Whitman County — The Port of Whitman County received a $2 million grant for the development of its Technology Transfer and Commercialization Facility. The grant funds come from the Washington State Department of Commerce Green Jobs Grant Program, which provides funds for projects that promote the growth of the clean energy sector.

“Washington is committed to fostering a culture of innovation, clean jobs, and sustainable manufacturing, from the Puget Sound to the Palouse,” said Washington Department of Commerce Director Joe Nguyen. “This investment builds critical infrastructure at the Port of Whitman County to support 21st century jobs and strengthen the community’s role in a clean energy economy that is both sustainable and community driven.”

Part of an ongoing effort by the Port to diversify Whitman County’s economy, the Technology Transfer and Commercialization Scaling Facility, or Tech Transfer Facility, aims to provide a space for new and existing companies to develop new technologies and prepare those technologies for commercial use. In 2023, the Port conducted a feasibility study, which found that a commercialization facility would contribute to job growth and business retention in Pullman and the greater Whitman County area. In the first five years of its operation, businesses using the Tech Transfer Facility could create up to 100 new jobs in the area. Those jobs would generate an average wage of $37.70, 27% higher than the county wage average. State and local tax revenue is projected at $1.7 million.

Whitman County’s proximity to two major land-grant universities makes the area a prime candidate for this kind of facility. Washington State University, in Pullman, and the University of Idaho, in Moscow, consistently produce new technologies and hold the highest possible ranking of research universities by Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, with research spending reaching a combined total of $500 million. According to the feasibility study, over 150 inventions resulted from WSU faculty at WSU’s Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture in the last 10 years. 

While technologies are being developed at these universities, Whitman County does not have the infrastructure to develop and scale them. Often, technology developers must leave the county to develop their tech. While developers may want to stay in the region, they are forced to seek resources and adequate infrastructure elsewhere. 

“The Port is very grateful to Commerce for this grant and for seeing and supporting our vision with the Tech Transfer Facility,” Commission President Kristine Meyer said. “This project is vital to the economic success of our region. The Tech Transfer Facility will keep innovation in Whitman County. As a result, our economy will grow, more jobs will be available, and companies will invest in the Palouse and the surrounding area.”

The Port plans to build the Tech Transfer Facility on Port-owned land in the Pullman Industrial Park. Preliminary plans for the facility include six rentable spaces, allowing up to six companies to use the building at one time. Each space will have specialized infrastructure designed to suit the scaling needs of emerging technologies. Once completed, the spaces will be available for lease, giving local companies a chance to scale their tech and allowing the Port to generate revenue through lease dollars. The Port projects the facility will be operational within two years of securing a full funding stack.   

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About the Tech Transfer Facility

The Port of Whitman County plans to build, own and operate a Technology Transfer and Commercialization Facility on Port-owned land in the Pullman Industrial Park. The facility would support technological development and scaling efforts of early-stage bioengineering and energy technology companies. The estimated cost to complete the project is $9 to $10 million with a projected timeline of two years to completion. The facility will be funded through a variety of sources including local, state, and federal grants, investment by the Port, and other sources as necessary. 

About the Pullman Industrial Park

The Port of Whitman County created the Pullman Industrial Park in the 1980s. Located on Terre View Drive on the north end of Pullman, the park is adjacent to Washington State University and within a 20-minute drive of the University of Idaho. The 100-acre property is home to a diverse community of businesses in a variety of industries including technology and life sciences. 

About the Port of Whitman County

The Port of Whitman County is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all citizens of Whitman County through industrial real estate development, preservation of multi-modal transportation, facilitation of economic development and provision of on-water recreational opportunities. For more information about Port properties and ongoing projects visit the Port website, www.portwhitman.com.