Jessica Garza, a Journal of Business 2023 Rising Star, has been selected as the economic development director for the Port of Pend Oreille, Washington, effective this week. 

The Port of Pend Oreille, doing business as Pend Oreille Valley Railroad, is a special-purpose municipal government located in Usk, Washington, which is about 50 miles north of downtown Spokane. The organization was selected by the Pend Oreille County Board of Commissioners to serve as the county’s associate development organization to help further the region’s economic development goals. 

Garza says she looks forward to her new role and helping increase tourism and a social media presence for the businesses in the area.  

“It’s a beautiful place … but it has a distinct lack of tourism,” Garza says. “It’s very well known as the drive-through-to-Priest Lake area. The goal is to get people to stop and appreciate what’s (in Pend Oreille County) and encourage people to visit there specifically.” 

Garza was highlighted in the Journal for her agritourism business on her family’s 1,200-acre property, Moose Valley Ranch, where she has found success promoting events such as weddings, photoshoots, and snowshoe elopements, among other services.

Also, Garza created a rural chamber of commerce dubbed Gather in the community of Springdale, Washington, in Stevens County, about 40 miles northeast of downtown Spokane. At Gather events, women who run agricultural and retail businesses congregate to offer support, community, and connection, Garza told the Journal in her Rising Star profile.

The new full-time role also functions as a transition for Garza, who has been a police officer for the city of Newport, Washington, for the past decade in addition to her roles with the family ranch. 

Kelly Driver, executive director for the Port of Pend Oreille, says Garza was selected from 13 candidates. The position, which has been vacant since May, will be funded by the Washington state Department of Commerce, as well as sales and use tax funding from the Port of Pend Oreille, Driver says.