We work to strengthen, build and maintain strategic relationships with federal, state and local governments, and with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians to promote economic development and environmental stewardship. Our commissioners and staff regularly discuss issues related to economic development and environmental stewardship with elected officials and partner with other stakeholder groups to jointly advocate for these issues.

Capital budget funding

• The Port is seeking $7 million in remedial action grant funding to fund three remediation projects under agreed orders initiated by the state. Read more
• The Port is seeking $2 million in capital budget funding to support the redevelopment of the Earley Business Center. Read more
• The Port supports the Tacoma School District's capital budget request to build a new facility for a competency-based Maritime Skills Center in Tacoma.

Transportation funding

The Port encourages the state to “finish what we started” by completing critical freight projects included in the Connecting Washington and Move Ahead WA transportation packages.

Specifically:

• The on-time completion State Route 167. Read more
• The appropriation in the 2023/25 biennium of the $35 million in state funding included in Move Ahead WA for the City of Fife’s Interstate 5/Port of Tacoma Road Interchange project. Read more
• The Port also supports the City of Tacoma in their efforts to complete the replacement of the Fishing Wars Memorial Bridge.

Operating budget funding

• The Port supports continued funding of the Quiet Sound program managed by Maritime Blue to reduce the noise impacts of vessels on Southern Resident Orcas. Read more
• The Port supports Investments to facilitate workforce development and business growth in Pierce County, including K-12 Skills Center funding, technical college workforce funding and the Governor's recommend $20.5 million for the Economic Security for All program that supports local workforce development boards.

Small works roster

The Port supports aligning the small works roster limit for ports with all other governments In Washington. Read more.

Preserving maritime and manufacturing lands

Support local land use and transportation policies, including long range plans such as subarea planning, that maintain or enhance maritime and manufacturing lands, and the critical road and rail infrastructure required for freight mobility. The goals being to preserve industrial lands, freight mobility, allow for the anticipated development of marine cargo facilities and support the growth of related family-wage jobs.

Improving and maintaining the regional freight systems

Support and work with our jurisdictional partners in obtaining grant funding that enhances freight corridors that improve the competitiveness of port properties, benefits the local community and improves safety, including the Interstate 5/Port of Tacoma Road Interchange Phase 2 project, Fishing Wars Memorial Bridge, and Port and Tacoma Harbor (PATH) improvement projects. Work with local jurisdictions to coordinate and communicate infrastructure projects to minimize freight and workforce commute impacts.