Chelan-Douglas port authority presents regional economic plan to Leavenworth council

Jim Kool, identified in the meeting as CEO of the Chelan-Douglas Regional Port Authority, presented the port's draft regional economic development plan to the Leavenworth City Council on May 12. Kool described the plan's core pillars — small-business development, business retention and expansion, business recruitment, and site and infrastructure development — and asked Leavenworth to send a list of its top projects for inclusion.

Kool said the port is backing small-business incubators and counseling programs and highlighted recent local investments. "We are the major funder of the WSU Small Business Development Center," he said, describing free one-on-one counseling for entrepreneurs across the two-county region. He also reviewed an incubator project near Bangor Airport that opened with 12 small business suites and is sold out; the port expects a phase two that would double capacity.

To bolster air service, Kool said the port secured a revenue guarantee and grant support. "We guaranteed a revenue guarantee of $1,100,000 over the next 2 years," he said, adding the port received a federal grant of $750,000 and community contributions of roughly $400,000 to support the service commitment. Kool mentioned a recent large private-sector project the port helped facilitate: "Our biggest one recently was the Microsoft" data-center-related effort, which the port said involved land acquisition to attract major investment.

Kool asked cities to supply their top five projects so the port can list them in the regional plan, noting that projects listed in county comprehensive plans are more likely to qualify for some state and federal grants. "If we could get them in the next 45 days, that'd be great," he told the council.

Council members asked about a potential Forest Service parcel in town and whether it could be repurposed for local industrial or small-business use; Kool said he had previously met with the Forest Service, would reengage, and acknowledged the process is lengthy.

Why it matters: The port's plan frames where regional public funding and grant-readiness efforts may focus and signals opportunities for small communities such as Leavenworth to obtain modest project matches, incubator space, or support for site-preparation in pursuit of business retention and recruitment. The port also indicated limited municipal grant funding (about $75,000 for municipal partners) is available to help local projects advance.

Next steps: Kool invited the city to share its project priorities and said port staff will work with Leavenworth's city administrator and mayor to explore alignment and potential partnerships.