Alternative Business Uses for Cannabis Growing Facilities

The Port of Willapa Harbor hosts numerous businesses dedicated to growing cannabis indoors. The economics for cannabis production and value-added products continues to evolve as additional states pursue legalization and changes are proposed for federal restrictions on banking services and controlled substance use. Existing tenants of the Port who grow cannabis and/or prepare/distribute cannabis-based products muse about converting these facilities to support other specialty agriculture or horticultural crops, or re-purposing the buildings to other uses where the infrastructure buildout provides a logical foundation. The Pacific County Economic Development Council believes research into possible alternative uses for these facilities is needed. Students will create an inventory to assess the capacities and capabilities of every cannabis grow building in the Port’s ownership, and research other industry groups that require similar or adjacent environmental controls and/or utilities capacities. A report will summarize their findings and analysis and suggest business alternatives that significantly leverage existing infrastructure.