What’s Vision 2050?

Vision 2050 offers a unique opportunity for you to shape how the Port will look, feel and function in the years ahead. The Port has been an integral part of community development in Thurston County for nearly a century. We understand our success is tied to our ability to implement defined community priorities.

To learn more about the Port and Vision 2050 Planning Process, explore the links and content on this website.

The Vision 2050 Task Force met to review proposed goals and actions based on nearly 10,000 public comments and prepare for the community review and prioritization phase.

Port Vision 2050 Action Plan

Download the Port Vision 2050 Action Plan

Port of Olympia
Port of Olympia slogan

About the Port

The Port of Olympia operates a break-bulk deep-water marine terminal, Swantown Marina and Boatworks, Olympia Regional Airport and Foreign-Trade Zone #216. It also leases a wide range of commercial and industrial properties throughout Thurston County, and maintains a variety of community assets, including land for the Olympia Farmers Market, Billy Frank Jr. Waterfront Trail and Park and Port Plaza, and administers a Small Cities grant program that provides matching funding for community development projects in rural Thurston County. The Port also provides funding for Harbor Patrol operations and sponsors or supports a diverse range of community events and social causes.

Port operations help to support some $300 million in annual business revenues and economic activity generating 5,000 family-wage jobs and $100 million in wages (including direct Port activity as well as Port vendors, clients and leaseholders). This activity, in turn, generates approximately $20 million in tax revenue for local municipalities. The Port collects just over $6 million in annual property tax levy, with a larger percentage of those funds allocated to environmental clean-up, bond repayment or other public benefit. This equates to roughly $55-$60 per year for the owner of a median-priced home ($310,000) in Thurston County.

Print a downloadable “Returning Your Investment” fact sheet

Revised Code of Washington Title 53 grants ports broad authority to pursue a variety of industrial and non-industrial activities to promote economic development:

  • Develop marine terminals, airports and other facilities to handle cargo and passengers
  • Buy and improve property for lease or sale to private industry for industrial and commercial uses
  • Provide air and water pollution control facilities
  • Operate trade centers and export trading companies
  • Establish and operate foreign trade zones
  • Provide environmental enhancement, protection and public access
  • Build and operate or lease marinas and related facilities and provide boat ramps for public use
  • Promote tourism as an economic stimulus within the port district

Port infrastructure and activities create innovative private-sector opportunities for public benefit during times of peace and stability but are also recognized as critical infrastructure and services during states of emergency. Following a major disruption such as an earthquake, port facilities and operations can be activated to support response, recovery, and emergency management activities and functions. The Port’s Marine Terminal, the Olympia Regional Airport, their supporting intermodal facilities, warehouse storage capacity, and staff expertise can provide critical transportation and logistics functions to fuel, supply, and move people, goods, and services in and out of the county when other major transportation services are disrupted or destroyed.

Vision 2050 Planning Process

The Port of Olympia is undertaking this visioning effort to help establish long-term goals. We want to understand how best to serve the community through a shared-vision for action and impact. Our overarching objectives include:

1

Build community awareness and support

2

Align Port investment and policy with community priorities

3

Strengthen partnerships

4

Establish a shared-vision for Port focus and impact

The Port team will be engaging community members through a variety of activities. You can share your ideas with us at community events throughout the summer, join us at a workshop in the spring or contact us directly.

Public Engagement

Process and Timeline

Vision 2050 began spring 2018 and is scheduled to wrap-up by fall 2019. Phases include:

  • Spring-Fall 2018: Proactive engagement and input gathering
  • Winter 2018: Input analysis, idea sorting and theme identification
  • Winter-Spring 2019: Task Force review of data, vision and action recommendations
  • Spring-Summer 2019: Community review and idea prioritization
  • Fall 2019: Final recommendations and Port Commission presentation
Timeline