Focused on the Future

A letter from Port Commission President Heather Gehring

We have reached the time of year where the days are shorter and I want to slow down and cuddle up on the sofa with a blanket and a book. But the Port of Hood River does not have the luxury of slowing down! With the constant need to improve and advance our mission, we remain alert for exciting prospects and ideas while navigating and finding solutions for problems and challenges. In my new role as Port Commission President, I am excited to help lead the Commission into a new season of economic growth, innovation and continued community engagement.

I’m sure a lot of you have a feeling of distrust with The Port. I get it. But I can honestly tell you that we are working hard to gain your trust! This board of Commissioners and the paid staff they support are your friends and neighbors, working to make this part of our community better in every way we can. We are doing our best to show you complete transparency with open doors and clear communication. We have heard your concerns and complaints (some more colorful than others) and are responding to them as efficiently as we can. If you don’t hear back immediately, please be patient. Our staff is limited and doing their best to serve you.

If you haven’t heard, there are some exciting new projects in the works at the Port. One being the possibility to sell the Lower Hanel Mill property to Amazon, a sale that will create a local distribution hub and create 100 new jobs in the valley. These jobs provide good wages and benefits, and the business is a great use of industrial zoned land for our community’s economic gain.

Another undertaking has been the matching of small businesses with the open spaces available in The Port’s commercial buildings. For example, The Port’s Big 7 building has been used to address the shortage of small artist studio spaces. A group of local artists have worked together to create a collective studio and community space in the Port’s Big 7 building.

Waterfront recreation continues to grow, with the Port seeing record numbers of visitors each summer and no significant “off-season” with increasing year-round visitation. Waterfront recreators are launching kayaks, SUPs, wing foils, kiteboards, and windsurfers from multiple launch sites along the water. The Port is working hard to maintain these busy areas with a new leaner budget. The bridge tolls are phasing out of the Port’s operating costs fully in 2026, and as much as we all hate to pay for parking, it is one of the ways the Port fills in the funding gap to maintain these busy areas. But parking fees don’t fund these areas fully. We will need new revenue generators as the popularity of these spaces only grows.

The Port of Hood River is preparing an updated Strategic Business Plan which directs the future planning, development, and focus of the Port for the next 5 years. This plan is critically dependent on input from our community. The next five years for the Port are pivotal. As our bridge comes to the end of its serviceable life, what does the future of the Port of Hood River look like? How can we create sustainable economic growth? Is there still a role for the Port of Hood River in our community? The Port will be hosting public events and open houses as well as sending surveys to gather data to help the Commission choose the right focus for the Port in all areas. Please watch for these and give us your input! We want to hear from you!

Thank you for allowing me to serve my community in this role. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Heather

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