Mattawa port district anticipating growth

Adler takes over for Conley

MATTAWA — There's a new face overlooking the growth at the Port of Mattawa.

Desert Aire resident Bob Adler joined the staff of the port district Nov. 1 as manager. He replaces Mike Conley, who is retiring at the end of the year after 17 years.

Conley considers his greatest achievement to be the development occurring in the port district's first industrial park, which surrounds the district's office.

"Who'd have ever dreamed, after looking at all the rocks that were here for so long, it's finally taking off?" he asked.

Conley remains at the Port of Warden in a yet-to-be-determined capacity.

Adler and his wife built their home in Desert Aire in 1993.

"It's a new challenge and I am looking to help our community, make it a better place to live," Adler said.

Adler was a banker for 20 years, and owned his own business, an automotive specialty dealership in Western Washington, for 25 years.

"I think that helps in the development and promotion of the port," he said.

Conley said the port's immediate need is development of 145 acres at its Industrial Park 4. Zone changes to the property were completed over the summer, and now the port district is working on platting and funding. Adler said development at the fourth industrial park requires time to get everything in place.

"We're hoping that by the end of this next year, all of it will be done and that property will be available for sale," he said.

The Wahluke Wine Company expanded to four buildings, including an office and machine shop, from one building, and Conley anticipates at least two more buildings in 2007. The company moved from 250,000 gallons in liquid storage in 2005 to an excess of 1 million gallons today.

"Lord only knows what it will look like a year from now," Conley said.

"We want to continue to develop the wine industry in this area," Adler added. "We're going to look strongly to bring more of that industry here to the port."

Marty's Hardware moved from one location on port property to another for a six-month interim, to make way for the wine company's expansion. The old building now serves the wine company's machine shop. A similar building will be built on the east side of the port's first industrial park to be the hardware store's permanent location.

Both Conley and Adler expect EnCana's drilling for natural gas in the region to have an impact, and draw other companies in the gas industry as well. Denver, Colo.-based Delta Petroleum Corporation announced earlier this year plans to begin drilling in the area in 2007 .

"I don't think we've felt the impact of it yet," Conley said. "I think it's coming. Once they get through determining where the parameters of the field are, then the question will be, how soon the support industries will show up in our community."

Asked if growth is expected in Mattawa, Conley and Adler both broke into grins and chuckled.

"Is there any place in Grant County we don't?" Conley said.

"The Port of Mattawa is, I think, pretty well positioned to take on the future growth of this area commercially," Adler agreed. "The future growth of this area looks real well."