Port of Columbia Information

The Port of Columbia was formed by vote of the people in 1958. The construction of dams on the Snake River prompted a subcommittee of the local Chamber of Commerce to call for the formation of the district in order to take advantage of new shipping opportunities for agricultural products. As the economy changed over the decades, so did the Port’s work.

See the Port History page for more info.

The constitution of the State of Washington grants broad economic development authority to Port Districts so they can work to create an environment that is attractive to business and industry. The Port of Columbia serves as the lead Economic Development agency for Columbia County, and uses infrastructure development, real estate management, transportation, small business assistance, and community outreach to create such an environment.