Port of Whitman County

What Port of Whitman County does

The Port of Whitman County is a Washington State special-purpose municipal corporation (port district) established in 1958 and governed by an elected three-person Board of Commissioners. Headquartered in Colfax, Washington, the Port operates three core business lines: (1) industrial real estate development and leasing across three on-water port facilities on the Snake River (Almota, Central Ferry, Wilma), Pullman Industrial Park, and the Port of Whitman Business Air Center; (2) telecommunications infrastructure, anchored by a publicly owned dark fiber optic network spanning 300+ miles across Whitman County, leased to private internet service providers such as Ziply Fiber under a wholesale/open-access model; and (3) recreation, operating the 56-acre Boyer Park & Marina on the Snake River as a free public facility offering moorage, camping, RV sites, cabins, and a marina store. The Port also serves as the designated Associate Development Organization (ADO) for Whitman County, coordinating regional economic development, and co-founded the Petrichor Broadband municipal corporation in 2020 alongside five other Washington port districts.

The Port's technology foundation is its dark fiber optic network, with completed fiber-to-the-home projects in Rosalia, Palouse, Garfield, Oakesdale, Tekoa, Pine City, Steptoe, and Diamond, and additional builds underway in Northern and Southern Whitman County. Revenue mechanics are diversified across four streams: industrial property leases (recurring), dark fiber wholesale leases to ISPs (recurring/licensing), tax levy collections from Whitman County property owners (recurring), and transactional fees from Boyer Park & Marina recreation (camping, moorage, retail). Go-to-market is relationship-driven: direct outreach to industrial tenants, channel partnerships with ISPs for broadband distribution, and direct-to-consumer access for recreational facilities. The Port also provides board direction to the Palouse River Coulee City (PCC) Rail Authority, the state's longest short-line freight rail system.

The Port reports no parent company or shareholders; it is funded by tax levy and user fees with no public revenue disclosure. Economic impact data quantifies $1.74 billion in annual output and $801 million in added gross regional product from Port-associated businesses, supporting 5,892 jobs at an average of $77,089 in salary and benefits. For every $1 of local tax levy, associated businesses generate $8.56 in economic activity. Recent strategic activity has been grant-driven, with $2.49M (Jan 2025) and $1.1M (May 2023) CERB broadband grants, a $1M CERB Rural Ports Grant (Jan 2026) for the Oakesdale Mill, an EPA Cleanup Grant (June 2026), and an Early Learning Facilities Grant (April 2026).

Name

Port of Whitman County

Legal name

Port of Whitman County

Website

https://portwhitman.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Port of Whitman County is a Washington State port district operating industrial real estate, a 300+ mile dark fiber broadband network, and Boyer Park & Marina. It serves Whitman County businesses, farmers, ISPs, and residents through leasing, tax levy, and recreation fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Port Operations and Economic Development

NAICS

Port and Harbor Operations (48831), Marinas (71393), Inland Water Transportation (48321)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Inland / River Container Terminals (Barge-Served) (TLAHAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Ferry Terminal & Passenger Pier Operations (Ferry-Specific) (THAIAJAJ)

Keywords

• Port district operations
• Industrial real estate leasing
• Dark fiber infrastructure
• Economic development services
• Recreational marina facilities

Headquarters

HQ city

Colfax

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Industrial Real Estate Leasing: The Port develops and leases industrial properties including port facilities, industrial parks (Pullman Industrial Park), and airport facilities. Revenue generated from land leases, building leases, and hangar rentals at the Business Air Center.
2. Boyer Park & Marina Operations: The Port operates Boyer Park & Marina providing recreational facilities including boat moorage (long-term and transient), RV campsites with hookups, camp cabins, motel rooms, restaurant, convenience store, and swimming beach. Revenue from camping fees, moorage fees, and retail operations.
3. Dark Fiber Leasing: The Port builds fiber infrastructure and leases publicly owned dark fiber to private sector internet service providers. This wholesale model allows ISPs to provide retail internet services to end customers.
4. Tax Levy Revenue: As a public port district, the Port receives property tax levy revenue reinvested into infrastructure development including port facilities, telecommunication infrastructure, airport support, and Boyer Park operations.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Port of Whitman County is a Washington State special-purpose municipal corporation (port district) that develops and leases industrial real estate, builds and leases dark fiber broadband infrastructure, operates the Boyer Park & Marina recreational facility on the Snake River, and serves as the designated Associate Development Organization (ADO) coordinating economic development across Whitman County. Revenue is generated through property leases, dark fiber wholesale leases, recreational user fees, and property tax levy.

