PORT ANGELES — A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the first building of the Port of Port Angeles composite manufacturing “campus” in Port Angeles is set for 3 p.m. Monday.

The complex at 2138 W. 18th St. covers 20 acres of the 120-acre Airport Industrial Park near William R. Fairchild International Airport.

The public is invited to attend the opening of the 25,000-square-foot custom manufacturing space that will house an expansion of Angeles Composite Technologies Inc., or ACTI, which presently uses 75,000 square feet of space adjacent to the newly developed industrial park.

“This is a wonderful new opportunity for our community to offer new family-wage jobs to our local citizens,” said Port Angeles Mayor Cherie Kidd.

The expansion means that ACTI, which now employs about 115 people, can hire between 40 and 50 more, said Mike Rauch, president and chief executive officer of the aerospace manufacturing company that serves commercial and military markets.

“We need to hire 10 people a month for the next four to six months,” he said.

Major contracts are with Boeing, Bombardier Aerospace and Lockheed Martin.

Port officials have said the campus will complement existing port tenants as well as composite manufacturers in the aerospace, marine and alternative-energy fields.

“The strategy of the campus is to invest in a technology that’s cutting edge so I can expand and attract suppliers to this area,” Rauch said.

Ongoing development

Port Executive Director Jeff Robb said the new building is part of a $4.2 million investment at the industrial park.

A second building is under construction at the campus. A third building pad site is available.

“We’re trying to keep a bright light on the economic opportunity we’ve got here,” Robb said.

Between 50 and 70 attended a groundbreaking for the new building in April.

Robb said the turnout for Monday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony will be dependent on the weather.

“If the weather’s in horrible shape, we’ll go inside the building for some conversation and cookies,” he said.

Dignitaries invited

Among those invited to attend are several dignitaries from the city of Port Angeles and Clallam County, as well as Judith Morris, who staffs the Port Angeles office for 6th Congressional District Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Belfair, whose district includes the North Olympic Peninsula.

The port commissioners approved a five-year lease agreement with Angeles Composite Technologies in August.

Westport Shipyard is in other port buildings in the area.

The city of Port Angeles contributed $400,000 in electrical, stormwater and sidewalk infrastructure to help the port develop the area, Kidd said.

“ACTI announced that they wanted to stay in Port Angeles and grow, so we’re grateful for [the company’s] faith and commitment to Port Angeles,” Kidd said.

Said Rauch: “As long as we can get people and facilities, we’re in good shape in Port Angeles.

“It all comes down to facilities and a trained workforce,” he said, and Peninsula College “ is doing a good job addressing” the workforce issue.

Rauch complimented the port, the city, Jefferson County and Peninsula College for investing in composites, saying that the strategy and vision “will allow us all to generate jobs.”

All hiring at ACTI is through WorkSource, Rauch said.

A WorkSource center for both Clallam and Jefferson counties is in Port Angeles at 228 W. First St., Suite A. A Port Hadlock WorkSource affiliate is at 201 W. Pattison St.

For more WorkSource information,visit www.olympicworksource.com or phone 360-457-2103 for the Port Angeles office and 360-379-5036 for the Port Hadlock office.

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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.

Managing Editor/News Leah Leach can be reached at 360-417-3531 or leah.leach@peninsuladailynews.com.