KALAMA, WA — A massive freighter docks outside of Temco grain terminal on the Columbia River, dwarfing dockworkers who are preparing the vessel to haul thousands of tons of corn from Port of Kalama to Pacific Rim markets.
Paul Butters, general manager of Temco, smiles as he looks over the recently-completed $100-plus million expansion of the grain terminal, which tripled its export capacity. Already the expansion has bumped up Port of Kalama’s revenue, created 14 permanent management jobs and supports about 50 longshore jobs, according to the Temco. Company officials last week held their first big open house since the facility was upgraded.
“In our career, we won’t have another opportunity like this,” Butters said.