Port debates added support for cruise line impact study

Port of Lewiston Commissioner Jerry Klemm, and the CEO of Valley Vision, Karl Dye, attended last Thursday’s Port of Whitman County commissioner’s meeting.

Last November, Commissioner Klemm visited to request, on behalf of the Port of Clarkston, a pledge of financial support for an economic study to find and understand the economic benefits of the cruise boat industry to the region. For this study, the ports of Lewiston and Clarkston are seeking a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration. The ports are preparing for the grant in part by collecting pledges for a match. With the projects estimated total being $100,000, the ports are aiming for $50,000 for a 50/50 match.

At that time, the Port of Whitman pledged $1,000 for the study, feeling the need to support a study that will help keep the dams in use and the river open.

When reviewed recently, the ports and collaborators discovered they were $2,000 short of their goal.

Klemm and Dye attended the Port of Whitman’s meeting to request the port act as a stopgap so they could write the grant proposal immediately while still seeking financial backing from other groups and private businesses.

“We do have some outstanding, but none of it’s guaranteed. We don’t know if that’s going to bear fruit or not. But we’d like to get that sent in right away,” said Klemm.

“The pledges wouldn’t need to be actual financial contribution until the grant is awarded and until we get the federal money,” said Dye. “As we continue to work on local fundraising, as we get other dollars in, we can be flexible with the Port of Whitman.”

Dye explained they wanted to apply for the grant in March and get it started in the process, but won’t end their search for sponsors. If the Port of Whitman were to make up the difference now, they would balance out what the port here pays, which would be a lot lower than the $3,000 total they were asking.

If the EDA does not award the grant to the study, the Port of Whitman’s pledges wouldn’t be called in.

Commissioner Tom Kammerzell expressed his concerns with two of the biggest beneficiaries of the study, Asotin County and Clarkston’s Chamber who will both receive tax dollars and jobs from the cruise industry, but have not pledged to contribute to the study.

Klemm admitted they don’t expect to see either entity contribute to the study.

“The potential value for the Port of Whitman would involve the continued support for the dams on the lower Snake,” stated Dye addressing Kammerzell’s concerns, continuing that the increase in potential value of the dams could be another possible benefit.

The cruise boat industry on the river has an estimated two million dollar annual benefit to the region.

The purpose for the study would be to provide information and get projections on future growth while the ports in the valley seek additional cruise lines and yacht tours for Columbia and Snake River cruises.

Commissioner Kristine Meyer had a different response.

“For me, it’s not a consideration exclusively of the literal tax dollars or revenue to come into one county or one community versus the other,” said Meyer. “For me, it’s a matter of substantiating the merit of the river as a system.”

The ports of Lewiston and Clarkston are also planning to approach private companies to help support the grant.

From the grant, the ports plan on not only learning how cruise boats affect the region, but also what would be needed to increase that impact. This could include opportunities for restaurants and similar facilities along the bus route from the cruise ships to Spokane where most cruise boat passengers fly out of. They are looking for ways to build stronger connections with the cruise boat companies and create more memorable experiences that could potentially get the cruise boat passengers to stay and spend more time and money in the area longer.

“They want to look at the surrounding regions and then say, ‘is there any economic impact on Whitman County? Is there any economic impact on Idaho County or Lewis County?’ Or surrounding communities that if somebody comes in two days earlier or stays two days later, would they go and do other things because they want to have an experience in the region?” explained Dye.

The Port of Lewiston is already planning to increase its contribution to the study.

Meyer expressed feeling encouraged that the ports are still approaching holdouts for support.

Commissioner John Love stated he wants to see more participation in the valley.

Kammerzell recommended Klemm and Dye gather more support from the valley and return to the Port of Whitman’s next meeting on March 21.

The commissioners were unable to come to a consensus on the matter and decided to visit it again at their next meeting after receiving an updated report at that time.