Journal of Business - December 2021 by Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business/Senior Times

CELEBRATING

December 2021 Volume 20 | Issue 12

YEARS

Funding cut kills The Nineteen, luxe Kennewick project By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

Energy

Richland improves metering efficiency, renewable energy use Page A15

Business Profile

Music store knows learning how to play makes life more fun Page A44

Real Estate & Construction

Developer plans to end north Richland’s coffee desert Page B1

NOTEWORTHY “The leisure traveler has been the main driver in our 2021 passenger numbers.” -Buck Taft, manager, Tri-Cities Airport.

Page A35

A Tri-City developer has shelved The Nineteen, a luxury office-and-apartment project planned for downtown Kennewick, after a key lender cut funding by more than two-thirds. Andrew Klein and Brian Griffith, operating as Klein Griffith Properties Group, said the project was “effectively killed” in October when the Hanford Area Economic Investment Fund Advisory Committee reduced its $1.1 million loan to $345,000, citing a “change in scope” for the project behind Washington Hardware. “The HAEIF Advisory Committee’s decision to renege on their loan commitment to our project effectively killed The Nineteen and has prevented it from moving forward. Their later than 11 o’clock decision to hold a special meeting, with notice that failed to meet even HAEIF’s bylaws, made recovery from their action nearly impossible, and we have suffered considerable loss and damages as a result,” Griffith said in a written statement in response to an inquiry by the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business. Klein and Griffith intended to break ground in June 2021 after securing a $9.7 million agreement with New York-based ICON Realty Capital and the HAEIF loan. HAEIF’s money was the “linchpin,” Griffith said. Without it, the groundbreaking didn’t happen and the building permit expired. The developers could apply for a new permit, but the project would have to be redesigned to comply with new building codes adopted in the interim. The new codes and design fees would add too much cost to the project. Griffith described it as being “mothballed.” It could be revived in the future. In the interim, the building that was to be demolished to make way for The Nineteen will be rehabilitated and marketed to retail tenants. It has about five usable spaces. “Downtown Kennewick continues to see uTHE NINETEEN, Page A4

Photo by Wendy Culverwell Amelia Kittson and her father Gus Kittson stand inside KIE Supply Corp., which started in downtown Kennewick in 1955. It has expanded over the years to carry irrigation, plumbing, electrical, decorative lighting, bathroom fixtures and appliances. Amelia works alongside her dad to prepare for her future role as the next-generation leader of the company.

Longtime Kennewick company begins transition to third generation By Laura Kostad

for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

A third generation is poised to take over KIE Supply Corp., the iconic 67-year-old Kennewick business. KIE, established in 1955 by Augustan Kittson Sr., is a longtime supplier of irrigation, plumbing, electrical, lighting, appliance and bathroom fixtures for contractors and DIYers through stores in Kennewick, Hermiston, Sunnyside and elsewhere. Its gleaming fixtures sparkle on East Columbia Drive, near the cable bridge. KIE is currently helmed by Augustan

“Gus” Kittson Jr., 66. He launched a threeyear transition plan to turn it over to daughter, Amelia Kittson, 27, earlier this year by promoting her to vice president. Named the Most Likely to Succeed when he graduated from Kennewick High School in 1973, Gus said he never doubted he’d make a career in the family business. Amelia, who graduated from Southridge High School, said she felt the same pull. She decided to follow in her father’s footsteps while working there during her sophomore year at Washington State University. uKIE, Page A12

FCCI named top vit plant supplier after aligning with Bechtel By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

A Richland company catering to U.S. Department of Energy contractors found success by aligning itself with the needs of one of the biggest operators at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation: Bechtel National Inc. Bechtel recognized Fluid Controls and Components Inc., or FCCI, with one of four 2020-21 Global Supplier Awards for its contributions to the Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization plant, known as the vit plant. The other recipients were Pacific Office Automation, Inland Asphalt Co. and Petersen Inc. The vit plant, with an installed cost of

$12 billion, will treat 53 million gallons of radioactive tank waste by encasing it in glass for long-term storage. The plant will be the world’s largest radiological chemical processing facility. The honor recognizes FCCI for its expertise in certifying that valves, piping and related components used at the project meet nuclear standards and for sourcing 108,000 pounds of “frit,” a mixture of chemicals that Bechtel will use when it heats up the plant’s high-temperature melters this winter. The melters are where waste will mix with glass-forming materials and is at the uFCCI, Page A20

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | DECEMBER 2021

West Richland plans to turn traffic circle into traffic signals

uBUSINESS BRIEFS

State increases workers comp rates by over 3%

Workers compensation premiums will rise by an average of 3.1% in 2022, the Washington Department of Labor & Industries announced. It said the increase is driven by rising costs associated with cost-of-living adjustments for long-term cases and are tied to Washington’s increasing average wages. The increase boosts the average rate to $1.53 per $100 of payroll. Employers will see rates rise or fall depending on their recent claims history. Workers pay about a quarter of the premium.

Bombing

Range Ro

publisher@tcjournal.biz

Plans are underway to replace a traffic circle with traffic lights at a key intersection connecting Richland to West Richland. The city of West Richland wants to remove the circle where Bombing Range and Keene roads intersect to reduce backups and delays. Designed in 2001, the traffic circle was intended to last 20 years and is approaching the end of its life cycle. “Once complete, it should reduce travel times during our peak hours,” said West Richland Mayor Brent Gerry during a State of the Cities talk at the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce. Traffic backups are common during morning and evening commutes. And they have been becoming lengthier and longer as more development pops up along Keene Road and beyond, west of the traffic circle: the city’s municipal services building, Richland School District’s Libby Middle School and Teaching, Learning and Administration Center, SunMarket and Firehouse Subs. And more traffic is coming. West Richland’s police station is scheduled to open at 7920 W. Van Giesen St., near the intersection with Keene, this month, with a community open house planned Jan. 25. The nearby Heights at Red Mountain Ranch housing development at full buildout is expected to add 2,249 more residents.

funding in 2022 as opportunities become available to secure funding for the construction of the project,” Slade said. The city plans to complete the design for the project and acquire the necessary road right of way, which is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2022.

By Kristina Lord

How to pay for it? Next on the city’s to-do list is finding a way to pay for the $3.3 million project. The city applied for a $3 million grant from the state Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) but wasn’t chosen. TIB awarded 136 street and multi-modal improvement grants across the state totaling over $99 million on Nov. 19. “TIB grant funding is highly competitive and rarely is a project funded on the first application attempt. We will continue applying for both state and federal grant

What’s wrong with circle? In fall 2020, the city hired JUB Engineering in Kennewick to do a planning analysis of the intersection, looking out 20 years, Slade said. “They considered all options, including a metering signal or a double-lane roundabout,” he said. The city decided on traffic lights because such an intersection would be safer for pedestrians, didn’t negatively impact the adjacent property owners and was the preference of Benton Fire District 4. A handful of people spent 10 minutes during the city council’s Feb. 2 public hearing expressing concern about the plan, citing concerns about safety and noise. “People are very passionate about roundabouts – or they hate them. There’s not a lot of in between,” Slade said. When the city gets to work on redesigning the intersection, it also plans to make the speed consistent along Keene Road. From the traffic circle west, it changes from 25 mph to 35 mph to 45 mph, Slade said. It’s considering 40 mph but more study is necessary first. “It’s one of the biggest complaints we hear – that speed varies down that corridor,” he said.

“Employers need a reliable talent pipeline and workers need pathways into rewarding careers,” Robbins said. “Registered apprenticeship programs provide an opportunity for employers and workers, boosting our entire economy.” The latest numbers from L&I show

there are more than 5,000 employers in the state participating in 182 apprenticeship programs across nearly 250 occupations. For a complete list of programs and occupations, go to: Lni.wa.gov/Apprenticeship.

ene

Courtesy city of West Richland This rendering shows the proposed intersection improvements at Bombing Range and Keene roads in West Richland.

Growth in the Badger Mountain South development off Dallas Road also funnels vehicles into the traffic circle. “I’d say you’ve got 12,000 people a day going through the intersection in 2021. We’re just getting back up to 2018 numbers. Traffic is coming back but I don’t think we’ve got everyone commuting yet. There’s still a lot of people working from home,” said Roscoe Slade III, the city’s public works director. The pandemic bought the city some time for planning the redesign. “But now schools are open and now people are seeing it. And now people are saying, ‘Hurry up, Public hearings were held in October.

Apprenticeships thriving in Washington state

Nearly 22,000 apprentices participated in job training programs in Washington during the 2020-21 school year, an all-time high that rivals the enrollments of the University of Washington and Washington State University. “Apprenticeship programs are thriving across the state,” said Jody Robbins, apprenticeship program manager for the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). “We’re encouraged to see a growing number of employers, educators, and other workforce partners get involved.”

Your local family-owned florist since 1969.

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what’s taking so long?” Slade said.

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | DECEMBER 2021

Farm Workers Clinic CEO resigns amid sexual harassment allegations By Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

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– CORRECTION – • Port of Kennewick Commissioner Tom Moak moved to give the port’s CEO an “above satisfactory” performance review. The wrong information ran on page A32 in the November issue.

The Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business, a publication of TriComp Inc., is published monthly and delivered at no charge to identifiable businesses in Pasco, Richland, West Richland, Kennewick, Prosser and Benton City. Subscriptions are $27.10 per year, including tax, prepayment required, no refunds. Contents of this publication are the sole property of TriComp Inc. and can not be reproduced in any form without expressed written consent. Opinions expressed in guest columns and by advertisers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of staff, other columnists or other advertisers, nor do they imply endorsement by staff, columnists or advertisers. Every effort will be made to assure information published is correct; however, we are not liable for any errors or omissions made despite these efforts.

Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic’s longtime CEO Carlos Olivares resigned from his position amid an investigation of sexual harassment allegations, the organization announced Dec. 10. His resignation took effect Dec. 4, a week before the nonprofit agency announced the news. The Yakima Valley Farm Workers said in a release that it recently became aware of serious allegations of sexual harassment against Olivares. He was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. But before any findings or conclusions were reached, he resigned, the agency said. Olivares worked for the clinic for 35 years, after being recruited by the organization in 1986. He earned a base salary of more than $543,749 in 2019, according to the clinic’s IRS 990 tax return. His

uBUSINESS BRIEF

Benton County honors Prosser businessman

The Benton County Commission approved a proclamation honoring a Prosser businessman for his contributions to the community on his 100th

total compensation amounted to more than $1 million, after earning $461,258 in bonus and incentive pay, retirement and other reportable Carlos Olivares compensation. The Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business profiled Olivares in a February 2020 Q&A feature: tricitiesbusinessnews.com/2020/02/carlos-olivares. The clinic recently opened the Miramar Health Center, a $20 million facility at 6351 W. Rio Grande Ave. near Vista Field in Kennewick. CFO Christy Trotter has been appointed interim CEO. Trotter has worked for the organization for more than 25 years. The leadership team is united in its focus

on transparency and continuation of service during this transition, the organization said. “We expect no disruption in operations or services as we continue to care for our patients and clients,” the agency said. Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, provides medical, dental, behavioral health and social services to more than 171,000 people a year. With more than 60 unique service locations across Oregon and Washington (Benton, Franklin, Spokane, Whitman, Walla Walla and Yakima counties), its goal is to deliver affordable, comprehensive primary care for underserved populations. The clinic employs more than 1,600 staff, in addition to its medical and dental residents, administrative fellows, students and volunteers.

birthday. Victor Lee Murphey, who was born Nov. 24, 1921, to Stephen and Vera Vista Murphy in Culdesac, Idaho, served in the military during World War II before relocating to Prosser. He and his late wife, Ella, were married on Sept. 14, 1955, at the Covenant

Presbyterian Church in Prosser. The couple raised two daughters and have six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. They opened ACM Feed with his brothers Bill and Jim, their father and other local families, and operated it until 2011.

