Wren, Brewer go to China

EPHRATA — A tire company wanting to locate near Ephrata is funding a trip to send the port’s manager and the Grant County Economic Development Council’s executive director to China Thursday.

Mike Wren, the port’s manager, and Terry Brewer, executive director of the economic development council, will meet with investors during the trip, Wren said Tuesday.

Washington Tire is trying to obtain investment capital for its Ephrata project, which is expected to employ more than 2,000 people when completed.

“If we’re successful, Washington Tire would be receiving investment capital from individuals and businesses in China,” Wren says.

He called the trip “a great opportunity,” and said Washington Tire asked himself and Brewer to come to China.

“We’ll be talking about why Grant County is a good investment,” Wren said. “I’m just giving them the same presentation to anyone coming to the port wanting to buy or lease property.”

His presentation involves explaining the port’s properties and resources to investors.

The investors are 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.

At one point, the company said it would start construction last year.

“They’re really pressing to try and get this one this year,” Wren commented.

Three investors visited Ephrata last month, Wren said.

He thinks Sen. Janéa Holmquist, R-Moses Lake, and Sen. Jerome Delvin, R-Richland, are going to China later this spring.

The port is currently waiting for the FAA to give the port approval on the sale of land for the project.