>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

AT ALICEL: The project calls for the building of a new grain storage facility and improvements to the rail siding at PGG's Alicel site. (The Observer/BILL RAUTENSTRAUCH).

Bill Rautenstrauch

The Observer

With some help from the Union County Economic Development Corporation, Pendleton Grain Growers is looking to further upgrade its shipping facility at Alicel.

Craig Thompson, the UCEDC's executive director, said his organization is in the process of formulating a request for about $1.8 million in ConnectOregon money for upgrades to PGG's grain storage facility at Alicel.

"It's a large project and good for the local agricultural community and beyond," said Thompson.

ConnectOregon is a $100 million lottery-bond-based initiative approved by the Oregon Legislative Assembly to invest in air, rail, marine and transit infrastructure.

The purpose is to ensure Oregon's transportation system is strong, diverse and efficient.

The initiative is focused on improving the connections between the highway system and the other modes of transportation to better integrate the components of the system, improve flow of commerce and remove delays.

Thompson said the project falls under the heading of "multi-modal" since it involves truck shipping to the grain elevator and rail shipping to Columbia River ports.

Thompson said the project will cost about $2 million. UCEDC is seeking 80 percent of the project cost from Connect Oregon. The corporation will put up a 20 percent match.

The project calls for the building of a new grain storage facility and improvements to the rail siding.

The rail siding improvements, planned for south of the elevator, are in addition to a rail siding extension to the north that was done last year.

ConnectOregon applications are due in mid-February. Thompson said the non-profit UCEDC and PGG will work with a grant writer on the application this week.

Union County Commissioner and Northeast Oregon Area Commission on Transportation board member Steve McClure is helping the UCEDC put the application together.

McClure said the project will be a boon for local farmers.

"I think it will give them a chance to be competitive in their transportation costs. That's an important advantage," he said.

John Sperl of Pendleton Grain Growers said the project, if done, will greatly increase efficiency at the Alicel facility.

"It will make a world of difference," he said. "As it is now, it takes us an hour to load a car. We will cut our loading time in half."