THE NINETEEN, From page A1 investment and improvements, and we’re committed to being a part of that,” he said. HAEIF is a public entity that invests in projects that build the local economy, funded by the Legislature from fees on hazardous waste deposited at the Hanford site. The HAEIF board reduced its commitment to The Nineteen following a private executive session in October, saying the scope of the project had changed and it needed more information that it said was not forthcoming. The HAEIF board remained enthusiastic about the project and pledged to restore full funding once it has a clearer picture of the “changes.” But Griffith said the board misunderstood commercial development and provided ample documentation that the scope hadn’t changed. Skip Novakovich, chairman of the HAEIF board, remained hopeful the project will go forward. HAEIF has the money to restore the full $1.1 million. “They’re saying they’re not going to do anything with ground floor commercial, which is what we thought was included in the original,” he said. “So, the scope has changed and that’s the hang up. We don’t have the documentation to assess the current project.” Griffith said the project isn’t altered and the “change of scope” complaint left him and his partner puzzled. He explained that the company applied for a permit that would have let it build the shell of commercial space on the first floor of The Nineteen but not an improved space ready for a tenant. Tenant improvements – the walls,

Courtesy The Nineteen The Nineteen, a luxe apartment building proposed for downtown Kennewick, is dead after the Hanford Area Economic Investment Fund cut its $1.1 million loan commitment to $345,000, saying a “change in scope” changed the math. The developers say the project is unchanged.

floors and other aspects of interior spaces – would be constructed under a separate permit. That is standard for the industry. “Despite our testimony over multiple meetings and vast documentation proving otherwise, the committee baselessly doubled-down on this false narrative that there was a ‘change of scope’ on the first floor,” he said. Novakovich said he was disappointed. “Everybody on this board to the last person wants it to go. Everybody wants it to go. And we never received a response. Everybody wants to work with them, but we need information they’re not providing,” he said. In a written statement, Klein Griffith Properties described the funding cut as a

“breach of contract.” Klein and Griffith acquired four parcels totaling 0.67 acre in a pair of transactions in 2018 and 2019. They dubbed their project The Nineteen for its future address, 19 W. Canal Drive, at Auburn Street, and went public with their plans: A five-story brick-andsteel building with 40 upscale apartments above streel-level commercial space. It would have been the first significant new private construction in downtown Kennewick in recent memory. The Nineteen was slated to be available to renters on Jan. 1, 2023, with rents at $1,675 a month for a 1-bedroom unit and $1,975 for two-bedrooms.

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | DECEMBER 2021 uBUSINESS BRIEFS

WSU says 94% of employees are vaccinated

Washington State University said more than 94% of employees across the system were vaccinated against Covid-19 following internal verification efforts in November. Under the state’s vaccine mandate, all state employees, including those in public universities were required as a condition of employment to receive an approved Covid-19 vaccine or an exemption for either documented medical reasons or sincerely held religious beliefs. Of the approximately 10,000 full- and part-time employees across the state system, 94% were fully vaccinated, while 3% had received religious exemptions and 1% had received medical exemptions. The remaining 2% included employees who had initiated the vaccination process and were on leave until they were considered fully vaccinated. Formal employment separation proceedings were initiated with 23 employees. Separations can occur either as a result of non-compliance with the state mandate or an inability to accommodate a religious or medical exemption in a way that would protect community health. Additionally, the university required vaccines for students as well. The vaccination rates were at 89% or higher for each of WSU’s five physical campuses by November.

Need interns? Register for virtual fair now

Tri-Cities employers can connect with prospective interns in January at a virtual internship fair. Washington State University Tri-Cities and the Washington Workforce Portal are organizing the event, which will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan 25. Employers are encouraged to sign up for the free event by Jan. 21. Go to: bit.ly/WSUInternFair.

Tri-City Herald co-founder dies at 102

A co-founder of the Tri-City Herald died Nov. 14 at age 102. Robert “Bob” Philip was one week short of his 103rd birthday. He worked in the import-export business and was raising a family in Seattle when he and co-worker Glenn Lee decided to start their own import business called Philip and Lee. It led them in 1947 to the Tri-Cities and to buy the Pasco Weekly newspaper. Shortly thereafter they turned it into a daily paper and called it the Tri-City Herald, according to Philip’s obituary. In 1979, they sold the paper to The McClatchy Co. During his three decades in the TriCities he was involved in the Kiwanis Club and as a co-founder of the Tri-City Nuclear Industrial Council, serving as president from 1963-82. Philip grew up in Tacoma and attended the University of Washington. He served in the Navy from 1941-45.

Richland taps Amundson as new city manager

Jon Amundson is Richland’s new city manager. Amundson, who has served as the city’s interim city manager since former manager Cindy Reents left on Jan. 22, 2021, was appointed to the job when the city council met on Dec. 7. The council decided to offer Amundson the permanent position, citing his performance over the past 10-plus months, according to the agenda for the meeting. The city manager is the city’s top executive and reports to the elected council. He will oversee all department heads and as manager is responsible for developing the budget and translating council policy into practice. The council’s agenda noted Amundson

has successfully served in the role as interim, as determined by a third party consultant’s “360 review” of city government. Amundson will Jon Amundson be paid a base annual salary of $205,000, which can be adjusted upward by the council at its discretion and review. In addition to customary benefits such as paid time off, insurance and retirement, he will receive a $500 monthly vehicle allowance. He is required to give no less than 60 days’ notice if he leaves, according to the proposed contract, which took effect on Dec. 7.

Amundson served as assistant city manager under Reents for more than 12 years before being tapped to step into the role. He earned a bachelor’s degree in American studies from Brigham Young University in 2002 and a master’s in public administration from the University of Kansas in 2005. He attended an institute for senior executives at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business in 2015, according to his public LinkedIn profile. He is a licensed Project Management Professional and holds a credential from the International City/County Management Association. He speaks Spanish. Reents left the city after 17 years of service by mutual agreement with the city council.

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | DECEMBER 2021

DATEBOOK DEC. 14

DEC. 18

• PNNL seminar, “Exploring Three-dimensional Bioprinting to Detect and Characterize Pathogens”: 5-6 p.m. via Zoom. Details at pnnl.gov/events. • Washington Policy Center On The Go: Noon-1 p.m. Details at washingtonpolicy.org/events.

• Benton Franklin Transit and Townsquare Media Toy Trolley: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Ranch & Home, 845 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick. Help fill the trolley with new, unwrapped gifts for kids up to age 17.

DEC. 15

• City of Pasco Downtown Visioning Workshop: 6 p.m., Salon Santa Cruz, 117 S. Fifth Ave., Pasco. Details at pasco-wa.gov/civicalerts. aspx?AID=1311.

• Franklin County Commission: 9 a.m. Details at co.franklin.wa.us/ commissioners/meeting.php. • Benton County Commission: 9 a.m. Details at co.benton.wa.us/ agenda.aspx.

DEC. 16

DEC. 23

• Lecture by Terry Andre – Postcards from the Park: 7 p.m., East Benton County History Museum, 205 W. Keewaydin Drive, Kennewick. Details at cbcartscenter. com.

DEC. 17

• Coffee with Karl: 9-10 a.m., webinar with president and CEO of TRIDEC Karl Dye and guest. Facebook.com/tcdevcouncil.

DEC. 21

• Port of Pasco Commission: 10:30 a.m. Details at portofpasco. org/about-us/port-commission.

DEC. 27

• Historic Downtown Kennewick board meeting: 5:30-7:15 p.m. Details at historickennewick.org/events.

DEC. 28

• Franklin County Commission: 9 a.m. Details at co.franklin.wa.us/ commissioners/meeting.php.

• Benton County Commission: 9 a.m. Details at co.benton.wa.us/ agenda.aspx. • Port of Kennewick Commission: 2 p.m. Details at portofkennewick.org/commissionmeetings.

JAN. 4

• Historic Downtown Kennewick Network Zoom Breakfast: 8-9 a.m. Details at historickennewick.org/ networkbreakfasts. • Franklin County Commission: 9 a.m. Details at co.franklin.wa.us/ commissioners/meeting.php. • Benton County Commission: 9 a.m. Details at co.benton.wa.us/ agenda.aspx.

JAN. 5-6

• Elected Leaders Reception: 4:30-6:30 p.m., The REACH, 1943 Columbia Park Trail, Richland. Register at web. tricityregionalchamber.com/events. • Washington Policy Center, Virtual Solutions Summit: 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. each day. Register at washingtonpolicy.org/events.

JAN. 6

• STCU virtual workshop, “Budgeting 101”: 1-2 p.m. Register at stcu.org/learn.

JAN. 7

• Coffee with Karl: 9-10 a.m., webinar with president and CEO of TRIDEC Karl Dye and guest. Facebook.com/tcdevcouncil.

JAN. 11

• STCU virtual workshop, “Organize Your Finances”: 6-7 p.m. Register at stcu.org/learn. • Franklin County Commission: 9 a.m. Details at co.franklin.wa.us/ commissioners/meeting.php. • Benton County Commission: 9 a.m. Details at co.benton.wa.us/ agenda.aspx. • Port of Pasco Commission: 10:30 a.m. Details at portofpasco. org/about-us/port-commission. •Port of Kennewick Commission: 2 p.m. Details at portofkennewick.org/commissionmeetings.

VISIT TCJOURNAL.BIZ AND CLICK ON EVENT CALENDAR FOR MORE EVENTS.

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | DECEMBER 2021

OPINION OUR VIEW

There’s an astonishing list of wins to celebrate in 2021 By Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

Each December, the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business invites some of the region’s most insightful leaders to help us review the highlights of the past year. This month, they came through. The Tri-Cities tallied an astonishing list of wins in the second year clouded by Covid-19. As the year closes, we look back at job growth, low unemployment, a red-hot housing market, major economic development news and significant milestones in construction of the Waste Treatment Plant, the $17 billion Hanford vitrification plant. Where to start? As always, with jobs. Any business owner or manager will confirm that hiring is a challenge. The Tri-Cities had more people working and fewer people on unemployment in October than in the years preceding the pandemic, according to the state’s most recent figures. There were 141,863 jobs in the Tri-City metro area, more than any October in recent memory, with 6,227 drawing unemployment, another low. Employment was up nearly 10% from early 2020, said Karl Dye, president and CEO of the Tri-Cities Develop-

ment Council. “Unfortunately, the recovery and growth in our workforce has not been even across all industries and sectors,” he noted on page A33. Employers announced major new undertakings over the past year. We’ve written a lot about Costco’s second store, Darigold’s new protein and butter plant, Reser’s Fine Foods new deli salad plant, Amazon’s massive distribution centers and Local Bounti’s high-tech greenhouses. Those are the big headlines. There are lots more intriguing developments across the region. Local agencies had authorized more than $1.2 billion in commercial and residential construction through November, exceeding 2019’s $1.1 billion. Housing is an issue to watch. October’s median home price of $392,100 was 44% higher than three years ago and the market is still tight, threatening affordability. That’s encouraging developers to add homes, townhomes and apartments to the community, all badly needed. To read more about our economy from the point of view of our local leaders, turn to page A27.

Local chambers of commerce step up to help fire departments play Santa Throughout Washington, the leaders of local chambers of commerce are busy delivering bags of toys to rural fire departments, enabling the firefighters to play Santa Claus for the children who live in their communities. For the fire departments, this is nothing new. They have been giving out toys and food every December for more than three decades as part of the Association of Washington Business’ Holiday Kids’ Tree Project. But this is the first year the local chambers, including the West Richland and Walla Walla Valley chambers of commerce, have joined the effort. And it’s all because of the pandemic. The Holiday Kids’ Tree project dates to 1989. Beginning each summer and continuing into the fall, AWB member companies and others donate thousands of dollars every year to provide for families in need in rural communities. Since it’s beginning, the project has raised nearly $500,000. The donations are then distributed to families in need by fire departments in rural counties in both eastern and western Washington. This fills a great need for families in rural areas who do not have access to large city donation sites. For some children, these are the only gifts they receive during the holiday season. Prior to the pandemic, fire officials from throughout the state would travel to Olympia in early December to collect the toys and checks during a short ceremony held just before the lighting of the tree in the Capitol rotunda.

