This week I attended a ribbon cutting for the $200 million grain terminal project at the Port of Longview on the Columbia River. There is a growing demand for safe transport of Washington grains to Asia. The construction of the grain terminal is vital for food security, particularly to Japan, and the growth of our export market.

At the ceremony I was joined by 200 people, including a contingency from EGT Development LLC, the company formed to build the terminal, and a handful of delegates from Japan and South Korea.

The project will create 200 construction jobs over the next two years, which will hopefully go to people in the Southwest Washington that need the work.

The grain terminal, the first of its kind built nationwide in 25 years, will offer the latest technology to ensure the safest and fastest transport. When finished, it will employ about 50 workers and add about 30 other jobs to the local economy.