CASCADE LOCKS — Fostering economic growth through tourism and recreation, planned use of port assets and modernizing internal operations are the goals for the Port of Cascade Locks over the next five years, according to the port's updated strategic business plan adopted by port commissioners on June 18, their final meeting of the year.
The plan is “a blueprint for Cascade Locks' port planning and will guide our work for the next five years,” Moss Adams consultant Annie Faidley said. Central to the plan is Cascade Locks' status as a “renowned recreational destination,” with an economy driven primarily by tourism and recreation. Key industries include retail, arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services.
A public survey of the completed plans garnered 23 responses from area residents, most of them positive, with some stating, “I won't believe it until I see it,” Faidley told the commissioners. Twenty-three respondents is a pretty solid number for this type of survey, explained fellow consultant Jesse Lenhart.
The Moss Adams Consulting team worked with port leadership and staff, as well as Cascade Locks businesses and residents, to help develop the plan, which garnered feedback from commissioners and a positive review from Oregon Business Development (OBDD).
The port's mission is to promote economic growth, recreation and tourism “through partnerships, community care and the preservation of the Bridge of the Gods,” Faidley explained. Maintaining the Bridge of the Gods is a big part of it: The port has already received $6 million in Congress this year to investigate possible seismic reinforcements, pedestrian walkways and other repairs and improvements.
The plan calls for $6 million in renovations over the next three years, plus an additional $90 million in major improvements and preservation over the next 15 years.
Support for downtown revitalization and local housing development, development of a land use strategy and management plan for the port's financial assets and real estate are also included in the updated plan, which is being funded with a grant from Business Oregon.
The plan was adopted unanimously, and commissioners discussed one of its objectives, which was to finalize a new grant fund and the many grants that commissioners themselves can apply for to fund the plan's goals and projects.
The Port Authority has a $260,000 grant, of which $110,000 has already been awarded to the City of Cascade Locks as local matching funds for federally funded upgrades to the city's electrical system. There is $150,000 available for award within the Port Authority district. “This is not a charitable donation. This is a loan agreement. It has a purpose,” said Deputy Executive Director Genevieve Scholl.
The port is governed by Oregon state law that dictates how the funds can be spent. Charitable donations are not allowed, but grant money can be used for economic development. Grant recipients must prove their projects will benefit economic development in Cascade Locks.
“I don't think there's any other port in the canyon that has a grant program, so this is something that's unique to our port,” Scholl said.
“Once you launch this program, I believe other ports will follow suit,” Executive Director Jeremiah Blue added. The grants allow for a fair and transparent allocation of port funding, something other ports have difficulty doing, Blue noted.
Commissioners discussed the grant requirements at length, but no final decision was made.
The Port Authority is uniquely able to apply for grants that other government or nonprofit organizations cannot, and “because we're a special district local government and an economic development entity, the funding available to us is very diverse,” Scholl told commissioners.
She's seeking grant funding for projects listed in several local community-adopted plans that make them eligible for state and federal funding. The entire port staff will be working on the grant funding, but Scholl said, “The reality is, it's incredibly expensive to get grant funding, so we really need to take advantage.”
Commissioners expressed the sentiment that the three-hour meeting was a historic night for the port.
“I feel like we'll be able to look back years from now and say tonight was a turning point for the Port of Cascade Locks,” Commissioner Albert Nance said.
During the public comment period, commissioners heard an update on the Main Street Program from Cascade Locks City Councilwoman Denise Emmerling Baker, who said the city's program has achieved partnership status, making it eligible for larger grant funding, and is meeting regularly to plan projects for the downtown Main Street area.
Government relations consultant Dan Marr briefed commissioners on the possibility of funding being awarded for Bridge of the Gods during the 2025 legislative session and the process that could take years to get federal funding for the project. The Port Authority had not immediately decided whether it would seek an additional $6 million in funding from the Washington state side to match Oregon's funding, but Marr said if it does, “all is well and good.”
In other news, the Port approved the following:
Letter of support for the Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Authority's funding request.
An update to the employee handbook, which was last changed in the early 2000s and will change several employee policies.
Ratification of a bill for $587,313.90.
Approval for June 4, 2024, total salary of $41,449.47.