Following the ceremony, hundreds of people would gather for a program that included singing from a youth chorus, remarks from Kris Johnson the governor Association of Washington and a dramatic Business countdown that GUEST COLUMN culminated with the flipping of a switch lighting a 30-plus-foot evergreen. It was a festive and heartwarming evening that signaled the arrival of the holiday season. But like so many traditions, it was one that was altered by the pandemic. In 2020, with the world in the grips of the worst pandemic in a century, the tree-lighting was canceled. Inviting hundreds of people to gather at the Capitol rotunda just didn’t make sense. Thankfully, the other piece of the tradition – the fundraising – continued as usual. In fact, it set a record with more than $28,000 in contributions last year. Firefighters were able to distribute toys and funds in their communities at a time when it was especially needed. And that brings us to this year. Although we’re in a different place than we were a year ago, the traditional treelighting ceremony was still in doubt as organizers began making plans over the

uJOHNSON, Page A8

America’s recovery hinges on people returning to work To “Build Back America” people must return to work! In a U.S. Chamber of Commerce poll released in early December, the findings spell trouble for America’s employers whether they are in the private or public sectors. It found that over 60% of the respondents are in no hurry to return to work and over a third of the unemployed are not actively going after a job or looking at all. The problem is growing worse. A large number of respondents feel they can get by for at least another six months before they have to find employment. The survey revealed that one-sixth of the jobless say the amount of the money they are receiving from unemployment benefits and government programs makes it “not worth looking” for work, the chamber added. Currently, the Bureau of Labor

Statistics (BLS) reports there are 10.4 million open jobs and people are quitting at an alltime record high. Bottom line: there were 2.3 Don C. Brunell million fewer Business analyst workers in the GUEST COLUMN workforce last October compared with the same month in 2019. Covid-19 has changed work and workers. People, who traditionally commuted to the office, worked remotely. A Harris Poll in October found that 76% of employees want to make work permanently flexible. “The desire for work flexibility is being met with a conflicting message –

about three-quarters of their employers think they (workers) are more innovative and work harder in the office or on-site,” Harris found. Not all work can be done remotely or with a flexible schedule. An obvious example is a utility line worker. Electric grid engineers can connect remotely to plan projects. But when electric transmission line goes down, it is a whole other story. Sorting out jobs which can be remote is a challenge, but all jobs need people willing to work. Employers are raising wages and benefits to recruit workers but find it troubling when someone is hired and doesn’t show up on the first day or interview just to fulfill obligations to continue receiving unemployment check. In Washington, Gov. Jay Inslee

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and the Legislature suspended the job search requirements at the start of the pandemic. With the economy recovering, job search requirements were reinstated. This means the jobless must look for work and document at least three approved job search activities each week to remain eligible for unemployment benefits. On the employer side, Harris found that a lack of concern for people’s work/life conflicts is a problem. Roughly two-in-five people quit because the employer did not take their concerns into consideration during the pandemic. Employer attitudes make a difference. Among those who work fully remotely, 40% who implemented practices and policies since the pandemic

uBRUNELL, Page A8

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | DECEMBER 2021

JOHNSON, From page A7 summer. So rather than invite firefighters to come to Olympia to collect their toys and checks, the group decided to employ AWB’s Grassroots Alliance to help make the deliveries. The Grassroots Alliance is a coalition of 100-plus local chambers of commerce throughout Washington. They work in tandem with AWB, the state chamber of commerce, on everything from public policy issues at the Legislature to helping businesses in their communities survive the pandemic. Earlier this year, the Grassroots Alliance was called upon to help the state Department of Commerce distribute gift cards at vaccine clinics. The effort was a great success, so it made sense to call

upon the network once again to help distribute toys and funds to the fire departments near them. And that’s why chamber leaders from 14 counties are busy making deliveries to rural fire departments in 24 fire districts on both sides of the mountains. They have plenty to distribute. Washington employers topped last year’s record by contributing more than $31,000 and counting this year, a new record. And one more sign of the generosity — and resilience — of Washington employers. For more information on the Holiday Kids’ Tree Project, go to bit.ly/awbkidstree2021. Kris Johnson is president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s chamber of commerce and manufacturers association.

BRUNELL, From page A7 resulted in people staying on the job. Looking ahead, here’s what needs to happen. First, President Joe Biden and Congress need Covid recovery programs which encourage return to work; however, they cannot make it more worthwhile for people who are employable to continue to postpone returning to work. Second, those providing jobs, need to tailor work sites and jobs to fit into the post-pandemic economy. For example, commuting daily into the inner city is expensive and time consuming. Monthly parking rates are high, the price of gasoline is skyrocketing and pre-Covid traffic congestion is not only

time consuming, but frustrating. One answer is to lease office space outside the city’s core for meeting and internet connectivity space. People can come together and meet while still working remotely. Finally, people must realize Covid is not a temporary inconvenience. It is permanent. Finding ways to put people back to work is essential to our postCovid survival. Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and now lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at theBrunells@msn.com.

uBUSINESS BRIEF

Numerica named marquee sponsor of concert series

Music events and festivals held at Washington’s premier outdoor venue will now be part of the Numerica Concert Series at the Live Nation-owned and -operated Gorge Amphitheatre. This is the result of a marquee sponsorship deal between the Spokane Valleybased credit union and Central Washington’s Gorge Amphitheatre. The multi-year agreement allows Numerica to provide exclusive perks for its members, have charitable giving activities, and live out its mission of enhancing lives, fulfilling dreams and building communities.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | DECEMBER 2021

Richland Rotarians honor community’s entrepreneurial leaders By Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

A retiree with a record of working to secure federal dollars to clean up Hanford and spark the local economy has received the Sam Volpentest Entrepreneurial Leadership Award. Gary Petersen received the award during the 25th annual Richland Rotary Club’s Entrepreneurial Awards ceremony on Nov. 2. Petersen managed the federal program portfolio for the Tri-City Development Council, or TRIDEC, for 14 years until he retired in 2017. During his career, he led numerous trips to Washington, D.C., and tours with

local elected and congressional leaders to highlight the Hanford project and economic development needs of the Tri-City region. Gary Peterson In addition, he provided leadership to support the Mid-Columbia Energy Initiative in 2012 that has led to opportunities within the clean energy sector for the region, most notably the Tri-Energy Partnership project for the development of the X-energy advanced reactor.

Even in retirement, Petersen has kept a focus on helping his community. He helped found the nonprofit group Northwest Energy Associates to advocate for safer, faster and less costly methods to clean up the Hanford site and currently serves as president. The award is named for Richland Rotarian Sam Volpentest – known as Mr. Tri-Cities – who dedicated 48 years of support to economic development of the region and cofounded TRIDEC. Known as The Sammy, the award goes to community leaders who guide and inspire others, contribute to entrepreneurship in the community and are creative and selfmotivated visionaries.

After more than a year of virtual meetings, the Rotary club held a socially distant, hybrid in-person/virtual awards meeting for this year’s annual awards, which also included five Entrepreneurial Awards. This year’s winners are: • Empowered Health Institute. Led by Dr. Jessica Schneider, this membership-based clinic offers primary care, health coaching, family medicine and health-focused wellness program to patients. It’s been in business for more than two years in the Richland Parkway. • OCOchem. CEO Todd Brix, who was born and raised in Kennewick, said the company has been in business three years, recently relocating and consolidating its research and development operations in the Tri-Cities Research District about a year ago, after its Blue River, Oregon, lab burned down in the Holiday Farm fire in September 2020. OCOchem is located in Energy Northwest’s Applied Process Engineering Laboratory, where it uses an electrochemical process to bond CO2 to hydrogen to store energy. • Growing Forward Services. Paul Casey started the business in 2012 with a mission to spark breakthrough success by kickstarting the leader inside every person. Growing Forward offers a suite of seminars, teambuilding retreats and one-to-one leadership coaching. Casey also produces a podcast called “Tri-Cities Influencers,” in which he interviews local leaders. • Northwest Paddleboarding. This mother-daughter-owned full-service paddleboard business offers mobile rentals of paddleboards, kayaks, lessons and tours, including moonlight paddles. The business was mobile for its first three years, opening its storefront adjacent to Howard Amon Park in 2018. • 9th Street Studio. This downtown Benton City family salon, owned by Gabriela and Luis Ruiz, provides a variety of services, from haircuts and custom coloring, hair extensions to facial waxing, special occasion hairstyles, makeup and pedicures. The owners have made numerous interior and exterior improvements to their building, which they bought in December 2020. The studio has been in business since August 2016. The Rotary awards date to 1996 at the urging of AM Sastry, an employee of PNNL and Richland Rotarian. Sastry approached the club about recognizing entrepreneurs within the bi-county region. At the time, this work was a focus area of the region’s economic development efforts. TRIDEC, Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce, Tri-Cities Research District, Fuse SPC and the Port of Benton help to select the five entrepreneurs and Sammy winners.

Send us your business news info@tcjournal.biz

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Educator, Hanford trainer selected for port vacancy By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

The Port of Benton Commission selected Christy Rasmussen, a former Christ the King School principal and current Hanford employee, to fill the board seat vacated when Robert Larson retired in October with two years left of his term. Rasmussen was one of four candidates interviewed in a special commission session on Nov. 29. She was the unanimous choice after a 40-minute executive session, held behind closed doors. Commissioners Roy Keck and Jane Hagarty voted unanimously to appoint her to serve until the next election in 2022. The board also interviewed former executive director Scott Keller along with Justin Raffa and Obie Amacker.

uBUSINESS BRIEFS

Pasco Animal Shelter project unaffected by police raid

The city of Pasco says a raid at the Tri-Cities Animal Shelter in November won’t affect plans to build a new home beginning in spring 2022. The Benton-Franklin Humane Society is operating the Tri-City Animal Shelter after Pasco police executed a warrant on Nov. 11 that led to seizing sick animals, terminating the contract with the nonprofit operator and enlisting the humane society to operate the facility. The city said the search warrant was executed following an Oct. 26 unannounced inspection that included veterinary professionals and was based on information it received about conditions at the facility. Julie Chambers, chief financial officer, is accused of embezzling $300,000 from the shelter. The city has also sued three shelter employees over bonuses they received. The Pasco animal facility at 1312 S. 18th Ave. is operated by Pasco but jointly owned with the cities of Kennewick and Richland. The humane society, which has a shelter in Kennewick, stepped in to oversee the shelter but is not the contracted operator. Go to: bfhs.com.

Hagarty, who is ending her term on the board after losing her reelection bid in November, announced the decision. She said Rasmussen brought the right Christy Rasmussen mix of community leadership and a commitment to carrying forward the port’s economic and jobs mission. Rasmussen took office immediately and indicated during her interview said she would participate in the Washington Public Ports Association’s training for new board members. Rasmussen is a training specialist for Central Plateau Cleanup Co. at the Hanford

site and is a former educator. Her resume includes serving as workplace campaign manager for United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties, principal at Christ the King Catholic School in Richland and in leadership positions in both the Pasco and Richland school districts. She is the incoming president of Tri-Cities Sunrise Rotary, where she has served on the executive board and has been community chair for seven years. She has a background serving Perfect Image Leadership, Vista Youth Center, My Friends Place and Rural Families Farm Workers. Rasmussen and her husband have a blended family of five adult children and seven grandchildren. All reside in the TriCities, she said in her application. She earned a bachelor’s in office administration from Central Washington Univer-

sity, a bachelor’s of education from Eastern Washington University and a master’s in educational administration from Heritage University. She will be one of two newcomers to the board. Lori Stevens, co-owner of Airfield Estates Winery in Prosser, will take office in January after defeating Hagarty. Rasmussen’s seat will be open for election in November 2022 to complete the original six-year term. Candidates file in May for the year’s election cycle. The seat will be up for election again in 2023 for a new six-year term. Port commissioners are paid $1,500 a month and stipends to attend meeting. They receive health insurance and other benefits.

Tri-City softball players medal in senior games

self-storage facility in Kennewick. Wormington and the Fun Bunch team earned a silver in the 70-andover division. She didn’t have much time to celebrate her victory, Connie Wormington as she had to dash across the fields to join the Seattle-based Wet Socks team, where they earned a gold in the 65-and-over division. “It was incredible how well we played,

like we’ve been playing together for so long,” she said. The Tri-City Legends men’s softball team also earned a gold medal during the games in the 60-and-over division. The games were Oct. 4-16 in St. George, Utah, attracting senior players from around the world in a variety of events. Last year’s games were canceled because of the pandemic. Wormington’s been playing softball since she was a girl. She played in high school and then during college in Nebraska.

A Kennewick business owner has more softball medals to add to her trophy chest, and a Tri-City-based men’s softball team earned gold during the annual Huntsman World Senior Games. Connie Wormington, 73, played on two different teams, earning medals on each. Wormington and her husband Sandy own Just Roses Flowers and More flower shops in Kennewick and Pasco, as well as Columbia Wholesale, which supplies flowers to other shops, and Just Storage, a

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KIE, From page A1 “That summer I was working in the warehouse supporting the over 100 other people we employ here and it was hot and I was soaked through with sweat and I thought, ‘I love this.’ And it dawned on me that this is where I wanted to be,” she said. The moment of hard work reminded her of a photo of her father and his father working in the KIE warehouse. In it, Augustan stands in the foreground while Gus mops the linoleum floor behind him. Gus said he literally grew up in the business. There are old family photos of him in his bassinet in the office. The Kittsons celebrated their 200th year in the Pacific Northwest in 2018. Ancestor Bill Kittson came in 1818 to work for a forerunner of the Hudson’s Bay Company. They have moved around, but always called this home. “Generations come and go. We’ve done well,” Gus said.