Product overview

The Port of Whitman County operates a diversified portfolio of three core business lines: (1) Industrial Real Estate Development - owning and managing port facilities (Port of Almota, Port of Central Ferry, Port of Wilma), Pullman Industrial Park, and the Port of Whitman Business Air Center; (2) Telecommunications Infrastructure Development - building and maintaining over 300 miles of dark fiber network and fiber-to-the-home projects across Whitman County, operating through the Petrichor Broadband partnership; and (3) Recreation - operating Boyer Park & Marina as a free public facility on the Snake River. The Port also serves as the Associate Development Organization (ADO) for Whitman County, pursuing county-wide economic development opportunities. No unified software platform exists; the organization provides government infrastructure and real estate services rather than a technology product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Petrichor Broadband: A municipal corporation formed in 2020 by the Port of Whitman County and five other Washington port districts to provide broadband consulting and network management services for public agencies across Washington State.

Products and services

• Pullman Industrial Park An industrial park providing buildable land and facilities for new and expanding businesses in Pullman, Washington.
• Port of Whitman Business Air Center A general aviation airport facility operated by the Port, offering hangar and tie-down space for aircraft.
• Port of Almota One of three on-water port facilities on the Snake River, developed in 1969 as the first actual development and improvement of on-water sites.
• Port of Central Ferry On-water port facility on the Snake River, constructed in 1970 as part of the Port's industrial real estate portfolio.
• Port of Wilma On-water port facility on the Snake River with sites including McGregor site (construction completed in 2014).
• Boyer Park & Marina A 56-acre full-service marina and campground on the Snake River featuring boat moorage, RV campsites with hookups, camp cabins, motel rooms, restaurant, convenience store, swimming beach, and the 3.5-mile Snake River Trail. Operated as a free, day-use park for citizens of Whitman County.
• Dark Fiber Network Over 300 miles of publicly owned dark fiber optic network across Whitman County, leased to private internet service providers in a 'dark fiber model' to enable broadband service delivery.
• Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) High-speed internet connectivity delivered directly to individual homes through FTTH build-out projects, leveraging the dark fiber network backbone.
• Palouse River Coulee City Rail System Support Port provides board direction to the PCC Rail System, the state's longest short-line freight rail system, supporting multimodal transportation from river to rail to roads.
• Petrichor Broadband A municipal corporation formed with five other Washington port districts to provide broadband consulting and network management services for public agencies across the state, advocating for publicly owned, open-access dark fiber infrastructure.
• Tekoa Mountain Business Park An in-progress commercial/industrial development in Tekoa, Washington, expanding the Port's real estate portfolio.
• Oakesdale Flour Mill Restoration Flour mill restoration project in Oakesdale, funded by a CERB Rural Ports Grant, supporting local agricultural processing capacity.

