Job Creation & Industry Revitalization
During the decline of the fishing and forest products industries in the 1980s-90s, the Olympic Peninsula experienced a loss of good jobs that have not been replaced. Recompete is working with local industrial partners to revitalize the natural resources, maritime, construction, and manufacturing industries, which will create career pathways and strengthen the economy of the region. These industries have low barriers to entry, provide high wages and benefits, and maximize our geographical advantages.
North Olympic Peninsula Barging Network (NOPBN)
The Port of Port Angeles is the project lead for strengthening the marine trade industry. The Port will purchase three barges of varying size and capacity to move cargo between communities on the Peninsula, regional urban markets in Western Washington and British Columbia, and further down the West Coast, including Oregon and California.
The NOPBN will increase regional economic resilience and opportunity by lowering freight transportation costs and carbon emissions compared to trucking, and increasing access to freight among remote communities on the Peninsula. The result will be a revitalization of the marine trade industry, which will bring opportunities for new jobs and have a lasting impact on the economy of the region.
The Port is currently in the process of researching and purchasing the first barge. For updates on this project, subscribe to our newsletter.
Thermal modification of locally sourced timber
Composite Recycling Technology Center (CRTC) is the project lead for strengthening the forest products and manufacturing industries. Through the use of a thermal modification unit, CRTC turns underutilized coastal wood species harvested by the Makah Tribe into high-impact building material. The products can be then be used to create affordable modular housing units.
This project will have a lasting impact on the economy by creating skilled manufacturing jobs, strengthening the local supply chain, addressing local housing shortages, and revitalizing the forest products and manufacturing industries.
CRTC is currently in the process of purchasing the thermal modification unit and is expecting to receive it in Spring of 2026. For updates on this project, subscribe to our newsletter.
Natural Resources Innovation Center (NRIC)
The Natural Resources Innovation Center (NRIC) aims to revitalize the local forest products industry, generating new economic opportunities throughout the North Olympic Peninsula. NRIC serves as a regional hub that connects industry, investors, researchers, Tribes, and economic developers to foster value-added manufacturing, reduce waste, and support climate-resilient practices. NRIC aims to create high-wage jobs, stimulate entrepreneurial growth, and link rural communities to state and federal resources, ultimately positioning the region as a leader in natural resource innovation.
In support of this mission, the U.S. Department of Commerce, through the Economic Development Administration (EDA), awarded Clallam EDC $4.2 million—matched by over $1 million in local funds—for the Clallam Forest Product Innovation Program at NRIC. This $5.27 million investment will drive key initiatives such as redevelopment of the Forks Industrial Park, expansion of marine barging, creation of a forestry workforce program, and advancement of biomass-based manufacturing. The program will also support Tribal housing solutions using mass timber, test new green building materials, and develop industrial symbiosis strategies. These efforts will replace jobs lost in recent biomass facility closures, reduce wildfire risks, and generate high-wage employment across the region.
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