Always chasing opportunity

Augustan began the business as Kennewick Industrial and Electrical Supply Co., bringing his experience as a military electrician to the booming post-war era. He’d served in the Army Corps of Electricians during World War II, tasked with overseeing the electricians working on the new Hanford facilities. After he completed his service, he found a lucrative opportunity in buying Army surplus electrical components at auction. “The boxes had all this weird code printed on them that only electricians in the Army could decipher,” Amelia said. “He scored killer deals and sold the parts

at a profit while still passing on discounted prices to his customers.” As time went on and the business grew, Augustan and his team recognized opportunities to expand beyond electrical supplies and begin catering to homeowners. In the late 1970s, Hermiston Electric and Plumbing opened across the Columbia River in Oregon, originally as a standalone corporation. Next came the Walla Walla location in 1991, followed by another in La Grande, Oregon, in 1999. In the early 2000s, the company’s name was formally changed to KIE Supply Corporation, and the Hermiston location came under the KIE umbrella. KIE’s Sunnyside location opened in 2008 and this past year saw the opening of its sixth location, in Caldwell, Idaho. Though all locations carry a large inventory of components, along with some appliances and fixtures (more available by order), the Kennewick showrooms remain the largest. Despite the economic downturn of the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent supply chain disruptions, Amelia said, “interestingly enough, we’ve seen massive growth, which is reflective of this community as a whole. The building and construction industries have gone through the roof and we’ve seen that reflected in our business.” KIE has semitruck loads of product tied up in the backlog but it is in better shape than its chain store competition because it stocks a lot of products. Chain retailers rely on centralized warehousing to ship out expanded product offerings not stocked in store.

Courtesy KIE Supply Gus Kittson, age 9, stands in front of his dad’s store at 113 E. Columbia Drive, Kennewick in May 1964. He launched a three-year transition plan to turn it over to daughter, Amelia Kittson, 27, earlier this year by promoting her to vice president.

“It’s more expensive to have high inventory, but it translates to convenience for customers. It’s part of our value proposition,” she said, adding it enabled KIE to supply customer needs during turbulent times. Another advantage is the longevity of KIE employees. “That’s our niche in the market … it comes down to our product knowledge because we have people who have been here for 15, 20, 30 and 40-plus years,” she said. She said it is common for customers to come in with a sketch of an unusual or antiquated setup seeking obscure parts or a second opinion on how to go about fixing it. KIE is proud of the community of contractors, repair professionals and DIY folks they’ve attracted over the years who are

willing to help one another out.

The next generation Amelia was promoted to vice president after completing her MBA through the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Business Grainger Center’s Supply Chain Management program. She was the recipient of a rare fellowship, including full-ride scholarship, from The Grainger Foundation to attend. She worked remotely for KIE during the two years she was away, attending school full time and juggling 300-level teaching responsibilities. This year is her 10th with the company. “Grad school … was important to me as a woman in a vastly male-dominated industry and it lent some credentials. It was a wonderful program and I learned so many things. It was a really specialized experience,” she said. Now back home at KIE’s corporate offices in Kennewick, she is working closely alongside Gus on a succession plan for when he is ready to step down. “It’s pretty much what I do, what keeps me busy, keeps me up at night … I see so much potential,” Amelia said. “I think part of it is continuing to expand as we go and continuing to bring our customer service to more areas. Part of it for me is, whatever we do, continuing to live by what my grandfather started; we’re going to take care of our people and make sure they know that we care.” Amid the labor shortage, KIE is hiring for numerous positions, including entrylevel jobs in counter sales, warehousing, and delivery driving. Benefits include paid time off; sick leave; full medical, dental, vision and life insurance; 100% 401(k) matching for first 3%, 50% for the next 3%; retention bonuses; an employee discount; and small personal loans for employees. “These are all things we can do as a small, private business that we couldn’t do if we were big,” Amelia said. Search KIE Supply Corporation: 113 E. Columbia Drive, Kennewick, 509-582-5156, 1-800-544-5156; kiesupply.com; Website lists locations for stores in Sunnyside, Walla Walla, Hermiston and La Grande, Oregon, and Caldwell, Idaho.

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Give the gift of appreciated stock this holiday season With the holiday season upon us and tidings of good cheer in the air, our collective instincts for generosity often peak. It’s worth considering perhaps a better way to give this year if you happen to have some appreciated stock positions in your portfolio. What kind of gifting? A person can gift appreciated securities to organizations like charities and receive a charitable deduction for the full fair market value of the asset transferred. But, a person also can gift appreciated securities to individuals like family members or friends, which is the key concept this column explores. What’s the tax ramification to the recipient (non-charity)? The recipient has no immediate tax ramification but instead maintains the donor’s tax basis and holding period (for purposes of determining long and short-term capital gains). So, if dad transfers appreciated ABC stock that he owned for over a year with a tax basis of $15 per share to son and son then sells the stock for $75 per share, son will recognize a $60 per share long-term capital gain which will be taxed at his federal long-term capital gains tax rate. Why stocks? Really, we can use any appreciated asset. It just happens to be super convenient to use marketable securities and stock/bond funds as the asset value is readily ascertainable on the open mar-

ket. Other assets (like appreciated real estate) are more difficult to value and require a qualified appraisal, which both takes time and money. Beau Ruff Can a perCornerstone son gift from a Wealth Strategies retirement acGUEST COLUMN count? No. This only works with non-qualified (non-retirement) assets. Is there a tax benefit? There is potential for the donor (call him “Dad”) to both transfer the tax obligation and mitigate or eliminate the tax liability for the family. For example, assume Dad is a highearner and transfers $15K worth of stock to son. As a reminder, an individual can gift up to $15,000 per year to another person without any need to account for the gift and no need to file a gift tax return. A married couple can give double that amount. Assuming that the tax basis on the stock gifted is zero, if Dad kept the stock and sold it, he might have incurred taxes as high as 23.8% ($3,570 in tax). Then, Dad could have gifted the resulting cash (after payment of taxes) to son in the amount of $11,430. How about instead he gifts the same stock to

his son? Here we look to the son’s income tax bracket to determine if there is a net gain to the family. If son has lower income, he can potentially pay less in tax. And, if he has really low income, he can pay as little as 0% tax (the 2021 tax rate for individuals with under $40,400 of taxable income is 0%). Does gift to family jeopardize any benefits? Maybe. In the example above, the sale of the stock would raise the son’s taxable income. This might jeopardize benefits the son receives through programs like the Affordable Care Act or financial aid for college. So, any donor should consider the effects of the recipient recognizing more income. Certainly, if the son would lose a valuable benefit based on the higher reported income as a result of the gift, the donor should consider gifting cash instead of appreciated securities as a gift of cash is not reported as income to the recipient. Here’s an example of where this strategy might work. Assume the son just finished college or a professional degree and son is starting his first job late in the calendar year or early next year. Let’s assume that first job also provides health insurance coverage. Dad can then consider making a gift to son of appreciated stock late in this calendar year. The son’s income for this calendar year would be low (only working

for a month or two in the calendar year) and the son no longer needs to qualify for financial aid for school and son’s health care is already covered. This might be a great situation to consider gifting some appreciated stock to the son to allow him to capture the lower capital gains rate (maybe as low as zero) on his tax return. Or we can change the facts slightly to yield a more common scenario. Assume son is working for $60,000 a year and is married to a spouse that stays home with the kids. For a married couple filing jointly, the long-term capital gains rates stays at zero until the couple reports over $80,800. So, Dad can gift up to $20,800 of appreciated stock – representing the amount to get the son’s income up to $80,800, but not above. Then, the son (and his spouse) can sell and pay zero associated capital gains. As always, work with a qualified advisor to find opportunities to give and maybe mitigate some tax at the same time. Beau Ruff, a licensed attorney, is the director of planning at Cornerstone Wealth Strategies, a full-service independent investment management and financial planning firm in Kennewick.

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ENERGY

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Richland improves metering efficiency, renewable energy use By Robin Wojtanik

for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

Richland is preparing to launch final testing of a new utility metering system prior to its rollout in 2022, ending the need for dedicated meter readers to visit the 27,000 homes and businesses throughout the city. Officials hope to have new electric and water meters installed in most locations by the end of next year. The city predicts its new $13 million Advanced Metering Infrastructure, or AMI, project to bring operational efficiency, a significant savings and improved customer service. Richland Energy Services, or RES, will use certified contractors to install the wireless electric and water meters throughout most customer locations. A brief outage of either power or water is expected when one meter is removed and the other installed. “The outage will last only as long as it takes to pull one meter and put the other one in,” said Sandi Edgemon, Richland’s business services manager.

Real-time data Network devices will use radio frequency to transmit water or electric use recorded by the smart readers back to the city for

interpretation of the data and billing. “Customer service representatives will have near real-time information on power and water use and can troubleshoot with a customer,” Edgemon said. “Customers will also be able to monitor their use through a portal and make an informed decision, such as how to conserve electricity.” Readings will be done in 15-minute intervals, which creates the “near real-time” ability to monitor. Additionally, Edgemon said if a customer is moving, terminating electricity happens at the “push of a button,” so the need to manually read the meter is no longer required. Since the project was approved by city council in spring 2020, the city has prepared for the staff reduction expected by the elimination of six meter reader positions. “During the past several years, RES has made available to the meter readers training and open positions within the city,” Edgemon said. “Several have successfully transitioned to other positions and careers.” The city said AMI created opportunities for employees to develop and use new skills.

A limited number of manual meter readings will still need to be done for locations where a meter is in a basement or is unable to successfully transmit readings with a network device. Most customers will benefit from the added convenience of no longer needing to have a meter reader come onto their property.

Managing outages AMI also is expected to improve the city’s outage management. “Right now, if there’s Courtesy city of Richland an outage, or if something happens on the dis- Richland Energy Services’ Trevor Wilkerson, power operations manager, left, and Matt Suarez, meter, tribution line, we get in- power and protection lead, stand with Richland Energy formation on our status Services’ first AMI meter, which arrived in April 2021. system, but we also rely on people to call and say A power outage will send an alert to the they’re out of power so we can better pin- city’s operations center where crews can point the location,” Edgemon said. “Our respond and restore service more quickly. status system shows what’s energized and Additionally, the city expects to take what isn’t, but now we’ll be able to track it uRICHLAND METERS, Page A16 right down to the meter.”

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | DECEMBER 2021

RICHLAND METERS, From page A15 proactive efforts if there’s an issue, like a broken pipe, that a customer might be unaware of. “The AMI system will show a large increase in water consumption. When we see there is abnormal usage indicating a possible leak or break, we will contact the customer,” Edgemon said. This could allow for much faster mitigation than a customer’s typical indication of a leak by receiving an unexpectedly high water bill. Smart metering is already in use in Benton and Franklin counties for public utilities district customers. Since first installing in 2009, a representative for Benton PUD said, “We have had good experience with this technology and experienced benefits from both a customer perspective and operational perspective.” RES is installing network devices on streetlights and utility poles and will roll the system out citywide once all the testing confirms there are no “dead” spots for transmitting data.

