The Mid-Columbia Economic Development District has finished the regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy update for 2023.  The report, which MCEDD updates annually, provides a framework to support economic vitality for the Mid-Columbia region, which includes Klickitat and Skamania Counties in Washington and Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman Counties in Oregon.  The strategy includes analysis of regional economic data, establishes regional goals and strategies, develops an implementation plan, and identifies investment priorities and funding sources.  This year’s plan provides an updated regional project priority list, one for each state.  In Oregon, this list is topped by replacement of the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge and strengthening of the Bridge of the Gods, housing issues, and the effort to establish a Columbia Gorge Child Care Center spearheaded by the Columbia Gorge Educational Service District.  The top three in Washington are the Goldendale Energy Storage Project, the Port of Skamania’s Cascades Business Park Development, and Stevenson’s Cascade Avenue improvements.