City, Port advance plans for new Anacortes event center
August 12, 2025 | News
ANACORTES, WA—The City of Anacortes and Port of Anacortes will hold a joint public meeting at 4 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 18, to consider adopting two new interlocal agreements (ILAs) that would move forward the next phase of planning for a new event center in Anacortes.
The meeting will be held in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 904 Sixth St., Anacortes. Community members are welcome to attend and provide comment. Comments may also be submitted to the City and Port by mail or email.
The proposed ILAs being presented on Aug. 18 outline how the City and Port will continue working together to complete the design, pursue funding, and manage future construction and operations of the facility. The event center is planned for the corner of Ninth Street and R Avenue, within the Port’s West Basin redevelopment area.
“This project reflects our commitment to building community spaces that support events, bring people together and strengthen our local economy,” said Mayor Matt Miller. “It’s exciting to take another step forward in partnership with the Port to bring this long-standing vision closer to reality.”
The City and Port signed an initial ILA in March 2024 to begin exploring design concepts and potential funding strategies. Since then, the agencies have developed an early conceptual design and worked closely to review options, engage the community, and used the community’s input to define the desired features of the facility.
“This is a significant opportunity to invest in something that will drive jobs and economic vitality for Anacortes for years to come,” said Port Executive Director John Dumas. “We’re laying the groundwork for a space that can attract events, draw visitors, and boost activity for our downtown and waterfront.”
The City and Port expect to continue working together on design through 2025 and 2026, which includes continuing to share information and receive input from the community. Construction could begin as early as 2027, depending on funding and how far along design is.
The City and Port are leaving no stone unturned to secure funding, and anticipate using city lodging tax revenue, state funding, and grants to fund the project.