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The US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration announced on July 17 a $2 million grant to the Port of Port Angeles, WA, US, to retrofit a building that will house the industrial and workforce training facilities for the Composite Recycling Technology Center (CRTC). The project will create an estimated 111 jobs.

“The Obama Administration has taken unprecedented steps to support workforce development and green initiatives and is deeply committed to strengthening America’s workforce and protecting the environment,” says Secretary Pritzker in the US Department of Commerce news release. “This EDA investment supports recycling and environmental stewardship and will provide critical job training in Washington.”

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This federal grant was made possible by a $1 million commitment from the Washington State Clean Energy Fund, combined with an additional $1 million in local government funds for the needed dollar-for-dollar match.

"This $2 million federal grant brings the Composite Recycling Technology Center one step closer to its goal of converting composite waste materials from our state’s advanced manufacturers into innovative new products,” Governor Jay Inslee says. “I’m pleased that our Clean Energy Fund matching grant contributed to this important funding milestone for the center. This is a tremendous example of a community with a vision for how clean technology will create jobs and opportunity to secure its economic future.”

The Washington Legislature this year approved $40 million for 2015-2017 Clean Energy Fund 2. The CRTC plans to apply for $1.35 million in equipment funding, to be matched with local funding sources, to complete the final funding package needed for the CRTC to become operational.

"Washington is already leading in carbon fiber production. Now we want to lead in carbon fiber recycling,” Senator Cantwell says. “Port Angeles is leading the way, and the Department of Commerce grant will help this community solve some of the recycling challenges." Senator Cantwell has proposed S. 1432, the Carbon Fiber Recycling Act of 2015 to study technology and energy savings of recycled carbon fiber and directs the US Department of Energy to collaborate with the automotive and aviation industry to develop a recycled carbon fiber demonstration project. At the hearing for this bill in front of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Sen. Cantwell commended the Port for their leadership and vision in converting a displaced workforce and unused facilities into an innovative market that is creating local jobs, reducing landfill waste and saving energy by recycling scrap fibers. 

This public-private collaborative effort has been led by the Port of Port Angeles, in partnership with the Washington State Department of Commerce, Governor Inslee’s Office, Peninsula College, Clallam County, City of Port Angeles and numerous private companies and research institutions. This project also received a boost by being part of US EDA’s Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership program. Clallam County is included in the EDA designated Washington Aerospace Manufacturing Community, which is administered by the Puget Sound Regional Council. This makes it one of two dozen regions nationwide that receives preferential consideration for certain federal grants.

The Port facility is slated to open in early 2016 and will house the CRTC and Peninsula College’s Advanced Manufacturing – Composites Technology program. Economic impact analysis conducted by Olympus Consulting for the CRTC estimates the center would provide 111 direct family-wage jobs by its fifth year of operation. By the sixth year, an additional 89 jobs will be created in advanced composites as products are spun off to the private sector. An additional 140 jobs will be supported elsewhere in the economy as a result of these enterprises.