neumann envisions needing a new facility of at least 20,000 square feet and a staff of about six full-time employees.

It would also bring back malting operations to Dayton since Jacob Weinhard, Henry’s cousin, had one in the 1880s.

Dickinson reported the Port is working with four interested buyers for the Columbia Pulp property. She said she spoke to an informal group proposing a “pool-only” version of a park district. This group is independent of the group that organized to establish a park district last autumn.

Initial construction for the broadband project should begin on February 13, 2023.

The meeting adjourned just before 6:00 p.m. Following the meeting, the commissioners held an hour-long workshop to continue work on the Comprehensive Plan update, facilitated by consultants from Maul, Foster, and Along, Inc.