Welcome back to our quarterly newsletter. I hope this message finds you still enjoying the memories of the holiday season and feeling optimistic about the opportunities that lie ahead in the coming year. In this edition, we are pleased to introduce Jon Lyddon, the new plant manager of our long-term tenant, Genie. Be sure to read about his perspectives as the new Moses Lake facility leader as well as member of our community. Additionally in this issue is a story about Commissioner Kent Jones, who has dedicated over 20 years to serving the port district. We’re grateful for his insights and reflections as well as his continuing leadership of the Port. In this edition, you'll also learn of some remarkable successes here at the Port, but it is a significant loss that deserves our foremost acknowledgment. 

In late Dember, we learned of the passing of highly-regarded Grant County International Airport leader, Mr. Larry Godden. Larry was not only instrumental in bringing aviation support services for our fly-in guests, but he was also involved in historic events at our airport (see photo below). We hope that Larry’s family finds comfort in memories and takes pride in the profound impact he made both on and off our airfield. We are deeply thankful for his enduring influence here and he will be sorely missed.

Of Port successes in the fourth quarter, we announced the completion of significant upgrades to our industrial wastewater system, the approval of our 2025 budget and strategic blueprint, and receipt of the “Port of the Year” award from the Washington Public Ports Association (WPPA) at their annual meeting in December. This award was an amazing surprise, and we remain truly honored as it not only reflects the passion and talent of our incredible team, but also the steady decision-making leadership of our commissioners. Our thanks to the WPPA for this distinguished honor.

Progress continues in advancing the rail project, regional power challenges, workforce development, and FAA/TSA rulemaking, and we spent a great deal of time meeting with regional leaders as well as federally elected officials discussing them. Two memorable forums included a tour and town hall discussion at Sila's Moses Lake manufacturing facility, featuring U.S. Representative Dan Newhouse along with local economic development and educational partners. The second event, organized by the Association of Washington Business (AWB), was their annual "fly-in" event in Washington D.C. Commissioner Darrin Jackson, Director of Business Development Richard Hanover, and I were pleased to meet with U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, U.S. Representatives Dan Newhouse and Cathy McMorris Rodgers, among honorable others. We extend our gratitude to all for shared values in moving needles forward.

Further to workforce development in our Port District, a note of kudos goes to Samaritan Healthcare and Big Bend Community College for their recently announced collaboration to provide paid internship opportunities. Big Bend also recently announced the addition of a second bachelor's program in Behavioral Health, two big wins for our area. These stories and more are in our News from Around the Region section below.

Looking ahead, we are excited about upcoming projects aimed at further enhancing our facilities and expanding opportunities for innovation and growth, and we look forward to continuing this path of shared success with all of you. Thank you for your continued support and interest in the Port of Moses Lake. Until next time, from all of us at the Port, we wish you a promising year ahead. 

More information can be found on our website at portofmoseslake.com. Be sure to follow us on social media for information and news in between newsletters.

The Port of Moses Lake is pleased to introduce Jon Lyddon, the new Plant Manager at Genie in Moses Lake. Having transitioned into this position in August of last year after spending ten years at the Genie facility in Redmond, we had the opportunity to chat with him just before the holidays. During our conversation, we explored his relocation from Washington’s west side, operations at Genie Moses Lake, and how “Quality By Design” represents far more than world-class production of best-in-class telescopic boom lifts.

Originally from Arizona, Jon appreciated the urban lifestyle of western Washington, which still offered easy access to backpacking adventures with his wife. As parents to an active toddler now, the transition to a more rural lifestyle in Moses Lake is suiting them well. “We've really enjoyed the community; we go to just about every downtown event,” Jon said, adding, “I really enjoy running, and here, people all wave and are willing to engage in conversation, sometimes all the friendliness can make it difficult to finish a run, I love it. All the unknowns of a new town, new home, new people, and every one of them has worked out.”

That sense of community is inside Genie’s Moses Lake production plant, too. Jon said, “Already I really love the team we work with. I think it's the perfect size, as it's big enough to have opportunity potential but small enough to feel like a community at this site. You get to know people; you get to know their families. The first few months that I was here, while hosting a family event, I got to meet a lot of the team's families and see how excited their kids were to see where their parents worked. I really appreciated getting to know our community.”

Kent Jones, the second longest-serving commissioner of the Port of Moses Lake, has led an admirable career marked by a deep commitment to our community. With over two decades of experience on the Port Commission and a passion for Moses Lake that dates to the Larson Air Force Base era in the mid-1960s, Kent has dedicated his life to public service both within and beyond his professional pursuits. Fresh off the December 13, 2024, Washington Public Ports Association award win for Port District of the Year, we sat down with Kent to discuss his reflections on the Port’s accomplishments as outgoing President, his motivation to serve, and lasting impacts while serving the Port of Moses Lake service district.

Kent said of the award, “Receiving the Port of the Year award is all about recognizing the long-term staff and their competence. It's all about the people that work out there, and I’m quite proud of them.”

It’s been a year of other big wins, including the ribbon cutting on a new wastewater facility, a new budget and strategic plan, and progress in rail access. Kent said, “The rail project started over 20 years ago, but I’m pleased we're going to hopefully start moving some dirt. It's been a long time.”

Another positive development has been the adoption of a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) resolution, establishing a Tax Increment Area (TIA) along the Wheeler corridor in Moses Lake. This allows the Port to receive future tax revenue to fund infrastructure improvements specific to and only for the TIA. Reflecting, Kent said, ”We're going in the right direction. This TIF has the potential to help provide the dollars needed to solve infrastructure challenges in the Wheeler TIA.”

Moving to Moses Lake at the age of eight in 1948, Kent later attended college after serving time with the United States Army. Of his time in the military, he said, “My friend and I walked into an army recruiter's office, and I said I want to go to Europe and after basic training in California and tank training in Kentucky, I got on a boat and spent over two years in Munich, Germany. It was probably the best thing for a small-town boy and was quite a growth spurt for me. I volunteered for everything and learned that when I volunteer, it just seems to keep giving back good things.”