Port of Vancouver touts role in economy

The news about Clark County’s economy has been gloomy over the past two years. The Port of Vancouver on Wednesday showed what it’s doing to improve it, revealing increases in cargo volumes in 2010, spotlighting the creation of jobs and pointing to more jobs to come as it invests in rail and other infrastructure improvements.

The port is working “to put more of our neighbors back to work,” Larry Paulson, the port’s executive director, said during the “State of the Port Address” held at the Red Lion Hotel Vancouver at the Quay. “This is our time to lead.”

Total cargo tonnage at the Port of Vancouver increased by 18 percent over 2009, from 4.8 million to 5.7 million metric tons.

The port created 100 construction jobs in 2010 with its project to build a loop rail system at Terminal 5, Paulson said. An additional 240 construction jobs will come on line between 2011 and 2012 as the port continues to invest millions in building its West Vancouver Freight Access Project.

Paulson said the port has been laying the groundwork for future job growth through various plans and projects, including adding rail capacity, selling land to Farwest Steel to build a new steel fabrication plant and supporting the deepening of the Columbia River channel to accommodate bigger ships with larger loads.

“Our river system is sending a global signal that we’re open to business,” Paulson said.