Solar energy Some of the power transmitted over Richland’s distribution lines includes solar-generated energy. The city commissioned the state’s first utility-scale solar and battery project in Horn Rapids in November 2019. It includes 11,400 solar panels paired with battery storage to provide enough electricity to power about 600 homes, and the battery storage capability to power about 150 homes for four hours. RES buys the solar energy from Seattle-

based Tucci Energy Services as part of a 25-year agreement. The battery is operated by Energy Northwest, which developed the $6 million carbon-free project, and secured nearly half of the cost through a grant from the state’s Clean Energy Fund, managed by the Department of Commerce. “We’re always watching for grants as they relate to new energy technology,” said Jared Knode, energy and professional services manager for Energy Northwest. “The Department of Commerce was looking for storage-related projects, and we saw it as an opportunity in our leadership role as a joint operating agency.” The city invested the remainder for the 20-acre Horn Rapids Solar, Storage and Training, or HRSST, project after it was pitched as both a way to comply with the state’s demand for increasing use of clean energy through the Energy Independence Act, as well as its potential as an economic driver. “The thing that made the project go was the realized economic benefit,” Edgemon said. “The unique thing about this project is that there’s a training center associated with it, so apprentice workers and licensed electricians can come and learn how to operate a photovoltaic system and can look at the battery and do some training on it. Because they would be coming in from other parts of the U.S., they’d be staying in hotels and dining in Richland.” The predicted economic benefit calculated by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory included 22 hospitality jobs indirectly created by the project, expected from an increased 3,600 hotel nights an-

nually. The training portion will be managed by a company based out of Sumner. At the time it was built, the HRSST was the largest project of its kind in the state. Now commissioned, PNNL will continue to assess the financial benefits of battery energy storage as a way to develop better battery designs and other tools to bring more “intermittents” onto the grid in a reliable, cost-effective manner. Richland says it is on track to meet standards set by the Energy Independence Act which requires at least 3% of the energy taken come from renewable sources by 2026. The required percentage will increase in multi-year increments with an eventual goal of 15% clean energy. The HRSST is considered beneficial to customers by creating a “more reliable and flexible source of energy.” The battery is charged by Richland’s distribution system during off-peak hours and in use during the peak times, saving money as well. “(Energy Northwest’s) perspective is that we need to utilize every tool in the toolbox and storage of different types is going to play in energy use of the future with intermittents, so we need to be able capture the energy,” Knode said. The large-scale project took more than five years to get off the ground but came to fruition with the assistance of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 77, which owns and leases the land. Unrelated to its partnership in the HRSST project, Richland recently came to an agreement with IBEW following a public dispute over its labor contract with city linemen.

ENERGY

Courtesy city of Richland Richland Energy Services’ first AMI meter is tested and configured.

“The collective bargaining agreement with IBEW is being routed for signatures. The city looks forward to a safe and productive relationship with IBEW benefitting employees and electric utility customers,” the city said. IBEW had argued its pay was not competitive in the region and initiated a doorknocking campaign and other public outreach methods to bring awareness to their contract requests. The city council approved a contract with IBEW in late September which takes effect until the end of 2023 and includes retroactive pay back to May 1, 2021. Richland described the terms as “competitive in the region.”

ENERGY

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X-energy relishes opportunity to bring next-gen nuclear to Tri-Cities By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

J. Clay Bell had two main goals when he visited the Tri-Cities in October to participate in Energy Northwest’s annual conference in Kennewick. Bell, chief executive officer of X-energy, came to discuss a government-backed partnership that will bring a fourth-generation nuclear plant to the Energy Northwest campus north Richland. Bell spent his visit pitching his company’s high-temperature, gas-cooled technology to utilities looking for carbon-free power sources. He also had a message for Tri-City residents about the company’s 320-megawatt Xe-100 plant, to be sited next to the towering Columbia Generating Station beside the Columbia River. It is safe, simpler to build and operate, and will be a great neighbor, he pledged. X-energy, Energy Northwest and Grant County Public Utility District plan to begin generating power by 2027 after the Xe-100 was selected as one of two pilot technologies by the U.S. Department of Energy for its multibillion-dollar Advanced Reactor Demonstration Project, or ARDP, program. The other is Bellevue-based Terra Power, another Energy Northwest partner. The ARDP program included $80 million in initial funding and a seven-year, $3.2 billion timeline to bring the new power technologies to fruition. Terra Power, led by Bill Gates, chose Kemmerer, Wyoming, for its site. X-energy, based in Rockville, Maryland, is building in Richland at what is known as Site 1. “We are as committed as we can be at this time,” he said. During his visit, Bell and his staff led visitors through a mockup of the computer stations where operators will control the Richland plant and the others that follow. Technology makes it simple to control and to construct the building. X-energy’s continuing mission is minimizing staffing needed to run its plants. The Tri-Cities greeted the ARDP awards with enthusiasm when word came out a year ago. Energy is a cornerstone of the local economic development efforts and nuclear technology is one of the region’s core competencies. Not everyone agrees it should stay that way. In September, the Columbia Riverkeeper issued a report saying additional nuclear reactors in the Mid-Columbia should be a “nonstarter” until there is a plan to address waste. The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation objected to small modular reactors in August. (See related story, Page A18). But Bell’s task was to explain his company’s technology and what led it to Richland and Washington state. Its gas-based technology and its pebble-bed fuel systems won’t ever experience meltdowns. “The reactor is intrinsically safe,” he said. Bell said his company was lucky to be selected for the partnership with Energy Northwest. “They could have had anyone they wanted,” said Bell. “I wasn’t at the forefront.” It took just five months to reach an

agreement and apply for ARDP – bureaucratic light speed. Thep process began under CEO Brad Sawatzke, who has since retired, and continues under his successor, Bob Schuetz. (See Q&A, Page A19). From his perspective, Energy Northwest brought the right combination of a great site, operational expertise and a local culture that is generally supportive of nuclear energy and eliminating carbon from electric production. He praised U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Sunnyside, for championing ARDP in Congress, where it originated. He praised the Trump Administration, which was in office when the awards were made, and the Biden Administration for its continu-

ing embrace of small modular reactor technology. He praised Washington state for its commitment to carbon-free energy by 2045, codified in the 2019 Clean Energy Transformation Act. “Washington state is on the vanguard,” he said. Oregon has similar decarbonization goals, but state law prohibits nuclear power within its borders. Site 1 is an attractive location, he said. It is part of the complex where Energy Northwest, then known as the Washington Public Power Supply System, once intended to build a fleet of traditional nuclear plants. It built just one and famously

defaulting on the bonds it issued to pay for them. It is licensed, has utilities and access to a community with a deep well of expertise with nuclear technology. And unlike other licensed sites, it is owned by an existing utility. It would take too long to bring a green site through the process to meet the 2027 deadline imposed by the ARDP. No other potential site in the country is better set up to meet the 2027 deadline, Bell said. There are other NRC-licensed sites, he added, but none is controlled by a utility. Even better, the Tri-Cities is rich in nuclear expertise, from trades and crafts to engineers and established supply chains. uX-ENERGY, Page A18

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ENERGY

Columbia Riverkeeper says Hanford area is ‘no place’ for new nuclear By Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

An Oregon-based environmental nonprofit is challenging the wisdom of fighting climate change with small modular nuclear reactors near the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. The Columbia Riverkeeper, based in Hood River, said building new nuclearpowered plants at the Energy Northwest complex north of Richland is a threat to the Columbia River, which it is pledged to protect. The report, titled “Q&A: Nuclear Energy Threatens the Columbia River,” targets a plan by X-energy of Rockville, Maryland, and Energy Northwest, to site a 320-megawatt high temperature gas next generation reactor near Columbia Generating Station, the 1,200-megawatt water-cooled plant. Grant County Public Utility District is the third partner and buyer for the energy it will produce. The Hanford reservation and the Columbia River encircle the campus. In the X-ENERGY, From page A17 “That’s how we ended up here,” Bell said. “This community gets nuclear power.” Energy Northwest and X-energy signed up their first utility partner in early 2021, when Grant County Public Utility District signed on as the plant’s owner and buyer of the energy it will produce. The TRi Energy Partnership formed in April and was

absence of a national geologic repository to accept radioactive waste created by nuclear plants, X-energy will store waste from its Xe-100 reactor on site in dry caskets. “Adding more nuclear infrastructure – a small modular nuclear reactor – at Hanford without any long-term plan for the nuclear waste should be a nonstarter,” Lauren Goldberg, legal and program director, said in a release that accompanied the report. In 2020, the U.S. Department of Energy selected two Energy Northwest partners for its Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, or ARDP, to advance the state of nuclear technology to supplant carbon sources for power. X-energy was one. Terra Power, a Bellevue-based company founded by Bill Gates, was the other. Both companies received $80 million in initial funding, with $3.2 billion more slated, subject to federal appropriations. Xenergy is working toward a 2027 deadline to begin operations. (See related story, Page A17.) Terra Power and X-energy both initially

chose sites at Energy Northwest. Terra Power shifted its focus to a coal site in Wyoming, but X-energy is committed to Washington. The Riverkeeper report notes that Terra Power’s Wyoming plan leaves a vacuum in north Richland that could be filled by another nuclear power developer. The report details the Hanford site’s long history, dating to its selection for the Manhattan Project during World War II and its enduring history of producing plutonium for nuclear weapons. It is the “most contaminated place in the Western Hemisphere,” it said. It is also home to abundant life, with 43 species of fish, 42 species of mammals and 258 species of birds on the Hanford Reach National Monument, which adjoins the nuclear site. “The Hanford Nuclear Site was once treated as a nuclear waste dumping ground. Nevertheless, the immense importance of the site to Tribes, fish, plant, animals and the surrounding communities means thor-

ough cleanup at Hanford matters. SMRs have no place in Hanford’s vibrant future,” it said. The Columbia Riverkeeper isn’t the only objector. The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation asserted its objections – and treaty rights – in an August letter to the Department of Energy. Still even traditional opponents to nuclear power are softening in the face of rising demand for power and the growing cost of climate change. The Union of Concerned Scientists made called nuclear power “increasingly valuable” in a post on its web site. “(T)he low-carbon electricity provided by existing nuclear power plants is increasingly valuable in the fight against climate change. Understanding these dynamics — and weighing the benefits of nuclear power against its shortcomings and risks — is essential as we make decisions about the future of US electricity,” it said. Go to: bit.ly/NewNuclearReport.

announced at a ceremony rich with nods to the region’s atomic history. Energy Northwest brought in the lectern used by President John F. Kennedy during a Sept. 26, 1963, visit to preside over the groundbreaking for the power fission-powered Washington Electric Generating Plant. Grant County has a growing demand for power as it caters to data center and other development. CEO Kevin Nordt

said nuclear energy offers one of the best, lowest cost options to serve its growing communities in a statement released at the time. “The electricity generated by a Xe100, and other advanced nuclear energy technologies, will be invaluable to our future carbon-free grid.” The Xe-100 operates with high temperature gas and is designed to scale up and down without the potential for meltdowns. The plant is fueled by X-energy’s own fuel, which is produced with 15.5% enriched uranium – far above what the current generation of nuclear power. The physics are complex, but at its core, as temperatures rise, the reactor level drops, making meltdowns impossible, according to Bell. In a worst-case scenario, if the core heats up, the reaction shuts off.

Heat dissipates into the ground. X-energy’s pebble bed fuel is built with uranium (which will most likely be sourced from Russia) pellets the size of poppyseeds. The tiny pellets are layered within a ceramic shell that contains virtually all the waste. It takes 19,000 pellets held in a graphite matrix to make one fistsize pebble and 220,000 pebbles to fill the pebble bed. Spent fuel remains one of the industry’s greatest challenges. Bell, a former undersecretary of energy, said he is convinced the government will solve the challenge. “It’s a political issue,” he said. “Whether it is Yucca Mountain or somewhere else, it will get solved. Until then, we can safely store fuel.”

