EVERETT—The Port of Everett has earned international recognition for two of its major economic and environmental projects, receiving two Excellence in Economic Development Awards from the International Economic Development Council.
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a national non-profit organization that leads the future of economic development as an essential, valued profession that fosters inclusive prosperity throughout the world. With over 4,500 members ranging from private industry to public agencies, IEDC is the largest organization of its kind. IEDC award winners showcase transformative projects that have profoundly impacted communities, regions, and nations.
The Port of Everett received two awards in 2024 – a Silver Award in the Real Estate Development & Reuse category for its Norton Terminal Development & MTCA 3rd Interim Action Cleanup and a Bronze Award in the Innovative Economic Development category for its 353-acre Blue Heron Slough Restoration project.
“Port of Everett is setting the standard of excellence for economic development with its Norton Terminal and Blue Heron Slough cleanup and redevelopment projects,” IEDC President and CEO Nathan Ohle said. “These awards highlight the Port’s commitment to its community and demonstrates the transformative impact of economic development. It is with great pride that IEDC presents these awards to The Port of Everett, celebrating their leadership and innovation in the field of economic development.”
Both projects were delivered in 2022 and are prime examples of the Port’s commitment to economic vitality and jobs, as well as a sustainable future.
“I want to sincerely thank our Port team, as well as the many community partners who made these award-winning projects possible,” Port of Everett Commission President Tom Stiger said. “It’s amazing to see the accomplishments our team has been able to deliver over the years setting a standard of excellence in our field – especially our efforts to restore habitat and cleanup former mill sites to create jobs and support modern day commerce.”
Real Estate Development & Reuse Silver Award for Norton Terminal Development & MTCA 3rd Interim Action Cleanup
The Port of Everett’s 40-acre Norton Terminal opened in 2022, marking the first all-new cargo terminal to open on the U.S. West Coast in more than a decade.
The $40 million investment involved the environmental cleanup and redevelopment of the former Kimberly-Clark mill site to put it back into productive use after sitting vacant for 10 years. The once-contaminated property now nearly doubles the Port’s cargo-handling capacity and supports more than 950 jobs while cleaning up the environment.
The work involved the final upland cleanup of legacy contamination at the site and the installation of a 9-inch-thick pavement environmental cap necessary for heavy cargo movement, and that incorporates environmental controls and state-of-the-art stormwater treatment for the first time in the property’s history.
Since opening, more than 3,500 containers and over 26,700 tons of project cargo have moved through the 40-acre cargo terminal. Examples of cargoes moved include excavators, transformers, electric vehicle breakbulk, aerospace parts, 53-foot containers and helicopters.
The 40-acre cargo terminal also added critical cargo capacity to the national freight network to enhance movement of commerce throughout the global supply chain. Most importantly, the Norton Terminal has realized the full potential of the Port’s previous $57 million South Terminal modernization investment that added another full-service berth in Everett in 2021.
The Port’s role in leading environmental remediation and infrastructure development in the Norton Terminal project has restored jobs to the site, enhanced the movement of commerce, allowed for a diversified cargo mix, strengthened our economy and achieved environmental sustainability.
“I’m so proud of our team for their innovation and commitment to designing projects in a way that improves the environment while also creating economic opportunities,” Port of Everett CEO Lisa Lefeber said. “It is wonderful to see our important regional accomplishments here in Snohomish County getting recognized on an international level.”
Innovative Economic Development Bronze Award for Blue Heron Slough Habitat Restoration
The Port of Everett’s 353-acre Blue Heron Slough project restored Snohomish River estuary habitat between the cities of Everett and Marysville. In 2022, the Port returned the former farmland to its natural condition as estuarine habitat to aid in Chinook salmon and bull trout recovery and support food supply for Southern Resident orcas in Puget Sound.
This work reconnected the former estuary to the Snohomish River sloughs to restore natural habitat-forming processes. It involved the creation of a mosaic of estuarine mudflats, tidal marshes, riparian habitats, islands and, over time, some forested wetlands.
The $20 million investment also improves water quality, provides flood protection in the area, increases bird habitat and offsets greenhouse gas emissions. Blue Heron Slough doubles as a mitigation bank, balancing economic development with a healthier environment.
The site is larger in land footprint than the Port of Everett’s international Seaport, Naval Station Everett and Waterfront Place combined.
The restoration was completed in partnership with Wildlands and the Port Gardner Bay Trustees, comprised of the Tulalip Tribes, Suquamish Tribe, U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Washington State Department of Ecology.
SOURCE: Port of Everett
