Ephrata port manager recounts business trip to China

EPHRATA — The outcome of the Ephrata port manager’s recent trip to China, concerning the Washington Tire project, remains to be seen.

Mike Wren, of the Port of Ephrata, spoke with investors about Grant County’s investment potential for business.

Wren didn’t know the results of the trip because the investment company hosting the event must follow up with the investors, he said Monday.

His trip to China was paid for by Washington Tire, a company working to build a tire factory near Ephrata, which is expected to employ more than 2,000 people when completed.

The investors were with the EB-5 Program, which is an incentive program to attract foreign investment into the US.

In exchange for investing in the project, investors receive green cards.

“For them, the ones who came and spoke to me afterwards, they see this as a vehicle to come to America for more than the financial aspect,” he said. “To see their hunger to go to America is a great reminder of what we have … They’re really friendly people. They’re very gracious hosts, very friendly when they stop moving.”

He told the group the Washington Tire project brought him to China.

“Our goal was to talk about Grant County, not really endorse Washington Tire,” Wren said.

Terry Brewer, executive director of the Grant County Economic Development Council, did not accompany Wren on the trip as planned.

The trip was initially canceled because of undisclosed problems in China and rescheduled.

Wren said they didn’t know what the problems were.