Editing Centralia, Washington (section)

==Economy and employment==
Founded as a railroad town, Centralia's economy was originally dependent on such industries as railroads and timber,<ref name="POCIC"/> as well as coal and agriculture. At one time, five railroad lines crossed in Centralia, including the [[Union Pacific Railroad]], [[Northern Pacific Railway]], [[Milwaukee Road]], [[Great Northern Railway (U.S.)|Great Northern Railroad]] and a short line.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

The explosion of [[Mount St. Helens]] on May 18, 1980, devastated the local lumber industry, as 12 million board feet of stockpiled lumber and 4 billion board feet of salable timber was damaged or destroyed.<ref>https://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/msh/impact {{dead link|date=February 2017}}</ref> Unemployment surged to double digits, and the town lost most of its retail base.<ref>{{Cite web|title=MSH Impact and aftermath [USGS]|url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/msh/impact.html|access-date=July 16, 2021|website=pubs.usgs.gov}}</ref>

In 1988, [[London Fog (company)|London Fog]] opened the first [[factory outlet]] store in the Northwest, choosing the location because it was the midpoint between major northwest cities. Their success spawned the region's first factory [[outlet center]], creating a tourist shopping destination. This led in turn to the redevelopment of the vintage downtown marketplace as an antique, art and specialty store destination.<ref name="DBI">{{cite news |last1=Alexander |first1=Antoinette |title=Doing Business in ... Centralia and Chehalis |url=https://www.southsoundbiz.com/profiles/doing-business-in-centralia-and-chehalis/article_60a33720-7757-11ed-967e-13b11f905537.html |access-date=September 5, 2023 |work=South Sound Business |date=December 12, 2022}}</ref>

The Port of Centralia, created in 1986 and located northwest of the city center near [[Fords Prairie]], is a complex of industrial and mixed-use economic development in the municipality.<ref name="DBI"/> Developed during the 1980s decline of the city's dependable lumber-based economy, the port began constructing its base of operations in 1988 and the first tenant arrived in 1990. It won an award for port of the year in 1994 and became part of a [[Foreign-trade zones of the United States|foreign-trade zone]] in conjunction with other local counties in western Washington. The port expanded into a second phase in 2003. {{As of|2016}}, the Port of Centralia is composed of a mix of three zones with 30 tenants that employed 800 people.<ref name="POCIC"/>

Chehalis Mints was founded in the city in 1994 and produces various mint and mint chocolate candies, with a specialty in butter mints. The company's products are sold primarily in the Pacific Northwest.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bryan |first1=Saint |title=Mint condition: Washington state leads the nation in mint oil production |url=https://www.king5.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/evening/mint-condition-washington-state-leads-the-nation-in-mint-oil-production/281-a1e23b61-f9ff-40e5-8f48-9469dd3270fe |access-date=November 27, 2022 |work=King5 News |date=July 8, 2021}}</ref>

As extractive industries faced decline, Centralia's development refocused on freeway oriented food, lodging, retail and tourism, as well as regional shipping and warehousing facilities, leading to 60 percent growth in population since the 1980s.{{when|date=February 2020}}{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} Additional development of regional distribution and transportation facilities, along with in-migration from retirees from more populated counties to the north, have helped diversify the economy, though unemployment remains stubbornly high and per-capita income well below the state average.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

===TransAlta Coal Mine and Power Plant===
On November 28, 2006, it was announced that [[TransAlta]], the largest employer in Centralia and operator of the [[Centralia Coal Mine]] and [[Centralia Power Plant]], would eliminate over 550 coal mining jobs; the coal mine was the last operational mine in the state. The mine, which spread over {{convert|14,000|acre|ha}}, had been owned by TransAlta since 2000. The company offered land donations to the city, as well as financial contributions to the local community to offset economic losses, in the wake of the closure.<ref name="SLCMS">{{cite news |last1=Bernton |first1=Hal |title=State's last coal mine shuts; Centralia hit hard |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/states-last-coal-mine-shuts-centralia-hit-hard/ |access-date=April 11, 2024 |work=The Seattle Times |date=December 1, 2006}}</ref> Despite fears that the city would suffer economically from the closure,<ref name="SLCMS"/> there was little noticeable economic effect upon the City of Centralia as a result. Data indicated that Centralia was experiencing growth both in its light industrial areas as well as its core business district, the historic downtown Centralia.<ref>Boone, Rolf. [https://archive.today/20140913224159/http://www.theolympian.com/business/story/109419.html ''Unemployment claims dropped more than 300 from peak, report says'']. The Olympian. May 17, 2007.</ref> The mine has since undergone a reclamation to fill, regrade, dredge water sources, and plant new trees. {{As of|2023}}, half of the reclamation project was considered complete. The site has been determined as a potential recreation area once the recovery processes are complete.<ref name="LCCB">{{cite news |last1=Geraldo |first1=Renata |title=Lewis County's Centralia bets on clean energy as coal economy fades |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/lewis-countys-centralia-bets-on-clean-energy-as-coal-economy-fades/ |access-date=July 20, 2023 |work=The Seattle Times |date=May 30, 2023}}</ref> During the mine's opening, {{convert|160000000|t|st}} of coal were extracted and used at the plant.<ref name="NPRSL">{{cite news |last1=McDonald |first1=Julie |title=NPR shines national spotlight on Centralia and TransAlta |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/julie-mcdonald-npr-shines-national-spotlight-on-centralia-and-transalta,339814#google_vignette |access-date=June 10, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=May 6, 2024}}</ref>

The power plant, completed in two unit stages in the early 1970s and owned by TransAlta since 2000, is Washington state's last energy factory powered by coal. At its peak, it generated energy ample enough to power [[Los Angeles]]. The plant is situated on {{convert|11,000|acre|ha}} and is expected to permanently close in 2025 based on an agreement reached with the state in 2011.  The first phase of the shutdown was completed in 2020. The energy produced until its closure is used by [[Puget Sound Energy]] (PSE) and according to 2022 figures, 14.5% of PSE's electric load came from the TransAlta coal plant, enough to supply power to 300,000 homes. Future plans include the operating of several [[green energy]] facilities, including generating power via hydrogen and fusion, and the decommissioning of the Centralia Coal Mine is expected to incorporate renewable energy machinery as the coal plant closes.<ref name="LCCB"/> 

During the closures, TransAlta created a $20 million fund for training and educational work programs for remaining employees of the plant.<ref name="LCCB"/> Part of a larger Centralia Coal Transition Grants initiative, other grants include millions for energy efficiency and technology for nearby communities and schools. The land at the site has slowly been reclaimed for public and commercial use, including the planting of trees and maintaining wetland areas.<ref name="NPRSL"/>