The Columbia Press March 25, 2022 Business and development tidbits Fish processing plant to open this summer The Scoular Company was bragging on its Facebook page recently about progress at their fish-processing plant in Warrenton. “We’re excited about the strong progress on the new marine protein and oil pro- cessing facility we’re con- structing,” the company wrote. “We’re building to- ward a mid-2022 startup of the facility, which will upcy- cle waste from the seafood processing industry.” The company, based in Omaha, Neb., launched En- compass last year, a new brand of fishmeal products Scoular Facebook page that will be sold internation- Tanks are being installed inside Scoular’s fish processing plant ally. at the Airport Industrial Park in Warrenton. Tool company hiring at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 31, at its store in the Union- town district, 285 W. Marine Drive, Astoria. An open house will be fol- lowed by a ribbon cutting ceremony at 1 p.m. The store will have a give-away for a silver sword philodendron following. Variegata Exotic Plants is a small family-owned business Funds for home projects that officially opened in early The Warrenton Urban Re- December. It carries a selec- newal Agency has a new res- tion of more than 150 plants, idential improvement grant program. The program is designed to encourage rehabilitation and redevelopment of residential properties within the Urban Renewal District. Grants of up to $10,000 per property are available. For details on the grant program, including eligibility and the district boundaries, visit the city of Warrenton’s website or call City Record- er Dawne Shaw at 503-861- 0823. Harbor Freight Tools, the company intending to move into the former Staples loca- tion in the Warrenton High- lands center, held a job fair this week at the Best Western in Astoria. The company seeks super- visors and front-end employ- ees. The Ensign Lane store is ex- pected to open this summer. New nursery opens Variegata Exotic Plants will hold its grand opening plus pots, macrame hangers and other home accessories. Bridges in the works Clatsop County announced progress on two bridge im- provement projects, the As- bury Creek pedestrian bridge in Arch Cape and the Klas- kanine Bridge in Astoria. Bergeson Construction be- gins work on the Arch Cape project next week; Oregon State Bridge Company starts preliminary site work in As- toria the following week. 5 Two groups seek volunteers Warrenton Senior Meals and the Meals on Wheels program is expected to return soon -- if enough volunteers can be found. The programs were shut down during the pandemic, but had been popular with seniors seek- ing company, low-cost meals, or assistance with meals at home. If you’re able to help in the din- ing room, or with cleanup, deliv- ery, or prep work, contact Lorna Anderson at 503-298-3437. The meal programs will not re- open unless there is an adequate number of volunteers. Meanwhile, the Astoria River- front Trolley’s operations team plans to run the trolley on Fri- days, Saturdays and Sundays for the 2022 season. But they can’t get back on track without conductors and motormen. All volunteers learn the con- ductor’s duties. Those who wish to operate the trolley undergo additional training to become a motorman. Volunteers work one or more three-hour shifts per month. To volunteer, call the Asto- ria-Warrenton Chamber at 503- 325-6311.