News

Thrive Awarded Housing Coalition Grant

Housing is a fundamental need. It matters for your health, future, family stability, and happiness. In Hood River, we have seen a sharp shift in the economics and dynamics of the community. Hood River is now in the top 1% of most expensive housing markets for rural counties in the United States, with a median listed home price of $493,000, a price that is only affordable to the top 10% of area households and 48% of renters are considered cost burdened. The heart of our community - our workforce, young families, and those on a fixed income - are being priced out. This has affected neighborhoods as streets are dark with second homes, schools have seen declining enrollment, and local businesses and public agencies struggle to fill positions. As our communities' needs have evolved, so has Thrive’s focus and we are thrilled to announce that we have received a grant…

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Parks District Locks in Westside Park

Great news! Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District has entered into a two-year option agreement to purchase 20 acres on Fairview Drive for a future park. For many years, we've considered the property Hood River's last best hope for a sizable community park on the west side of town.
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H is for Harvest October 18

Thrive is gearing up for our 6th annual H is for Harvest Fundraiser and we are excited to take the event online! This year will include a virtual auction AND live streamed event celebrating the Hood River Valley and featuring music from your favorite local artists to support our mission of protecting livability, agriculture, and wild places.
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Kids Bike Contest Winners

Thrive believes that everyone deserves safe places to bike and play. Thanks to the generosity of the community, including everyone who purchased raffle tickets, we are giving out another 6 kids bikes this summer in partnership with Latinos en Acción!
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Mt. Hood Land Trade in Peril

Thrive’s longest running effort is a innovative solution to permanently protect the north side of Mt. Hood, the Crystal Springs watershed and local agriculture. That effort is in jeopardy as Mt. Hood Meadows tries to eat its cake and have it too by retaining land for development at Cooper Spur as well as getting land at Government Camp.
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Deetour Conflict of Interest

On February 12, 2020 the Hood River County Planning Commission held a hearing to consider Thrive Hood River’s appeal of a fourth permit extension for Apollo Land Holding LLC’s Deetour concert venue development. All the Planning Commissioners affirmatively declared that they were qualified to sit in judgment, that they had no biases and no conflicts of interest. The Planning Commission decided against us 4-2. One of the Commissioners denying our appeal was AJ Kitt. A few days after making that decision, we noticed a sign listing Mr. Kitt as the leasing agent for an industrial property owned by Bob Benton in Odell. Mr. Benton is one of the partners of Apollo Land Holdings. Then we learned about another property located at 3061 Odell Highway where Mr. Kitt represents Mr. Benton as the selling agent and finally, we found that Mr. Kitt actually represents Apollo Land Holdings – the applicant in…

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Kids Bike Giveaway

Great news! We're excited to announce that in partnership with Latinos en Acción, and Streets Alive! HR, Thrive has received a grant from Walmart Giving to support getting free bikes to kids who need them in our community.
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2020 E-bike Raffle

May is National Bike month and to get in the spirit Thrive is raffling a $2,199 Scott USA Sub Active eRide electric bike. This bike is so cute and so loaded, we all want one! Hills? What hills? Ebikes are a game changer for Hood River. Part of the proceeds of the raffle will go towards purchasing bikes for kids.
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Primary Election Forum

For the last four years Thrive and Livable Hood River have partnered to host candidate forums for local elections. Since we can't do an in-person event this year, we posed questions to the candidates to give the public an opportunity to learn more about where they stand on important issues.
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