The Environmental Protection Agency awarded the Port of Tacoma a $2 million brownfields grant for cleanup at the Port Maritime Center property.

The Port applied for the grant to address industrial contamination on what’s called Parcel 132, a one-acre section in the northeast corner of the 20-acre Port Maritime Center site. For nearly 100 years, Parcel 132 was used for wood products manufacturing and distribution, and later for heavy equipment storage.

The Port is cleaning up historically contaminated soil and groundwater on Parcel 132 as part of developing the Port Maritime Center, which will include public waterway access and walking trails, Tacoma Public Schools’ Maritime|253 skills center, and a new Port business office.

“We’re grateful to the EPA for recognizing the importance of this project, which helps the Port continue its remediation work cleaning up legacy contamination in the Tideflats and putting land back into productive use,” said Port of Tacoma Commission President John McCarthy.

The Port Maritime Center project includes remediation beyond Parcel 132. In 2024, contractors removed more than 27,000 tons of contaminated soil from the site. Construction of the buildings began this winter after a groundbreaking in January.

The Maritime|253 skills center will provide career and technical education to high school juniors and seniors from across Pierce County. It is scheduled to open in the fall of 2026.

The Port business center will provide office space for employees of the Port of Tacoma and The Northwest Seaport Alliance, and new commission chambers for public meetings. It is scheduled to open in the spring of 2027.