The annual Columbia Gorge Economic Symposium hosted by Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD) took place on November 1, 2019 at the Fort Dalles Readiness Center. Presentations from the keynote speaker, regional economists and MCEDD’s Executive Director, Amanda Hoey, are available here.
This year the annual, half –day event included a focus on 50 years of economic opportunity in the Gorge in celebration of MCEDD’s 50th Anniversary. David Anderson, the CEO of NW Natural, served as the event’s keynote speaker. Barbara Briggs moderated a panel of local business leaders from key industries in the Gorge. The panel addressed critical components of the regional economy from the last 50 years and discussed issues to explore to support the next 50 years in the Mid-Columbia. Panelists included:
Paul Jones, WyEast Timber Services
Megan Thompson, Cascade Cherry Growers/Sage Fruit Company
Jeanne Carver, Imperial Stock Ranch
Rudy Kellner, pFriem Family Brewers
David Windsor, Cardinal Glass Industries, Inc.
Mike Graham, Real Carbon
Nicole Bassett, The Renewal Workshop
Regional economists Scott Bailey (Washington) and Dallas Fridley (Oregon) took a look at economic and employment trends at the regional and county level, covering Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Klickitat and Skamania counties.
The 2020 Columbia Gorge Economic Symposium is slated for Friday, November 6th.