A state-level economic development association singled out the ports of Benton and Walla Walla for accolades in its annual awards for securing the most economically significant development projects in the past year. 

The Washington Economic Development Association (WEDA) said the Port of Benton’s recruitment of Avalanche Energy FusionWERX and Port of Walla Walla’s bringing Rockwool North America to the Mid-Columbia made for equally excellent selections in the Economic Development Project of the Year-Business Recruitment Category. 

“WEDA’s Economic Development Awards celebrate outstanding achievement in economic development at the highest level,” said WEDA Board Chair Gina Stark, in a statement. “There are leaders across our entire state working tirelessly to grow jobs and strengthen economic vitality in their communities. These awards honor leaders and projects that are excelling in this impactful work.” 

The Port of Benton brought Avalanche to the table when a tenant was planning to dismantle highly specialized equipment it installed in port facilities to develop technology to clean up the Fukushima nuclear site in Japan. Avalanche will now use those facilities to advance development of its new fusion technologies. 

The Port of Walla Walla’s Wallula Gap Business Park will be the home of Rockwool’s newest U.S. manufacturing facility. The Netherlands-based company has broken ground on its future facility which will use its advanced electric melting technology to produce stone wool insulation products.