Brand Story – The Port’s five-year strategy unlocks new business opportunities that diversify its economy and strengthen its community.
Cascade Locks is hard to put in a box—historically industrial, breathtakingly beautiful and, until recently, a bit stuck. After multiple unsuccessful attempts at bringing large employers to the small Columbia Gorge town, the local economic development team realized it was time for a paradigm shift. With elections bringing new energy and ideas to the City Council and the Port Commission, the community reassessed its priorities, from industry to recreation to small business diversification. Now, the Port is working toward a renewed vision of Cascade Locks as both a launchpad for outdoor adventure and an exceptional place to call home.
In many ways, the Port Commission’s new five-year strategy leans into what visitors and residents already treasure about Cascade Locks, OR: a tightknit community, lively event calendar, growing number of breweries and eateries, and prime location with abundant water and trail access.
“Livability is now our goal, and a holistic approach based on community partnerships is our method,” says Brad Lorang, port commission president. “We are trying to foster synergies to encourage private investment and leverage our public assets for the benefit of all who live here.”
This economic redirection lets the team adopt an entrepreneurial approach to port management, leveraging its new economic development grant program, business incubation facility, strategic property management and allocation, and public-private partnerships. Enthusiastic support from regional, state and federal agencies has ensured significant funding and technical expertise.
Partnering with entrepreneurs and businesses to diversify and revitalize the historic downtown
“We’re now focused on diversification and working with small businesses, instead of putting all of our eggs in one basket by going after a giant project,” explains Jeremiah Blue, executive director, Port of Cascade Locks.
For example, the Port is no longer pursuing a new single tenant to occupy Flex 6, its vacant 43,000-square-foot industrial building, which would result in few jobs but increased truck traffic. Instead, it actively works with current industrial park tenants to understand and meet their operational and expansion needs. Simultaneously, it seeks to partner with service providers and innovators of all sectors, including food and beverage, retail, art, fabrication, medical services and beyond.
“It’s exciting that we’re really open to all ideas, and we’re currently talking to as many people as possible, including some well-known breweries, and gathering everybody’s vision for Cascade Locks,” Blue continues.
Beyond attracting new endeavors, the Port also supports established businesses that are beloved by residents and crucial to the town’s fabric. It engages in public-private partnerships to assist companies on a case-by-case basis, all part of a larger mission to revitalize the downtown.
“We recently were able to assist in securing a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express for the Cascade Locks Ale House, one of our oldest businesses run by a great community member,” Blue says. “ We helped secure a $50,000 grant, thanks to the efforts of our administrative team and grant specialist, for streetside façade improvements. These businesses are led by hardworking individuals, and we’re committed to supporting their swift and meaningful progress.”
The Port plans to continue helping its tenants and other local businesses secure funding, like the recent Business Oregon awards given to Landmass Wines and Son of Man Cidery.
To attract and further support new business, the Port of Cascade Locks offers its waterfront incubation space, originally home to Thunder Island Brewing, which has since expanded, moving downtown after purchasing a much larger property from the Port.
Pair that with nearby Gorges Beer Co. and Cascade Locks has established itself as a respectable beer destination with an off-the-beaten-path feel despite its convenient location for en route visitors and outdoor adventurers.
Dynamic, year-round event calendar and a growing community
Today, the incubator space houses the Gorge Canoe Club, equipped with a small gym that quickly became a local hangout.
“The Canoe Club’s activities help to grow Cascade Locks’ profile as an outrigger canoeing destination and they are terrific volunteer partners for community clean-up days, life-jacket loaner stations and water safety,” Blue notes. “On Thursday nights, they bring canoes out and anyone can come down and enjoy them. The incubator concept is working, and we’ll likely expand it to other properties.”
Aside from its weekly happenings, including Wednesday night live music at Thunder Island Brewing, Cascade Locks attracts significant crowds to its annual events, with exciting new additions in the pipeline.
Its Bridge of the Gods run lets people of all ages and fitness levels enjoy the scenery, with unforgettable half-marathon, 10K, 5K and kids’ routes that take participants high above the gorge. The weekend also features the Thunder Island Twilight Music Festival.
Also in summer, the popular two-day Pacific Crest Trail Days festival draws roughly 3,500 visitors per day. It celebrates outdoor recreation and stewardship with music and vendors offering food, drinks and gear, as well as overnight camping.
Reimagine a future based on livability
As the team reassesses and potentially rezones its industrial land, the gorge’s camping options may soon expand, with the possibility of a Port-operated RV park and campground currently under serious consideration. Its location on the east side of town would place it close to the renowned EasyCLIMB mountain-biking trail and a new six-mile trail loop constructed in partnership with the Northwest Trail Alliance, the US Forest Service and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.
With a prime location in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area—among national forests, dramatic Benson Plateau cliffs and nearby waterfalls—the Port plans to prioritize useable green spaces over factory development.
As owners of residential, commercial and industrial properties, the Port recognizes its responsibility to develop those spaces in ways that support the community for the long term, such as the creation of workforce housing.
“We’ve even gotten involved with childcare,” Blue elaborates. “That’s something that young families obviously need, and we’re very close to having that. We want to support the development of these services for our residents through public-private partnerships and deliberate collaboration in planning.”
While the Port of Cascade Locks views its next steps through the lens of outdoor recreation and community wellbeing, it also celebrates and preserves the city’s history.
“Even though we’re not a mill town anymore, that will always be a part of our identity. Our vision isn’t just based on fresh and new infrastructure,” Blue concludes. “We want to highlight the natural beauty of this place, revitalize historical structures, support established businesses and then share all of it with visitors in an accessible way.”
Momentum is building in Cascade Locks.
For a business development tour with the Port of Cascade Locks, please contact:
Jeremiah Blue
[email protected]
(541) 436-2539
Brand stories are paid content articles that allow Oregon Business advertisers to share news about their organizations and engage with readers on business and public policy issues. The stories are produced in house by the Oregon Business marketing department. For more information, contact associate publisher Courtney Kutzman.