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Ziply FibercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 6 August 2020Ziply Fiber partnered with the Port to bring Fiber-to-the-Home broadband service in Whitman County. The network build accelerates service availability and provides economic growth opportunities in the region. Underserved towns were prioritized to receive the technology boost.
• Petrichor Broadband, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Municipal corporation formed with five other Washington public port districts (Ports of Kalama, Ridgefield, Bellingham, Skagit County and Pasco) to help connect underserved communities across Washington State. Offers broadband consulting and network management services for public agencies including ports, tribes, counties, cities, public utility districts, and industrial development zones.
• Whitman County Broadband Action Team (BAT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative group working to expand broadband service, communicate with county stakeholders about broadband needs, and enhance broadband use. Member organizations include Avista Utilities, Colfax School District, Community Action Center, Town of Malden, Partners for Rural WA-Eastern Region, Port of Whitman County, Pullman Public Schools, Washington State University Whitman County Extension, Whitman County, and Whitman County Rural Library District.
• Washington State Department of CommercemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary state economic development agency with mission to grow jobs in Washington State. The Port works with the Department on economic development initiatives. Spokane satellite office available at 10 North Post Street, Spokane.
• City of Pullman Economic DevelopmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint partnership on economic development projects including business retention and expansion, recruitment, start-up company support, export assistance, and business training. Located at 190 SE Crestview, Pullman, WA.
• Washington Small Business Development Center (WSBDC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of business advisors serving Whitman County through Washington State University's SBDC advisor Juan Garcia, providing free business advising including financial analyses, cash flow management, international trade support, access to capital, growth planning, and cybersecurity risk management.
• Worksource WAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides employment and training services to employers including customized recruitment assistance, on-the-job training reimbursement, and layoff response services. Pullman Office at 1615 N.E. Eastgate Blvd.
• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCabinet-level federal agency dedicated to small business providing counseling, capital, and contracting expertise. Seattle District includes office in Spokane for Washington State support.
• Evergreen BizLinkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree statewide online referral network linking Washington business owners to local, regional, and state resource partners. Features searchable database for business resources filtered by location, area of focus, and industry.
• Palouse River Coulee City (PCC) Rail AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState's longest short-line freight rail system spanning approximately 300 miles. The PCC Rail Authority is an intergovernmental entity formed by Grant County, Lincoln County, Spokane County, and the Port of Whitman County. The Port provides board direction to the PCC rail system supporting multimodal transportation.
• Palouse Conservation DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterlocal cooperation agreement for conservation and environmental initiatives in Whitman County.
• Grant County, Lincoln County, Spokane CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner counties in the Palouse River and Coulee City Interlocal Cooperation Agreement for rail system oversight and economic development.
• Washington State UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDark fiber lease and service agreements for fiber optic strands enabling WSU connectivity. Includes lease and service of fiber optic strands 20702, 21349, and 21350.
• University of IdahominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLease and service agreements for fiber optic strands supporting university connectivity.
• Eastern Washington UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Whitman County Trends Website and broadband planning assistance for BEAD funding.
• Whitman CountymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDark fiber use agreement and quarterly Commission to Commission meetings for coordinated planning. Whitman County acts as Port Treasurer.
• Port of LewistonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFiber optic system interlocal agreement for regional broadband connectivity.
• Port of ClarkstonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocate services agreement and project assistance for regional port coordination.
• Port of Garfield CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocate services agreement for regional port operations coordination.
• City of PullmanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReimbursement agreement for utility construction costs related to North Grand Utility Extension.
• City of TekoaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAirport Card Troll facility payment arrangement and water system plan update interlocal agreement.
• Palouse Regional Transportation Planning OrganizationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPort serves as lead fiscal agent for regional transportation planning organization.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Port of Klickitat: Washington State port district operating industrial parks, marinas, and small-craft facilities on the Mid-Columbia. Comparable small-port district focused on diversified economic development under the same RCW 53 authority.
• Port of Kalama: Washington State port district on the Lower Columbia River operating industrial facilities, marine terminals, and real estate. Direct peer sharing the same legal framework, Petrichor Broadband JV membership, and focus on Columbia-Snake River System economic activity.
• Port of Bellingham: Washington State port district operating industrial real estate, marina, airport, and waterfront facilities in Whatcom County. Directly comparable as one of the six co-founders of Petrichor Broadband and as a small-to-mid-sized port district pursuing diversified economic development under RCW 53.
• Port of Ridgefield: Washington State port district in Clark County operating industrial properties and the Ridgefield Industrial Park. Smaller-scale direct peer with the same RCW 53 statutory framework and Petrichor Broadband co-founding role.
• Port of Pasco: Washington State port district at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers operating industrial facilities, the Tri-Cities Airport, and waterfront real estate. Direct peer sharing Snake River system positioning and Petrichor Broadband co-founding role.
• Port of Skagit County: Washington State port district operating industrial parks, marinas, and regional airport in Skagit County. Comparable in scale and structure to Port of Whitman County, and a co-founder of Petrichor Broadband, sharing the rural economic development mandate.

Broad incumbents

• Port of Tacoma: Large Washington State port district operating one of the largest container terminals on the U.S. West Coast. Operates under the same RCW 53 framework but at vastly greater scale, providing a relevant comparison point for how a Washington port district can scale and what terminal/real estate models the Port of Whitman County portfolio could evolve toward.

Regional players

• Port of Garfield County: Washington State port district in Garfield County, Washington, with a locate services agreement with Port of Whitman County. Comparable small rural port serving an adjacent agricultural county.
• Port of Clarkston: Washington State port district adjacent to Port of Lewiston on the Snake River. Direct comparable for small-port operations and locate-services coordination, serving a similar Snake River agricultural economy.
• Port of Lewiston: Idaho port district at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater Rivers, operating industrial facilities and serving as the inland terminus of the Columbia-Snake navigation system. Highly comparable to Port of Whitman as a Snake River port with a fiber interconnect agreement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/portofwhitman
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=61557381820369
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/8300224
• Instagraminstagram.com/portofwhitmancounty

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Port of Whitman County