By SUE RYAN
News staff writer
April 14, 2007

The first public hearing for a legislative bill that would benefit the Port of Hood River took place Thursday in Salem.

The committee on Business, Transportation and Workforce Development sponsored Senate Bill 1027 for the Hood River Waterfront Employment Project Fund at the request of the port.

In the bill the port asked that $2 million in lottery bonds be directed toward development on the Hood River waterfront.

“In order to facilitate development there needs to be significant infrastructure investment,” said Michael McElwee, the port’s executive director.

He said, as an example, that Portway and Frontage roads need significant upgrades. The port wants, as much as possible, to separate truck traffic for industrial use from recreational traffic.

“We’re focused on the industrial core,” he said. “That is important from the commission’s standpoint.”

McElwee said by developing infrastructure, the port will be able to develop business to provide Hood River with more jobs.

“The infrastructure will help different businesses to co-exist well,” he said. According to the bill’s wording, “The port would use the requested monies for design, construction, installation, financing and procurement of improvements or equipment to construct or reconstruct one or more commercial buildings” on property they own.

McElwee, Hood River County Economic Development Director Bill Fashing and Hood River Juice Company owner David Ryan testified at Thursday’s hearing before the Business, Transportation and Workforce Committee. “If we can get some assistance from the state in this manner, it would expedite the process,” Fashing said.

The funds would be administered through the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department.

The setup would have the project fund established separate from the general fund and the monies would be appropriated to the state department.