Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority Recognized as the State’s 2021 Port of the Year

The Washington Public Ports Association has selected the Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority as the 2021 Port of the Year out of 75 ports in the state. The Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority formed in 2019 and is the first port in the state to consolidate two counties into one regional port.

"I think primarily the Washington Public Ports awarded us this because the two ports functionally consolidated into one," said Jim Kuntz, Chief Executive Officer. "They saw the political courage of the port commissioners to say there's a better way to run the ports in this region."

The consolidation was prompted by the goal for a more focused economic development effort and cost savings. The regional port serves 120,000 citizens with a combined value of $16.5 billion.