ENERGY

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | DECEMBER 2021

Q&A

Number of employees you oversee: 1,000 + Brief background of your organization: Energy Northwest is a joint operating agency of Washington state, comprised of 27 public power member utilities from across the state, serving more than 1.5 million customers. Energy Northwest owns and operates a diverse mix of 100% carbon-free electricity generating resources including hydro, solar, battery storage and wind projects and the third-largest provider of electricity in Washington – the Columbia Generating Station nuclear power facility. The agency continually explores new generation projects to meet its members’ needs. How did you land your current role? You are new in the position. What is your message to the organization and the community about your priorities? I was in the right place at the right time for many steps along my career. But at each step, my priorities have been: Strive for excellence in all that you do; remember that everyone you meet might be in a position to help you in the future; and do everything you can

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BOB SCHUETZ CEO Energy Northwest

to make your crew/team/peers individually successful. I came to Energy Northwest as the maintenance manager for Columbia Generating Station in 2013 and held various leadership roles including plant general manager and site vice president. I became CEO in August 2021. I’m also a 28-year Navy submarine veteran. I had the honor to command the fast attack submarine USS Hyman G Rickover (SSN 709) and Submarine Squadron Seventeen at the Bangor submarine base in Kitsap County. I retired from service as the deputy commander and chief of staff for the U.S. Pacific Fleet Submarine Force. Most everything I learned about leadership I learned from my Navy experiences. What role is Energy Northwest playing to meet climate change goals? In addition to safe, reliable and cost-effective operation of our current clean energy generating assets, Energy Northwest is looking to assist our member utilities in meeting the 2045 goal by expanding the clean power we can offer our members. The recent commissioning of the Horn Rapids Solar and Battery Storage project, initial stages of development

for a 155MWe Ruby Flats solar project and the expansion of electric vehicle charging stations in the state through our EVITA project are some of the strides we’re making. Why should the Tri-Cities care about Energy Northwest and its role in our community? I think most everyone would agree that humans are having some impact on our climate. As a provider of 100% carbon-free electricity, we will play an important role to help Washington achieve 100% carbon-free, clean power by 2045. What is one characteristic that you believe every leader should possess? Humility. What is the biggest challenge facing business owners/managers today? On any day, I would say cost-efficient operation of your business to make sure you can attract customers. In the current climate it is starting to

Bob Schuetz

become more difficult to attract and retain the talent we need to be successful. There needs to be a never-ending focus on workforce development – starting as early as elementary and secondary schools. Finally, the challenges posed by Covid-19 and vaccine mandates have the potential to exacerbate the workforce planning and development issues. If you had a magic wand, what would you change about your industry/field? I would educate the public on what nuclear power is and what it’s not. uSCHUETZ, Page A21

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FCCI, From page A1 heart of the vit plant process. Heating them up is a key step before the plant begins treating Hanford’s legacy waste. The supplier award recognizes a 20year partnership between FCCI and Bechtel that is no accident, said Russ Watson, vice president for FCCI. The company has an office and fabrication facility in Richland’s Kingsgate area. It is a subsidiary of Dupill Group Companies, a Pennsylvania-based supplier to the energy services industry. FCCI had worked extensively with Hanford contractors, including Fluor and Parsons. But when executives decided to chart a course for the company about 20 years ago, Watson said it was clear its focus needed to be on Bechtel and the vit plant. It would determine what Bechtel required

and adapt its business model and procedures to comply. “We felt this would be a much better way to learn to work within the federal government nuclear arena,” he said. “We made the decision that we would explore Bechtel procedures and incorporate them in our business activities regarding our responses to them.” It was not easy. He credits FCCI’s Project Manager Carly Perigo for navigating successfully. “We thought we were clever, but it was a more complex world than we expected.” FCCI made Bechtel its mentor and credits the move with its success. FCCI serves as a sort-of gatekeeper for many of the components used to construct the plant. It tested and examined that the pipes, valves, instrumentation and other equip-

ment headed to the construction site, whether produced in its own facility or by other vendors, met Bechtel’s exacting requirements. That included tensile testing, hardness testing, bend tests, chemical analysis and hydrostatic testing, among other steps. When that was done, it ensured components matched the documentation provided by manufacturers and foundries. “We provide a nuclear pedigree to those components if they’re destined to the nuclear industry,” Watson said. FCCI shipped 9,000 valves accompanied by 13,000 documents to the vit plant. Watson said it has a 99% success rate. As construction gives way to testing and start up activities, FCCI stepped outside of its customary role to provide the frit, which serves as a stand-in for glassforming materials during heat up.

ENERGY Watson said sourcing frit was not in its usual wheelhouse. It used the same verification processes that it uses for parts to ensure the material met Bechtel’s specifications for chemistry and physical profile. The contract was worth about $750,000. The frit supplied by FCCI will be used in during heat up but not during actual operations. A separate Tri-City firm, Pasco’s Two Rivers Terminal, secured the contract to provide the glass-making materials that will be used in the actual vitrification process. Watson said its success with the vit plant has led to more work with other Bechtel projects. FCCI estimates that has been worth about $6 million in the past five years, with projects at the Uranium Processing Facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, the Blue Grass Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant in Richmond, Kentucky, and the Pueblo Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant in Pueblo, Colorado. It designed a valve for NASA’s Mobile Launcher 2 as well. Watson said FCCI has been honored to be part of the vit plant project and the government’s obligation to clean up the radioactive legacy of decades of weapons production. “We have a societal obligation to get this job done. We have some of the most technically capable people to accomplish this. We need to get this done. We share this mission,” he said. Looking forward, FCCI is intrigued by the emerging technology of small modular reactors and their potential to provide carbon-free power. “We know it’s green power. We know the technology has come a long way. We know the waste footprint is very small. It can provide a lot of power. Whatever company is most active, we want to be there with them,” Watson said.

uBUSINESS BRIEF

Become a certified Mount St. Helens volcano expert

The deadline is coming up to register for a popular Volcano Naturalist Program, now in its 10th year. The mostly online training is offered by the Mount St. Helens Institute and the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. Courses are held online from 6-9 p.m. Tuesday evenings, Feb. 1-May 3, and offer an in-depth look at the mountain’s eruptive history, the ecology of the blast zone, the cultural history of Mount St. Helens and more. In all, the course includes 36 hours of instruction and three optional field trips sites around the mountain. The in-person visits will follow Covid-19 safety precautions. Registration is $436 and closes on Jan. 10, 2022, or when the program is full. Go to: mshinstitute.org/learn/volcano-naturalist-program.html.

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | DECEMBER 2021

ENERGY SCHUETZ, From page A19 Nuclear power is clean, safe, responsible electricity. It provides more than half of America’s carbon-free electricity, it’s full time, and doesn’t create huge volumes of radioactive waste. We also get confused with the cleanup efforts at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hanford site. We’re neighbors, but our mission and purpose are very different. What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time? Treat everyone as you would want to be treated; the small things really do matter; make sure you take the time to understand your own strengths and weaknesses; end every sentence with a question mark; and always be the last to speak. Who are your role models or mentors? In my career I have had dozens of mentors, but one from the Navy and one from the nuclear industry who have been invaluable to my development over the years. Both very rarely tell me what it is I need to do to solve a problem or capitalize on an opportunity, but rather they have a knack for knowing the right questions to ask and will guide me to coming up with my own solution to a problem. Make it possible for them to be successful with the knowledge, skills, tools, resources and oversight they need. Listen – then talk. Celebrate success. When corrections and improvements are necessary, be fair. Communicate the

‘what’ and ‘why.’ Finally, get out of their way! How did you decide to pursue the career that you are working in today? It is a long story, but it came down to basic hard work, networking and timing. I didn’t plan on a career in the Navy or becoming a CEO. It started with needing Navy ROTC to fund my college education, Navy training around a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and switching my studies to nuclear engineering. After initial nuclear training, I asked for an assignment on an operating attack submarine on the west coast, but got an overhaul missile submarine on the east coast. At least that was where I met my wife. I had always planned to leave the Navy after my ROTC commitment was over, but at that point I had a young wife, a tiny baby and it seemed a bad time to transition. Follow-on assignments led to upward mobility in the Navy. When I retired from the Navy, I transitioned to inspecting civilian nuclear power plants and then landed a leadership position at Columbia. Ten years later I was honored with a promotion to CEO. How do you measure success in your workplace? The nuclear industry measures itself constantly, with monthly performance indicators where we compare ourselves to our industry peers. We are regulated by many different agencies, including

the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which gives us an annual performance report. But perhaps the best indicator is our annual employee engagement survey – if our employees are happy coming to work and feel empowered, everything else will fall into place. What do you consider your leadership style to be? Facilitative/intent based. How do you balance work and family life? I try to carve out dedicated time for my wife and family, and I have several things we do together. I use up my personal time. On weekends I get up at my regular wake up time and work in my home office until my wife gets up, then try and devote the rest of the day to family. I also have an end of the day personal reflection routine where I ask myself five questions about my day. One of those questions is, “What did I do for my family today?” It might just be a phone call to one of my daughters on the way home, or a quick text to my wife that I’m thinking of her – but the question keeps me honest every day. What do you like to do when you are not at work? I enjoy reading and always have a book in progress. I try and alternate between leadership/ self-improvement and something fun. Right now I’m reading “Barbarians

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at the Gate: The Fall of RJR Nabisco.” I enjoy hiking and biking. I’ve made two attempts at Mt. Rainier, and recently bought eBikes with my wife and have over 1,500 miles on it. Fairly recently we’ve taken up RVing. I love to sail, but don’t have a boat – fortunately my son-in-law in San Diego does! I also work out at Orangetheory Fitness about three days a week. What’s your best time management strategy? I am a dedicated practitioner of David Allen’s “Getting Things Done.” The outward indicator of that is I leave work every day with an empty inbox. Best tip to relieve stress? Exercise in any form (hiking, biking or the gym). What’s your favorite podcast? Most-used app? Or favorite website? Favorite book? Book: Ian W. Toll’s “Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy” Book: Patrick O’Brien’s AubreyMaturin series Book: “Getting Things Done,” by David Allen Favorite Podcast: “This American Life” Most Used App: Newsreader Do you have a personal mantra, phrase or quote you like to use? Don’t mistake activity for progress.

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uBUSINESS BRIEFS

Ostrom Mushroom Farms receives $102K REA rebate

Ostrom Mushroom Farms received a $102,000 rebate from Benton Rural Electric Association for embracing energysaving technology at its Sunnyside facility. Ostrom installed LED lighting, watercooled chiller equipment and variable frequency drives on air handlers, cooling tower fans, boiler fans and composting tunnel and bunker fans in 2019. The new equipment is projected to save the company nearly 2.4 million kilowatt hours each year over the energy it would have consumed with less efficient equipment. Ostrom is furthering work to reduce its

carbon footprint by making compost from farm waste and recycling its wastewater and corrugated boxes. Ostrom grows white and brown agaricus bisporus mushrooms, the common white cremini and portobello varieties, in a 237,000-square foot space, with room to double production. In addition to the energy-efficiency rebate, Benton REA helped Ostrom secure a no-interest ownership credit loan through the cooperative and a 2% interest loan through the U.S. Department of Agriculture during its 2019 construction. As the USDA loan is paid back, Benton REA will place the funds into a revolving loan fund for other economic development projects in the area. “Ostrom is taking full advantage of their co-op membership through Benton

ENERGY

REA’s energy efficiency incentives and economic development programs,” said Shannon Olsen, assistant community development and member relations manager of Benton REA. Business members of Benton REA interested in more information about the co-op’s energy-efficiency rebates and loans may call 509-786-8265 or email memberservices@bentonrea.org.

Christensen grows with acquisition of Yorkston

Richland-based Christensen Inc. has acquired Yorkston Oil Co., a fuel and lubricant distributor and operator of the Commercial Fuel Network (CFN) sites serving customers in northwestern Washington.

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Terms were not disclosed. Yorkston is a third-generation, familyowned business. In addition to owning and operating the CFN sites, it distributes fuel to branded retail sites and delivered heating fuels, industrial and motor oils, marine fuels and on- and off-road fuels to independent and commercial accounts. Christensen, also family owned, is one of the largest distributors of fuels, lubricants and propane on the West Coast. Tony Christensen, president and CEO, said the acquisition supports its growth in renewable fuels and extends its geographical reach. Earlier this year, Christensen acquired a 50,000-square-foot warehouse, rail and bulk storage tanks in Portland and a fouracre site in Seattle with a 50,000-quarefoot warehouse and close proximity to loading terminals. The company employs more than 500 and serves more than 10,000 retail fuel, commercial and industrial customers.

CAC can help with energy, water bills

Community Action Connections, or CAC, is promoting awareness of programs that help low-income households in Benton and Franklin counties with energy and water bills. CAC is a private nonprofit social services agency providing a variety of services to low-income individuals and families. The services and programs serve residents with incomes between 150% to 200% of the current federal poverty level guidelines. The energy and water programs are federally funded. The heating program helps with energy bills, including electricity, natural gas, propane, heating oil, wood and the portion of rent that covers heat. The water program serves households earning less than 150% of the poverty level that face having service disconnected over unpaid bills. Go to: bfcac.org or call 509-545-4042 or 509-786-3378.

West Richland substation to be energized in December

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Benton REA’s newest electric distribution substation is scheduled to come online the week of Dec. 20. The eight-bay power distribution hub will receive 115 kilovolt electricity from Bonneville Power Administration transmission lines near Ruppert Road in West Richland. It will transform the high-voltage electricity to 12.4 kV, making it ready to send through Benton REA’s distribution power lines. Benton REA’s pole-mount transformers will then decrease the voltage to 120/240 kV to power homes and businesses. One transformer was installed in 2021, but the substation has room to add another. The substation will take pressure off existing substations and increase reliability to Benton REA members in the West Richland area. “The bulk of the work was done by local companies,” said Joel Mietzner, system engineer.

