Jasper Mountain Reserve, Cantwell visit, and All Wheels Weekend success discussed at EDSC meeting

DAYTON— The Economic Development Steering Committee met for its monthly meeting on July 2, 2024.

Port of Columbia Executive Director Jennie Dickinson presented updates on port business retention, recruitment, and development. Lyons Ferry Marina is transitioning new concessioners with the help of the prior operators, who will stay on through the summer as mentors.

The Jasper Mountain Reserve is open and offers outdoor recreation on the privately owned 330-acre nature reserve. It is open to the public for hiking and camping with day or annual passes.

Jill Essency, the Port Economic Coordinator, said the “Choose Columbia County” campaign had highlighted Moose Creek Café and Bakery, Dumas Starion Winery, and Jasper Mountain Reserve.

Dickinson said she is reviewing seven statements of qualifications for architecture and engineering for the Grain Business Cluster at Blue Mountain Station. She described the vision for the grain cluster continues to take shape as the port meets with interested partners. Dickinson said a bakery and legume milling is the direction that seems to fit the growers and partners at this time.

Essency said Quarterly Connections, Dayton’s quarterly networking hour held on June 6, 2024, was successful. Representatives from Pacific Power, Columbia REA, and the USDA discussed energy efficiency upgrade incentives.

Dickinson reported on behalf of the Dayton Chamber. She said the All Wheels Weekend had been successful, with 300 cars and a large turnout in attendance.

She said the owners of Locally Nourished purchased their building on Main Street and received a grant to fix the front windows.

Danielle Garbe Reser, CEO of Blue Mountain Action Council is under contract to purchase the Knoblock Apartments. She said BMAC owns 18 properties with 162 rental units in Walla Walla.

Shane McGuire said the fourth cottage at River’s Walk has opened. The facility’s cottage design contained a recent COVID outbreak to a single cottage. He said Senator Cantwell toured Rosemary’s Place on June 26, 2024. The senator had secured $413,000 in federal funds for the Columbia County Health System to renovate a section of the Booker Rest Home, vacated after the River’s Walk Cottages opened, to open the childcare facility.

The Columbia County report was given by Jack Miller and Dena Martin. Miller said he had been in contact with a farm outlet store interested in locating in Datyton.

Dayton Public Works Director Ryan Paulsen said the city had purchased and reopened the public restrooms on Main Street near the river trail. He gave a status report on the wastewater treatment plant, which is still looking at purchasing land for the project. The city is talking with potential property owners now that it has determined the plant needs less land than previously planned for.

The next meeting was August 6, 2024.