PULLMAN – The Port of Whitman County Commission voted 2-1 to withdraw its application to rezone 88 acres on SW Old Wawawai Road in Pullman for an Industrial Research Park, and simultaneously its offer to purchase the 184-acre parcel on which it planned to build an Agriculture Advancement Campus. 

Commissioner Kristine Meyer made the motion to withdraw the port’s application and purchase offer. “Continuing this project without our committed private partner and without the funds from the Community Economic Revitalization Board would tie up the port’s capital and could impact some of our more mature projects,” said Commissioner Meyer. 

Commissioner Tom Kammerzell, who voted to stay the course, shared his assertion that the City of Pullman should be allowed to go through the process to make the rezoning decision. “We don’t know what the future holds,” he said. “I understand there are many different views in our community. I believe we should agree to disagree and do it in a way that can be respectful of all sides.”  

“It’s critical that we work together with our partners and communities to continue developing economic opportunities in Whitman County,” said Commission Chair Karl Webber. “Every single opportunity is going to have tradeoffs, and by working together we can manage those tradeoffs and move forward projects that meet our communities’ needs and benefit everyone.” 

Project background 
In January 2023 the Port received a $5 million loan from the Washington State Department of Commerce Community Economic Revitalization Board to develop an Agriculture Advancement Campus to create opportunities and synergies for local and regional businesses. Then-partner AgTech OS was the campus anchor tenant. The company planned to build a biofuels facility on a portion of the property; the remaining acreage would be developed by the Port and available for businesses in the agricultural industry.  

The Port was in negotiations to purchase 184 privately owned acres on the outskirts of Pullman, between Ardent Mills and the Whispering Hills subdivision, for the campus. On March 2, the Port submitted its application to the City of Pullman, requesting rezone of 88 of the 184 acres to Industrial Research Park. AgTech OS announced March 21 that it would seek an alternative location for its biofuels facility. After discussing the pros and cons of continuing the process, the Port Commission voted April 20 to withdraw its application. 

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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.