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | DECEMBER 2021 uBUSINESS BRIEFS

IRS report is a must-read for true-crime fans

The Internal Revenue Service released its annual report on tax crimes, and it is a page-turner for those who love tales of wrongdoing. The 2021 report tallies the 2,500 investigations representing more than $10 billion in tax and financial crimes, noting its work resulted in a conviction rate of nearly 90%. Better than statistics, though, the 49page report highlights intriguing cases from each IRS office, hundreds of glimpses at the crimes and misdeeds of the great and the not-so-great. The Seattle Field Office, which covers Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, Alaska and Guam, shared some of its notorious cases.

One involves Dion L. Earl, a former Seattle college soccer star who’d already been convicted of several sex crimes and drew the IRS’s attention for filing fraudulent tax returns that netted hundreds of thousands of dollars in refunds, even after he was targeted for an audit. He was sentenced to a year in prison and to pay more than $1 million in fines and restitution. Another case involved Eugene, Oregon, resident Susan Tranberg, who engaged in corporate malfeasance. As a Weyerhaeuser executive, she created a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme by creating a fake timber contract and submitting phony invoices to her employer. She got a six-year prison sentence. Intrigued? Go to: bit.ly/CSIInternalRevenueService.

Learn to be a tasting room pro at WSU Tri-Cities

Washington State University Tri-Cities has launched a Wine Tasting Room Certificate, an online program to train tasting room employees about the wines and food they serve. The certificate is offered through the WSU Tri-Cities Carson College of Business Office of Lifelong Learning. The fee is $249 and covers the state wine industry, proper wine service, tastings, evaluation and food prep. Individual lessons cover how wine is made, styles of wine, types of grapes, unique aspects of the state’s wine and more. “We worked closely with winery owners and tasting room managers to determine their needs and develop content that is specifically geared toward what wineries

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require for customer service,” said Joan Giese, director of lifelong learning. Go to: tricities.wsu.edu/wine-tastingroom-training.

Behavioral health treatment gets support from counties

The Benton and Franklin county commissions have both voted to raise local sales taxes to support a new Behavioral Health Fund to support the treatment of chemical dependency and support mental health services. The program will support the therapeutic court program that hears criminal cases related to behavioral issues as well. The fund is supported by a new 0.1% sales and use tax, which takes effect July 1, 2022.

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New restaurants, big developments among our most-read online stories in 2021 By Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

Newspapers love to compile their endof-the-year top story lists, and we’re no exception. We had plenty of big headlines in 2021 about multimillion-dollar developments coming to our community. It’s been a bright spot for our economy after weathering so much uncertainty in 2020. Our annual list of the most-read stories on the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business’ website included a list of topics always popular with our readers: new developments and new restaurants. Let’s take a look at the top news stories of 2021, according to tcjournal.biz readers: 1. New restaurant to take flight in Richland (bit.ly/Flight-Tap-Table): A long-empty restaurant at a high-profile Richland corner will be home in 2022 to a family-friendly sit-down restaurant and sports bar featuring beers on tap plus wine and cider. Flight Tap and Table’s flight theme will extend to the menu, offering flights of sliders, wings, tacos and more. The creation is the brain child of husband-and-wife team of Amanda Thavone and Joey Casados, who own Teahaus. We reported that the couple signed a lease for the former Dupus Boomer’s Downtown restaurant at 530 Swift Blvd. in October.

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2. Costco-anchored Broadmoor helps Pasco boom (bit.ly/Costco-Broadmoor): Pasco confirms in August that Costco is expected to occupy the northwest corner of Broadmoor Boulevard and the future extension of Sandifur Parkway, in the area along Road 100. 3. Massive warehouses to bring 1,200 jobs to east Pasco (bit. ly/Amazon-warehouses): Two industrial distribution centers, each more than

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Crumbl Cookies, Richland

Resort at Hansen Park

1 million square feet, are planned near Sacajawea State Park in Pasco. The Ryan Companies of Bellevue submitted plans for Project Oyster and Project Pearl under the Washington State Environmental Protection Act. Amazon Inc. later confirmed it was the tenant for the project and upped the job count to 1,500. uTOP 10, Page A30

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | DECEMBER 2021

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$7,000

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Per capita personal income, or PCPI, can be skewed by age as well. A community with a large share of the population not working will typically deliver lower numbers than one where a higher percentage of the population is employed. This applies to the greater Tri-Cities, which has a disproportionately large share of the population under 17 and presumably not working. As a consequence, per capita personal income here consistently lies below the U.S. average, as the graph illustrates. This standing is reversed for median household income, where the unit is not a person but an entire household. Nonetheless, this column will take up PCPI because the data is newer and its components permit some forecast for final results in 2021. The obvious fact for 2020 PCPI in the two counties was its value: slightly more than $49,000. This represents a substantial improvement from 2019, when it stood at about $45,400. The implied increase, 8%, was far greater than the compounded growth rate of 3.2% since 2000. And the recent year-over-year increase was considerably higher than those of the U.S. and Washington. While not shown in the Trends data, some unusual components undergird the 2020 result.

$49,000

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$56,000

Per Capita Personal Income

Many things are asked of economists. Sometimes it’s to provide an explanation of the present. Other times it’s to give a forecast. This column contains a bit of both. To summarize the past year involves dissecting some of the present and poring over available evidence to forecast possible outcomes for 2021. The challenge lies in the delay, which is often lengthy, in the release of public economic data. The lags can stretch six to nine months for many local indicators. For a few, like unemployment estimates, we are fortunate they arrive with a twomonth lag. But speedy releases aren’t typical. To some, this tardiness might seem slothful. But consider the complexity of measuring income. To arrive at trustworthy numbers, federal economists use either a raft of records from various agencies, or field the largest continuing survey in the world, involving 3.3 million U.S. residents. The first measure, “personal income,” comes from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The second, median household income, comes from the American Community Survey of the U.S. Census. This column will focus the former measure, recently released for 2020. Specifically, we’ll examine Benton-Franklin Trends’ per capita personal income data. Income, whether at the level of the individual or the household, is akin to a “climax species” measure, one that summarizes much. Per capita income provides an average since it divides all income flowing to individuals by the total population. As such, it gives a “middle value” of tens of thousands of individual incomes within the two counties. Averages, especially for income, however, can be swayed by high values.

Benton & Franklin Counties - Per Capita Personal Income Washington State - Per Capita Personal Income United States - Per Capita Personal Income

Courtesy Benton-Franklin Trends

Total personal income can be thought of a three-legged stool, with the following legs, listed in order of size: earnings (wages & salaries, plus proprietors’ income); federal transfer payments; and investment returns. Federal transfer payments encompass a huge array of government programs. Listed in order, the top 8 consist of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, student assistance, civil service retirements, veterans’ compensation, food stamps

(SNAP) and VA payments. These do not include payments to federal enterprises. In 2020, the components experienced dramatic turns of fortune. Year-over-year growth was 5% for wages and salaries, 0.7% for investment income and 32% for federal transfer payments. The size of the federal transfer payments reflects the extraordinary lengths that the U.S. government took to buttress

uJONES, Page A30

A very special thank you for all the Christmas cards we received. You made someone’s day a little brighter. We appreciate all you do from all of us at Parkview!

(509) 734-9773 7820 W. 6th Avenue • Kennewick, WA

www.Parkviewslc.com Independent/Assisted Living and Respite Care

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | DECEMBER 2021 TOP 10, From page A27

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riversidecollision.com (509) 737-9121 Collision repair, dent repair and towing.

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ADDITIONAL MEMBERS Marcia Spry Aloha Garage Door Company Frank Prior 1st Priority Detail

Elsie Leman UPS Store in Pasco

Ken Hatcher A.I.M.M. American Institute of Mind Mastery, LLC Angelita Chavez CHUGH, LLP Dawn King Spectrum Reach

Tonya Callies Windermere Group One

George Hefter TCT Computer Solutions Jim Carey Cruise Holidays Kim Palmer Perfection Tire

Aaron Jorgensen Northwest Injury Clinics Noe Madrigal A&A Roofing

Cindy Sams AAA of Washington

Tim Mether Kestrel Home Inspection Services Michael Thorn Cliff Thorn Construction

Victoria Yocom Victoria Lynn’s

Andrew Ziegler Moon Security

Allyson Rawlings Rawlings Flooring America & Design Robert Burges Burges Carpet Cleaning Jeff Sperline Sperline Raekes Law James Atwood Churchill Mortgage Troy Woody Mr. Electric

Mike Duarte Paintmaster

Matt Sweezea Primerica

Joe Klein McCurley Integrity Auto Dealerships Tiffany Lundstrom Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business Dennis Miller Artmill

Justin Dodd Dayco Heating and Air

Jennie Oldham Kennewick Flower Shop Nicole Vigne AAA of Washington

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4. Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen’s menu coming to Kennewick (bit.ly/ popeyes-Kenn): The Louisiana-based franchise known for its chicken will open a 2,333-square-foot fast-casual restaurant at 240 N. Ely St. in Kennewick, its first Tri-City location. The car dealership that occupied the site will be demolished. 5. Darigold picks Pasco for $500M protein and butter plant (bit.ly/Darigold-Pasco): Darigold Inc., a Seattlebased dairy cooperative, will build its largest ever milk drying plant in Pasco, cementing the region’s status as one of the Northwest’s leading centers for food processing. The project will create more than 1,000 jobs and will be built after Darigold evaluates how the state’s new carbon rates affect its operations. 6. Ex-Tri-Cities Fever duo heating up stretch of Richland waterfront (bit. ly/vertiseeTC): Lionell Singleton and Houston Lillard were fierce competitors when they played for the Tri-Cities Fever, an indoor football league. Now, they’re launching one of the more intriguing apartment projects in the Tri-Cities. Vertisee is a 24-unit loft-style apartment complex in the 1100 block of Columbia Park Trail, a waterfront neighborhood currently dotted with modest homes and businesses. 7. Old Sports Authority near Columbia Center to reopen as veteran-focused thrift shop (bit.ly/veterans-thrift): Thelbert “Thadd” Lawson Jr., a veteran who pledged to help fellow veterans while serving a lengthy prison term, converted the former Sports Authority store at Kennewick’s Columbia Center into Veterans Warehouse Thrift Store, the second outpost for his Wenatchee nonprofit. The space was empty for more than five years. 8. Entrepreneurial teacher opens gourmet cookie shop in Richland (bit. JONES, From page 29 the economy. From 2011-19, their average share of total income was about 19%; in 2020 it grew to 23%. Equivalently, $3.4 billion flowed to the greater Tri-Cities economy courtesy of federal government payments to individuals. Without this dramatic opening of federal spigots, above-trend personal income would not have occurred here. And for 2021? With so little data available, precise predictions at this point are perilous. Yet, it’s helpful to keep in mind that personal income in the greater Tri-Cities is highly correlated with that of the U.S. For sure, one of its components will be lower in 2021: transfer payments. Investment income should be higher than 2020 unless the stock market suffers a sharp pullback by year-end. And earnings? Net farm income, part of earnings, looks to increase nicely, if the local agricultural economy follows USDA national predictions. Non-farm proprietors’ income, larger than net farm income, has been more stable and will likely grow slightly. As for wages and salaries, the largest component of earnings, only first quarter

YEAR IN REVIEW ly/Crumbl-Richland): The Tri-Cities likes its sugary sweets judging by the popularity of this March story. Richland teacher Kevin Hatch and his business partner Ian Taylor of Utah opened this cookie shop franchise featuring a weekly rotating menu of more than 120 specialty flavors. The small retail store is at 2665 Queensgate Blvd. in Richland in a strip mall anchored by Five Guys and Maurices, near Target. The Target mom is the gourmet cookie chain’s demographic. 9. Pole buildings get new life as unique, affordable homes (bit.ly/barndosTC): The Tri-Cities is becoming a center for Instagram-worthy barn-style homes (“barndominiums”) after a pair of Tri-City entrepreneurs with a big social media following built one for themselves. Olivia “Liv” and Tanner Berg created Back Forty Building Co. to support the people who are interested in building the lower-cost homes in rural settings. 10. Vancouver developer raises its local profile with $50M project at Hansen Park (bit.ly/HansenPark) Carmen Villarma and husband Dennis Pavlina, Vancouver developers who have built apartments in the Tri-Cities, began work on The Resort at Hansen Park, a $50 million mixed-use development at Columbia Center Boulevard and West 10th Avenue in Kennewick. The project includes three different types of rental homes and 21,000 square feet of office space. They have the rights to develop neighboring properties as well. Our Building Tri-Cities section also proved popular with online readers. It’s an advertising feature highlighting new construction projects and the contractors who work on them. Check them out at: bit.ly/Buildingtc. local data have been released. Those numbers actually reveal a slight decline. If, however, wages and salaries roughly follow the national trend, look for high single-digit increases in subsequent quarters. Nationally, wages and salaries in the second and third quarters of this year rose 12.3% and 9.7%, respectively. Current fourth quarter national predictions about the broader measure, income, run from 5% (Blue Chip consensus) to 8% (Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank). If the forecasters are correct, Tri-City personal income should rise by mid-single digits during the final three months. The economy of the greater Tri-Cities has been on a bumpy ride over the past 18 months. As we say goodbye to 2021, we mark the beginning of a return to longer-term trends. That’s not a bad prospect. D. Patrick Jones is the executive director for Eastern Washington University’s Institute for Public Policy & Economic Analysis. Benton-Franklin Trends, the institute’s project, uses local, state and federal data to measure the local economic, educational and civic life of Benton and Franklin counties.

