A long-anticipated infrastructure upgrade that city leaders say will help unlock future industrial development in Grants Pass is moving forward after the State of Oregon approved $2 million in funding to extend wastewater service into the Spalding Industrial Park.
The funding will be distributed through the Oregon Business Development Department using proceeds generated through state lottery bonds. The investment will allow the City of Grants Pass to construct new sewer infrastructure designed to serve portions of the industrial park that have remained difficult to develop due to terrain challenges and limited access to municipal utilities.
For years, the Spalding Industrial Park has been identified by local officials as one of the most important areas in the city for industrial growth and job creation. While much of the park has already been served by municipal utilities, several sections have remained beyond the reach of the city’s wastewater system, creating barriers for businesses considering construction or expansion within the site.
The newly approved funding will allow the city to close that gap.
According to project plans, the upgrade will include the installation of approximately 1,700 feet of new sewer piping along with construction of a wastewater pump station designed to move wastewater through a section of the industrial park where elevation changes and terrain have complicated traditional gravity-based sewer service.
Engineers have long identified this portion of the park as one of the most technically challenging areas for infrastructure installation. Without a pump system capable of moving wastewater across the uneven landscape, connecting the remaining parcels of the industrial park to the city’s sewer network has remained difficult.
The new infrastructure will change that dynamic. Once completed, the improvements will allow the entire Spalding Industrial Park to be served by the City of Grants Pass wastewater collection system, removing a major utility limitation that has affected portions of the site.
City officials view the project as a strategic infrastructure investment intended to support the long-term economic development goals of the community.
Industrial parks depend heavily on reliable infrastructure to support the types of operations commonly located within them. Manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, fabrication shops, and other industrial users typically require consistent water and sewer services before projects can move from planning stages to construction.
In locations where sewer access is limited or unavailable, development can become significantly more complicated or costly for businesses.
By extending wastewater infrastructure across the remaining portions of the Spalding Industrial Park, the city aims to make the entire area viable for future industrial use.
Local leaders say the project has been a priority for several years as the city works to position itself for continued economic growth and to create conditions that support new employers locating in the region.
The effort to secure funding involved coordination among multiple groups, including Oregon House District 3 Representative Dwayne Yunker, the Grants Pass City Council, city staff, United Strategies & Consulting, and the Grants Pass and Josephine County Chamber of Commerce.
Their combined efforts helped bring state resources to the project, allowing the city to move forward with infrastructure improvements that might otherwise have required years of additional planning or local funding efforts.
Economic development professionals frequently point to infrastructure readiness as one of the most significant factors influencing where businesses choose to invest. Communities that prepare industrial land with reliable utilities often have a stronger ability to attract new companies and support local job creation.
In Grants Pass, the Spalding Industrial Park has long been viewed as a cornerstone of that strategy.
Located within the city’s designated industrial growth area, the park offers space intended for employment-based uses that support the local and regional economy. Ensuring that all parcels within the park have access to municipal utilities has been a continuing objective for city planners and economic development advocates.
The wastewater infrastructure expansion represents a key step toward completing that vision.
Before construction can begin, the funding package must receive final authorization through the signature of Oregon Governor Tina Kotek. Once approved, the City of Grants Pass will be able to proceed with engineering work, project planning, and eventual construction of the new sewer line and pump station.
When completed, the project is expected to open the door for future industrial development across the remaining areas of the Spalding Industrial Park, strengthening the city’s capacity to accommodate new businesses while reinforcing its role as a regional economic center in Southern Oregon.