Our Q3 2026 Newsletter is ready! In this edition:

• Message from the Executive Director
• Q3 2026 at a Glance
• Commissioners' Corner
• From Classroom to Local Careers: Connecting Central Washington Youth with Opportunity
• News from Around the Region

Read all about it here: Port of Moses Lake Q3 2026 Newsletter

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Moses Lake, WA - October 13, 2026: The Port of Moses Lake welcomes the renewal nomination of Census Tract 53025010800, northwest Moses Lake, from the Federal Opportunity Zone 1.0 to the 2.0 program, announced by Governor Bob Ferguson on October 8, 2026 . If certified by the U.S. Treasury Department, the designation could encourage more private investment in the Moses Lake tract with the increase in added investor benefits.

Opportunity zones are intended to advance economic diversification, modernize infrastructure and strengthen the rural workforce so that investment benefits reach communities and residents. The governor nominated 99 low-income and rural communities across Washington state, including the Moses Lake tract. The nomination recognizes the region’s continued potential and its role as one of Central Washington’s leading industrial and aerospace hubs, centered around Grant County International Airport. 

“Going from the Opportunity Zone 1.0 to 2.0 is a step in a great direction for investors,” said Port of Moses Lake Executive Director Dan Roach. “These extra benefits could provide the catalyst needed to turn high-potential projects into real development, bring new capital off the sidelines, and accelerate construction of critical infrastructure and shovel-ready sites.”

Core Tax Incentives of Federal Opportunity Zone 2.0

For investors, placing eligible capital gains in a Qualified Opportunity Fund (QOF) offers three key tax benefits: near-term deferral, a permanent reduction in part of the original tax liability and tax-free qualifying long-term appreciation.

• Rolling five-year capital gains deferral. Eligible gains reinvested in a QOF are deferred until five years after the investment date, replacing the original program’s fixed 2026 deadline. 
• Standard and enhanced basis step-up. After five years, part of the original deferred gain is permanently excluded. 
• Standard zones: A 10% step-up, taxing 90% of the original gain.
• Rural zones: A 30% step-up through a Qualified Rural Opportunity Fund (QROF).
• Tax-free appreciation. After a 10-year hold, post-acquisition gains are tax-free upon sale, with up to 30 years to step the investment up to fair market value. 

Opportunity Zone incentives can support commercial and industrial real estate, housing, infrastructure, and investments in existing or start-up businesses. To qualify, real estate investments generally must result in the property being “substantially improved.”

The U.S. Treasury Department will review and certify state nominations. Certified designations are scheduled to take effect January 1, 2027, giving investors time to prepare strategies and deploy capital in participating communities.

Port Commission President, Stroud Kunkle, said, “This designation aligns directly with our community’s priorities and could take economic development in this Census Tract to the next level. By attracting critical private investment, we can prepare more sites for development, support workforce housing, create family-wage jobs and give businesses the foundation they need to grow. Most importantly, it would help ensure that the Port’s continued growth delivers lasting benefits for residents throughout Moses Lake and the broader Grant County region. We’re grateful for the nomination and the recognition of the tremendous potential here in the Port District, and we eagerly await the outcome of the next steps.”

For more information, contact:

Dan Roach

Executive Director

Port of Moses Lake

Tel: 509-771-6231

droach@portofmoseslake.com 

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About the Port of Moses Lake:

The Port of Moses Lake serves as an aviation, manufacturing, and technology hub for the Pacific Northwest. Home to Grant County International Airport, one of the largest airports in the Western United States, the Port is surrounded by greenfield land and low population density. Established in 1965, the Port of Moses Lake has connected Central Washington to the world, linking people and products by air, rail, and land, across the globe.

Learn more by going to: www.portofmoseslake.com 

Update September 21, 2026, 3:00pm: This meeting has been rescheduled to Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 8:30 am. Read the agenda here: 09/24/2026 SM Commission Agenda

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Update September 21, 2026, 9:45am: This meeting has been rescheduled to Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 10:00am.

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September 17, 2026: On Wednesday, September 23rd, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., the Port of Moses Lake Commissioners will hold a Special Hearing. The meeting location is the Port of Moses Lake Administration Building, 7810 Andrews St NE, Moses Lake, WA 98837 in the Commission Chamber. The purpose of this meeting will be to award the contract for Project # 26-012 Section 19 Farm Circles.

September 14, 2026: The Annual Budget Retreat has been rescheduled for October 12-13th. 

September 9, 2026: On Monday, September 14th, 2026, and Tuesday, September 15th, 2026, the Port of Moses Lake Commissioners will hold their annual Budget Retreat. Our office will be closed.. 

The meeting location is the Best Western Plus Lake Front Hotel, located at 3000 W. Marina Dr., Moses Lake, WA. 

The meeting begins at 1:00 p.m. and the purpose of this meeting will be to discuss the budget for the upcoming year.

September 1, 2026: The Port of Moses Lake is accepting sealed bids from qualified contractors for construction of the Northern Columbia Basin Railroad Project (NCBRP), Contract No. 26-099, located in and around Moses Lake, Washington.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Work generally consists of construction of approximately 4.7 miles of new railroad spur and improvements to approximately 2.7 miles of existing railroad track. Major elements of the Work include railroad track construction and rehabilitation; earthwork and embankment; demolition and clearing; erosion and sediment control; culverts and drainage improvements; railroad bridge (in-water work) construction; railroad grade crossings and associated roadway improvements; railroad crossing signals and controls; underground utilities; asphalt paving; sidewalks; curb and gutter; fencing; pavement markings and signage; and other associated civil, structural, railroad, and site improvements as identified in the Contract Documents.

• Download Full Bid Advertisement 
• Download Full Contract Specifications 

BID DATE AND TIME: Sealed bids will be received until 2:00 P.M. on Friday, October 2, 2026, at the Front Reception Desk of the Port of Moses Lake Administration Office, 7810 Andrews Street NE, Moses Lake, WA 98837. 

All questions and requests for clarification regarding the Contract Documents shall be submitted in writing to: ncbrp-bid@rockpmservices.com . No oral interpretations or responses shall be binding upon the Port.

Learn more about the NCBRP here .