Economic Development Project Manager
Port of Vancouver USA
Jim Hagar, has served as Economic Development Project Manager for the Port of Vancouver USA for the past seven years. In that time Jim has worked on a variety of transportation related issues for the port, serving on the Regional Metropolitan Planning Organizations Technical Advisory Committee, representing the port as the Project Coordination lead with the US Army Corps of Engineers on maintaining the 105 mile, 43-foot deep draft channel to the port, and working with various DOTs to smooth the path for multiple wind energy projects coming through the port. Jim also serves as the Administrator for the ports Foreign Trade Zone.
His work at the port also included assisting in the development of over $8 million in successful grant applications for various port projects and he successfully lobbied the Washington State Legislature for legislation in 2021 that allowed the USACE to dredge the channel without having to get state shoreline permits. He has advocated on other issues for the port with the Washington state legislature, and worked with CAGTC on lobbying efforts for national infrastructure funding for the past 5 years.
Prior to joining the port Jim worked for 13 years at HDR Engineering, serving as a consultant on the Oregon Department of Transportations $1.8 billion OTIA III project which repaired or replaced 365 bridges on the Interstate highway and on state highway system in Oregon.
Jim has a Bachelors in Communication and a Masters in Public Administration from Idaho State University. He has also been a Certified Economic Development Professional through the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) for the past 21-years.