The mission of the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD) is to promote the creation of family-wage jobs, the diversification of the economic base, and the growth, development and retention of business and industry in Hood River, Wasco and Sherman Counties in Oregon and Klickitat and Skamania Counties in Washington, all bordering the Columbia River.

MCEDD was established in 1969 by its five member counties who realized that by sharing a common workforce, a common geography and a number of other important factors, their economic fates were tied together. They realized that by joining together they would benefit from better access to economic development loans and grants, pooled technical assistance, marketing, and administrative resources, and most importantly, they would be able to bring a regional approach to their economic development efforts. Over the years MCEDD’s membership has grown to include cities, ports and chambers of commerce within the five county region.