The Port of Vancouver USA and Hawthorne Hydroponics LLC have signed five-year lease for the port’s Centennial Industrial Building (CIB).

The port’s Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the lease at the board’s June 19 meeting.

Hawthorne Hydroponics is a subsidiary of the Hawthorne Company; both are subsidiaries of Scotts Miracle-Gro, a publicly traded company that sells lawn and garden products in the consumer market.

Earlier this month, Scotts Miracle-Gro purchased Sunlight Supply Inc., the first company to locate in the port’s Centennial Industrial Park. CIB – only a few blocks away from Sunlight Supply – provides an ideal location for Hawthorne to consolidate and improve efficiencies for its operations in the region.

“Scotts has spent 150 years helping people express themselves on their piece of earth and we look forward to deepening our relationships here,” said Melanie Vodnick, Manager of Real Estate for Scotts Miracle-Gro.

Hawthorne is leasing 5.6 acres from the port, including all interior space at CIB and surrounding parking and loading areas. Income to the port for the initial five-year lease term will be $3 million plus leasehold excise tax. Hawthorne has the option to extend the lease for two additional, three-year terms beyond the initial five-year term.

The company expects to initially employ at least 50 people at the facility, where employees will manufacture plastic containers and air filters used in a variety of industries, including indoor and urban gardening.

The port worked with CBRE brokers Jake Bigby and Rob McEachern to bring Hawthorne to CIB.

Centennial Industrial Building (CIB) was built to fulfill the port’s mission of economic benefit to its community and realize the vision of the port’s Board of Commissioners. In 2016 the commission decided to invest port funds in CIB, providing a flexible, sustainable facility to support industry and workers in Southwest Washington.

The Hawthorne Gardening Company, is a leading provider of nutrients, lighting and other materials used in the hydroponic growing segment.