Port of Ephrata toasts new road opening

Event spotlights positive change, Wren says

EPHRATA — The Port of Ephrata is celebrating the efforts which led to the creation of a new road later this week.

The port district hosts a road opening celebration Friday at 11 a.m. at the intersection of the new Airport Street S. E. and Fifth Avenue, by the new Katana Industries facilities, port Manager Mike Wren said. Fifth Avenue turns into Grumman Avenue on port property, he noted.

The event is open to the public.

"For me, the road's great and it's an important thing," Wren said. "But to me, the celebration part of it comes from it had so many people partnering together."

Partners include the port district, the state Legislature, the state transportation representatives, Grant County, Grant County Public Works, the City of Ephrata and the state's Community Economic Revitalization Board.

"It took everybody's support to do that, and I think that's what we owe our taxpayers," Wren said. "I believe we owe them the very best we can to maximize their money, and this is a great example of that. You see so much of stuff not working well out there, but I think there's a lot of a good stuff and this is one of those examples I think people need to know about."

Wren said there are a number of towers produced by Katana staged all over the location, with an incredible number yet to be built.

"Right now, all of those are running through downtown Ephrata on their way out of town," he said. "All those will now head out straight to the highway via this new road instead."

Wren said the port is fielding inquiries from interested parties looking to develop and utilize the new road.

"I think it's already beginning to get the attention of developers and creating potential for additional economic development," he said.