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- Message from Don Kersey
- CBTECH is Expanding
- Aviation History at GCIA
- News From Around our Region
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Message from Don Kersey, Executive Director |
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These past few months have seen unprecedented growth and history being made here in the Port District. So much has happened, it’s hard to capture it in one newsletter. From workforce development to historical feats in aviation and aerospace, our community has a lot to be proud of and to look forward to.
In this newsletter, you’ll read more about how Columbia Basin Technical school (CBTECH) is getting a much-needed expansion, ushering in more opportunities for area students and industries to create meaningful career pathways. As workforce readiness is such a critical component in maintaining our thriving industries, our area youth will soon have even more opportunities to learn critical skills needed for workforce entry or continued education.
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Meanwhile, just last month, Eviation took the world’s first all-electric passenger plane, Alice, to the skies over Grant County. Revolutionary is an understatement as Eviation stands poised to change the way we travel. Be sure to check out their video of the take-off and notice your Grant County and Moses Lake home behind and underneath the plane.
Also last month, Stoke Space Technologies, a company formed to develop low-cost, on-demand access to and from space, test-fired their upper stage prototype engines here at the Port of Moses Lake. You’ll read more about them too but be sure to follow them on their social media accounts for videos of their accomplishments – and be sure to turn the sound up.
These past few months have been a stellar example of how very real, forward-thinking work is making tremendous progress to the future vitality of our region and the planet. Our team is honored to be here to facilitate and ensure our Port of Moses Lake clients have what they need to not only be successful, but to make their marks in the history books all right here in Grant County. After reading more below, we hope you share these same sentiments.
We encourage you to follow the Port of Moses Lake on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter where we will continue to post news as it happens. As our next newsletter will be after the holidays, allow us to be the first to wish you a safe and wonderful holiday season. See you next year.
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CBTECH in Moses Lake is Expanding |
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Moses Lake, WA September 2022: Only one of 16 in Washington State, CBTECH in Moses Lake is recognized for its successfully specialized technical programs. Serving high school juniors and seniors (ages 16-21), CBTECH hosts students from area high schools, private schools, digital and home schools. As a core campus, it also allows regional schools to offer a broader scope of educational programs that teach job skills, attitudes, and behaviors necessary for work readiness and/or continuing education. Increasingly popular over the years, CBTECH has run out of room with wait lists of students. Thanks to legislative support, CBTECH is receiving much-needed state-level funding that will allow the campus to expand and add programs to accommodate the growing needs of our region’s future workforce.
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Over the next five years, total funding in the amount of nearly $26 million dollars is anticipated for construction. Expanding the current CBTECH building to the west and some to the north will allow room for programs that require more floor space. In addition to that, and more recently, $1 million was also received for the purchasing of upgraded equipment and technology.
CBTECH currently offers 11 educational pathways to local students including Welding & Manufacturing, Engineering, Automotive Technology, Flight Technology, Video Game Programming, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Construction, Criminal Justice, and CNA and Medical Assistant. They plan to add Fire Science Safety Fall of 23-24, and after expanding, CBTECH plans to add additional programs including Robotics and Drone Technology, Ag Science in some capacity, Digital Arts and Film and Aerospace complete with a flight lab. Automotive Technology will be moved to its own space on the CBTECH core campus, Criminal Justice and Fire Science Safety will have space created specifically for those programs. Phase 2 will also have an area for an additional program yet to be determined that can be started in a generic classroom.
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CBTECH Proposed Expansion |
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Schematic courtesy: CBTECH |
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CBTECH Director, Christine Armstrong, said, “For the Criminal Justice program, we obtained a scenario simulator, so our students have the third of its kind state-wide as the only other two are in law enforcement academies.”
As for the Fire Science Safety pathway, Chad Utter, Dean of Students, said, “The City of Moses Lake Fire Department and Grant County #5 have already donated tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of bunker gear. The enthusiasm and momentum for these programs is already here.”
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Plans for strengthening current programs include a human simulator for the Medical Assistant program, ZSpace for Video Game Programming, (a 3D, 360 degrees screen-breaking experience), ice cream maker and coffee roaster for Culinary Arts that will allow the students to make their own signature CBTECH products, a flight simulator for Aviation, re-tooling and updating the Advanced Automotive lab, a ShopBot CNC Machine, and a robotic welder. All while working on branding and marketing. |
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Armstrong said, “No local dollars are being used – it’s all from the state. In addition to student demand, student success post-graduation, we also have cost advantages being rural. This is a tremendous opportunity for our area youth.”
Utter also said that expansion plans include CB Tech’s need to remain agile. He said, “We will be able to maintain the ability to change curriculum as workforce readiness needs evolve. That’s one of our greatest strengths.”
Armstrong added, “We are grateful for the state-level recognition and funding for our area students. Partnered with our area industries and schools, we’re collectively ensuring the next generation’s workforce has the best launchpad for success.”
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Aviation History at Grant County International Airport |
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Moses Lake, WA September 2022: Eviation, a company with a vision to launch a new era of more sustainable, scalable, and affordable transportation, succeeded in a huge step forward on September 27, 2022, with their first of its kind all-electric passenger plane, “Alice”, taking its first test flight around the skies of Grant County. Proving the technology, the future of greener travel and the hope of improved regional connectivity, is here.
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Gregory Davis, President, and CEO of Eviation, said, “We made aviation history. That sensation that you know that you’ve done something that’s going to last with you the rest of your life, that’s the way everyone on the team felt.”
