The decision to bring back Showcase Grays Harbor proved to be a positive one as over 100 community members from across the county joined Greater Grays Harbor Inc.’s (GGHI) exclusive tour of South Beach. The day-long event took place on Friday, September 15, 2023 and marked the return of the GGHI Signature Event after a six year hiatus.
The day began with breakfast and opening remarks at the Bishop Center for Performing Arts where Grays Harbor College President, Dr. Carli Schiffner and GGHI CEO, Lynnette Buffington addressd the crowd. Participants then boarded four buses provided by Grays Harbor Transit before driving to the coast.
Upon arrival the groups toured the Port of Grays Harbor’s Westport Marina, explored the Westport Maritime Museum, heard stories and history from the Westport South Beach Historical Society and enjoyed an incredible seafood sampling spread courtesy of WEfish and Westport’s Fresh Catch. Attendees also heard firsthand accounts from local fishing families on their industry, learned how to suit up in a survival suit, and had free time to patronize businesses on the Marina before enjoying lunch from Aloha Alabama BBQ at the Westport VFW.
During lunch, presentations were given by Westport City Administrator, Kevin Goodrich and representatives from Westport Golf Links on the proposed golf course in the city. After lunch, the afternoon was filled with exclusive tours of the U.S. Coast Guard Station Grays Harbor as well as Ocean Companies’ landing dock and processing facility.
After the event concluded, GGHI gathered feedback from the participants on where they would like to see Showcase tour in the future as well as their overall thoughts on the day. One participant responded, “What a wonderful experience getting insight on the businesses that make Westport such a great city. This tour provided an up-close view of the evolution that has and is occurring in Grays Harbor.” Another Showcase attendee responded, “This was a great experience to meet many other like-minded business owners and operators, each as passionate as I am. It was very cool to see the fish processing plant and how that operates.”
“It was a pleasure to bring back Showcase Grays Harbor,” expressed Buffington. “The team at GGHI worked hard to deliver a unique experience that highlighted the strengths of Westport and its industries, but also the tourism assets of the region. We are so thankful to our partners in Westport – they truly made the day a success.”
GGHI would like to thank the 26 sponsors, volunteers and everyone who played a part in the return of Showcase Grays Harbor. Photos from the event can be found on GGHI’s Facebook page or requested from knorvell@graysharbor.org. Click here to learn more about GGHI’s Signature Events.