Port to add two more winery incubators
The Port of Walla Walla will use $500,000 given by the Legislature.
By Vicki Hillhouse of the Union-Bulletin
The winery incubator buildings at the Walla Walla Regional Airport may soon grow from a cluster into a small village.
Legislators have designated about $500,000 in the state capital budget for two more facilities, said Jim Kuntz, executive director of the Port of Walla Walla. The Port of Walla Walla expects to kick in another $150,000 for the project, Kuntz said.
Pending approval from the governor, the additional funds would help complete the Port's vision of five startup winery facilities designed for budding winemakers at the airport complex.
``It's a great project that we're very proud of,'' Kuntz said Thursday during a Port of Walla Walla commission meeting.
Located at the former U.S. Army Corps of Engineers site at the airport, the buildings are designed for bonded wineries that produce about 1,000 cases annually as part of their business models.
Constructed in 2006, the winery complex became known as an ``incubator'' because tenants are on a six-year plan. After the sixth year they must find new homes to make way for other startup wineries. Those that have the means may leave sooner if they wish.
State funds for the final two buildings would not become available until July 1. Even then, Port officials aren't sure if they'll call for bids during the busy summer construction months, when costs may be highest.
Port commissioners said Thursday they want to avoid the glitch that occurred with development of the first phase of the buildings. During the first round of bids, estimates came in much higher than anticipated. The construction costs forced Port officials to scale back the original project.
Port Commissioner Michael Fredrickson said Thursday the Port may see some benefit this time because the initial infrastructure work has already been done for the first three winery facilities.
If the tenants for the two new buildings can be identified ahead of time, Kuntz said the Port will be able to get sales tax relief on the project.
He said designs for the existing buildings will be duplicated and presented as part of the bid solicitation process. The buildings will each contain 1,600 square feet and a 500-square-foot outside crush pad.
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