Founded in 2015 by leadership with expertise in advanced powertrains and clean energy, the first full-size functional prototype, Alice, stole the limelight at the 2019 Paris Air Show with its revolutionary electrical propulsion engineering. In 2020, Eviation secured their headquarters in Arlington, WA as well as facilities for future manufacturing. Alice is available in three configurations - commuter variant, executive cabin, and cargo.
Davis said, “The electric propulsion on the plane is the biggest change in aviation since we went from the piston to the jet engine in the 1950s. Instead of burning fuel, it’s driven directly from electricity designed to aviation standards. It’s amazing what we’ve demonstrated with technology showing that it can work and what this team is capable of.”
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Davis said that’s just the beginning. “It’s knowing that we’re going to change the way people are going to travel and we’re going to bring connectivity to people whether its passengers or parcels around the world. We’re doing this in a sustainable way that’s going to allow this new kind of flying.”
As an example, this new kind of flying means bringing planes to smaller airports like the Grant County international airport and offering services to other smaller airports like Walla Walla, Yakima, Bellingham, in addition to locations like Spokane and Seattle. All at reduced cost, low noise, and zero emissions.
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Davis said, “Instead of three-hour drives to Seattle, it will be a 45-minute flight. That feeling of connectivity, that feeling of knowing that’s what we’re bringing just made it all sweeter that first flight.”
Leland Moreno-Hilburn, Site Operations & Infrastructure Management, said, “This is the most significant event in realizing the vision of Eviation. I don’t think we could have found a more tailored venue than the Grant County terminus, and the functional and technological aspects that were necessary to safely conduct our operations and our flight.”
Davis also communicated his appreciation for the Port of Moses Lake’s on-site fire department, air traffic control, and port office operations, saying, “They took the time to learn about the product which is part of the overall advancement of the industry.”
According to Davis, there are 2000 underutilized airports across the United States. “Moses Lake is a prime example with a beautiful terminal ready to go. We are bringing convenience back to regional travel and we’re here to help grow the sustainable aviation industry and certainly Grant County and Moses Lake play a proud part in that.”
Watch Alice take her maiden voyage here: https://www.eviation.com/
About Eviation:
Based in Washington State, U.S., Eviation Aircraft Inc. develops and manufactures efficient electric aircraft to deliver a competitive and sustainable solution for the regional mobility of people and goods. Its electric propulsion units, high-energy-density batteries, mission-driven energy management, and innovative airframe are designed from the ground up for electric flight. Please visit us at www.eviation.com.
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News From Around our Region |
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Battery tech company OneD lays out Moses Lake plans after $25M round
Puget Sound Business Journal
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September 30, 2022: OneD Battery Sciences, a battery tech company headquartered in Palo Alto, California, is preparing its Moses Lake operations after announcing a $25 million Series C round Thursday.
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Photo courtesy: Anthony Bolante PSBJ |
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Cantwell tells Congress that investment in electric air travel needed citing first flight of all-electric commercial plane in Moses Lake
IFiberOne News
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September 28, 2022: On Wednesday, the day after the electric-powered vessel took flight, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) addressed aviation industry leaders, underlining the need to invest in electric aircraft and alternative sustainable fuel sources to make commuter air travel cleaner, more affordable and more accessible for communities across Washington state and the nation.
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Photo U.S. Senate Commerce Committee |
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"This is big": First-of-its kind fully reusable space rocket undergoes successful test at Stoke Space facility in Moses Lake
IFiberOne News
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September 16, 2022: Well, we’re here. The topic of ‘space waste’ is becoming increasingly relevant as more space technology companies take form with plans to launch into earth’s orbit within the next several years. It’s why STOKE Space Technologies is celebrating this week after completing its first successful ‘hot test’ at its test facility at the Port of Moses Lake on Tuesday.
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Photo credit: STOKE Space Technologies |
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Global Crossing Airlines Orders 50 Electric Eviation Alice Planes
Simple Flying
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September 15, 2022 Global Crossing Airlines (GlobalX) has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Eviation for 50 all-electric Alice aircraft, a nine-passenger eco-friendly airplane. The aircraft will help the airline achieve its goal of opening carbon-neutral charter services between the Bahamas, Florida, and the Caribbean. The LOI indicates that deliveries of the Alice to GlobalX should begin in 2027.
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Photo courtesy: Global Crossing Airlines |
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Boeing donates $25,000 to support BBCC aviation programs
IFiberOne News
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September 2, 2022: MOSES LAKE — Boeing has donated $25,000 to Big Bend Community College’s Aviation Maintenance Technology and Commercial Pilot programs.
The funds will be used to purchase equipment and support required testing for students.
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Photo courtesy: IFiberOne News |
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Passage of Inflation Reduction Act ensures REC Silicon's Moses Lake restart in 2023 and full return in 2024
IFiberOne News
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August 17, 2022: The passage of a historical measure by congress last week has fortified REC Silicon’s fate for the better in Moses Lake. U.S. President Joe Biden signed off on the bi-partisan Inflation Reduction Act, which includes large perks that puts big money in the pockets of clean energy companies nationwide, including REC Silicon.
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Photo courtesy: REC Silicon |
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First look: Sila to open battery tech plant in Moses Lake
Puget Sound Business Journal
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August 11, 2022: Sila Nanotechnologies Inc., an Alameda, California-based battery technology company, is moving forward with plans to open a manufacturing facility in Moses Lake.
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Photo courtesy: Anthony Bolante, PSBJ |
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7810 Andrews N.E. Suite 200
Moses Lake, WA 98837
Phone: 509.762.5363
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COMMISSION
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Darrin Jackson - President
Stroud Kunkle - Vice President
Kent Jones - Secretary
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STAFF
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Kim Detrolio - Director Finance and Administration/Public Records Officer
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