The Port of Tacoma's economic development efforts are not limited to maritime transportation activities. The Port also plays an important role in real estate and industrial development, providing sites and facilities for manufacturing, fabrication, assembly, maintenance and repair, in addition to warehousing and distribution.
The Port's five major industrial development areas are:
In those five areas, as well as at additional warehouse facilities in and around its marine terminals, the Port offers more than 500 acres (200 hectares) of land for industrial development.
Much of that property is included in the Port's Foreign Trade Zone #86, which gives importers and exporters great flexibility in dealing with payment of U.S. Customs duties.
The Port also owns a 745-acre parcel in Maytown that it purchased in 2006 as a potential site for rail enhancements.