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2021 was an ongoing exercise in adaptability and resiliency This past year has been one like no other — full of challenges, hardships and uncertainty. However, it was underscored by remarkable resilience, much of that apparent in the day-to-day activities of Tri-City Regional Chamber members. Throughout 2021, we continued to adapt by helping businesses withstand changes due to the pandemic as it continues to make its mark on how we do business. Please enjoy learning more about the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce, our initiatives, priorities, and highlights from this past year.

Workforce and education The regional chamber partnered with the Association of Washington Business (AWB), Battelle, Columbia Basin College and Washington State University Tri-Cities to launch the Washington Workforce Portal. The online platform, which connects students across the state with real-world work-based learning opportunities, was launched as a pilot program in only two markets: Tri-Cities and Spokane. Visit WashingtonWorkforcePortal.org for more information. Advocacy The regional chamber continues to be an advocate for the Tri-Cities business community and a strong and credible voice in the local and state Legislature. Last January, the chamber launched

Lori Mattson Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce 2021 IN REVIEW

“Session Spotlight,” a weekly online video series highlighting legislative happenings that were relevant to businesses in the region. During the election season, the 2021 Vote for Business Candidate Questionnaire and Candidate Forums provided Tri-Citians the only business-focused voter’s guide in the region. Over the past year, the chamber has taken positions on a variety of issues and written (or signed onto) 31 position letters to leaders at the national, state and local levels. To read those letters or find more information about the chamber’s advocacy efforts, visit TriCityRegionalChamber.com/business-advocacy.

Programs The chamber offered the local business community a valuable set of programs throughout 2021. “Ask the Experts,” a virtual series of free business-related webinars, connected 3,200 viewers with experts on impor-

File photo Tri-City businesses such as Free Culture Clothing rallied to open safely as the Covid-19 pandemic extended into 2021.

tant topics, such as human resources, taxes and more. Now in its 11th year, the Small Business Incentive Program helped strengthen our region by providing 30 small businesses $1,000 grants to purchase key products or services. Additionally, two local second-stage businesses were selected to participate in the chamber’s Economic Gardening program – providing them critical information related to their strategic growth. During the first half of the year,

the chamber partnered with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) to offer the Confident Compliance program, featuring monthly virtual workshops that informed participants of important L&I-related topics, like protecting workers from Covid-19, creating an accident prevention program, overtime rules for workers, and more. Information on all the chamber’s uMATTSON, Page A34

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Explosive growth will bring its own set of challenges At the end of 2020, we looked back at the impacts of Covid-19 on our local Tri-Cities’ economy and predicted a fast rebound. In 2021, we definitely experienced a rebound and have seen continued growth in the size of our workforce. We are anticipating even more workforce growth in 2022. According to our Washington State Employment Security Department Regional Economist Ajsa Suljic, Benton and Franklin counties currently have 108.9% of the workforce that we had in the first quarter of 2020. Essentially, the number of people who are working in our community has grown by almost 10% in less than two years, while going through a global pandemic and its resulting economic disruption! This fact reinforces how our economy works in that the primary industries such as food manufacturing, scientific research, construction and environmental remediation were not as affected by closures early in 2020. These industries were either quickly deemed essential by the state and did not shut down or transitioned to working remotely. However, secondary industries such as hospitality and food service were affected by business closures and are still challenged with filling open positions. Unfortunately, the recovery and growth in our workforce has not been even across all industries and sectors. In 2021, we also had exciting announcements on new attraction and growth projects. These included:

Darigold At the end of June, Darigold, a leading Washington-based dairy marketing and processing company, announced plans to build a $500 million, stateof-the-art premium protein and butter operation at the Port of Pasco’s Reimann Industrial Center. This facility will incorporate a variety of innovative technologies and conservation strategies that combined could mitigate over 300,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year. It is targeted to break ground in early 2022 and begin full commercial production within two years of this milestone. Darigold is expecting to create over 1,000 on site and indirect supply chain and service jobs. This project was a huge team effort led by the Port of Pasco, which included the city of Pasco, Franklin County, Franklin PUD, TRIDEC and many others. Reser’s Fine Foods Earlier in June, Beaverton, Oregonbased Reser’s Fine Foods purchased land from Cox Family Land LLC and shortly thereafter broke ground on a new 250,000-square-foot prepared foods plant. The company is also considering repurposing its existing 110,500-squarefoot facility, which combined with the new plant, would lead to a net job increase in the Tri-Cities. The new prepared foods plant will be state of the art and accommodate rising demand for

Karl Dye TRIDEC

2021 IN REVIEW

convenience foods and will employ technology to reduce water and power use.

Local Bounti June was also the month that Local Bounti closed on the 28-acre Pasco site of its new Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) site. They will combine vertical and greenhouse growing methods with cutting-edge technology to grow fresh greens and herbs 365 days a year in a controlled, indoor facility. Their CEA process also includes a rapid packaging and shipping system which will allow their product to be delivered to their retailers within hours of being harvested. Local Bounti is planning to employ 40 people within 36 months of its operational launch later in 2022. Amazon On Sept. 16, Amazon Inc. confirmed it was in the process of building two distribution centers in Pasco. Each warehouse will be more than 1 million square feet and together will employ a total of 1,500 people. Each new warehouse will receive, store and distribute different categories of goods. Smaller items such as household goods, books, toys and technology will be in one while the other will have larger items like paper goods, pet food and supplies, patio furniture, baby strollers and outdoor sports equipment, including kayaks, skis and fishing gear. Challenges Between these new developments and the organic growth of our existing businesses, we can see that over 2,000 direct jobs and at least double that number of indirect jobs will be created in the TriCities over the next two years. Direct jobs are created by a new company’s employment while indirect jobs are ones in the supply chain and service industries connected to the new company and their operations. The new developments outlined above will all compete for many of the same employees at entry-level positions. A good employee who could be trained to work in the Amazon warehouses also could be trained in food manufacturing. Historically, when there are open positions in the Tri-Cities, people have moved from neighboring communities such as Walla Walla, Yakima and Central Oregon. But today the increase in housing prices and lack of availability is limiting the amount of in-migration we can expect. Looking ahead to 2022 and beyond, TRIDEC is looking forward to working uDYE, Page A34

Photo by Kristina Lord Area businesses struggled with a labor shortage as the Mid-Columbia economy revived in 2021.

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MATTSON, From page A31 business programs can be found at TriCityRegionalChamber.com/programs.

PTAC The regional chamber’s in-house Washington PTAC (Procurement Technical Assistance Center) counselor has been consistently providing guidance and government contracting counsel to small businesses throughout the region. During what can be considered a very trying year for those in business, PTAC held more than 740 one-on-one counseling sessions with businesses in the region, resulting in 275 contract awards totaling nearly $40 million. PTAC assistance is available to all local businesses, regardless of chamber membership. Visit TriCityRegionalChamber.com/

ptac for more information.

Communications The chamber’s communications department celebrated a major success in February, with the launch of the chamber’s new website. TriCityRegionalChamber.com now offers a refined look and enhanced functionality on smartphones. Additionally, the chamber’s presence on social media continues to grow, especially on Facebook (facebook.com/TriCityRegionalChamber), where it posts regular updates to the largest Facebook following of any chamber of commerce in the state. Events Throughout 2021, the chamber offered its members impactful events – both virtually and in-person. Nearly

3,500 people attended chamber events in 2021, such as the Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon, the Tri-Cities Diversity Summit and the chamber’s monthly membership luncheons. At those events, the chamber honored 20 businesses and individuals with Business on a Roll Awards, Tri-Cities Champion of Diversity Awards, Outstanding Member of the Month awards and more. Learn about upcoming Chamber events at TriCityRegionalChamber.com/events.

MyTRI 2030 Based on the belief that our collective future is enhanced through collaboration, myTRI 2030 is a regional visioning initiative with the fundamental goal to create a shared vision for the region and drive collaborative action. Over the last 18 months, the myTRI regional vi-

YEAR IN REVIEW sion has been in good hands. Volunteer experts and practitioners in agriculture, education, energy, inclusion, life and prosperity have led the way – persevering through Covid by working and meeting via Zoom with determination to bring myTRI 2030 to fruition. The Chamber’s Regional Affairs Committee is working closely with the Opportunity Area Council chairs to ensure considerable evidence of impact during 2022 as the myTRI councils focus on building teams and timelines to tackle transformative projects that will advance the quality of life for all TriCitians. If you would like to support, volunteer, or join the myTRI movement, visit the website today at myTRI2030. com. The regional chamber is well positioned to adapt to the gravity of the current situation, and we’re focused on building for the future. We look forward to another year of working with you and for you; to generating fresh momentum together; and to overcoming any challenges ahead with renewed energy and creative ways of thinking. Lori Mattson is president and CEO of the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce.

uBUSINESS BRIEF

McCurley sales benefit Meals on Wheels

McCurley Integrity Subaru selected Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels to benefit from donations made through Subaru of America’s annual “Share the Love” event. For every new vehicle sold through Jan. 3, 2022, buyers can select a charity to receive $250, with McCurley adding an additional $50. McCurley donated more than $32,000 to the local Meals on Wheels program from its 2020 event. McCurley Integrity Subaru is at 9620 Sandifur Parkway, Pasco. DYE, From page A33 with our community partners in economic development, industry, government and education to develop strategies to address this workforce and housing shortage. Some of these solutions may include making stronger connections between local students in the K-12 education system and companies with open positions, talent attraction campaigns and focusing on Tri-City residents who commute to neighboring counties for work. The history of the Tri-Cities is full of ways our community has come together to overcome adversity. The next chapter about how we will continue to fuel our rapid growth with more citizens, will be written in the coming months and years. Karl Dye is president and CEO of the Tri-City Development Council, or TRIDEC.

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Tri-Cities Airport waits for traffic to return, welcomes new airlines Despite a global pandemic, 2021 was a pleasant surprise for the Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco. There’s reason for optimism as we have seen a significant improvement in air travel volumes. Coming into the year, staff forecasted passenger traffic would reach 60% (262,873) of our 2019 passenger numbers (438,123). This estimate represents a significant growth over 2020’s dramatic decline in passenger numbers. In 2020 passenger numbers fell to the lowest level since 1997 (188,959). We expect to finish 2021 at about 80% of the 2019 enplanements, or 342,464. When 2021 is put into perspective, it certainly was better than 2020, but I miss those 2019 numbers. Overall, we saw three new destinations enter the market. And while we lost some flights, we did not lose any destinations. We seem to be faring better than most throughout the country and that is a testament to the strong economy and growth throughout our region. The consensus throughout the airline and airport industry is that most facilities will not see a full recovery until 2023 or 2024. This slow recovery is marked by several factors, most noticeably the Covid-19 pandemic, which at this time is impacting the return of the business traveler. The airlines also saw mass retirements at the height of Covid, which led to a pilot shortage exacerbated by the quicker than expected passenger recovery. Although we are beginning to see a slight uptick in business travel, it is nowhere near what the airport was seeing in 2019. As confidence in air travel continues to grow and companies start to reinstate or expand their travel budgets, the business traveler will return, and operations will return to a somewhat normal to elevated level. The leisure traveler has been the main driver in our 2021 passenger numbers. This year the airport started three new routes on two new carriers. Avelo Airlines launched weekly

Buck Taft Tri-Cities Airport

2021 IN REVIEW

service to Burbank, California, and has provided the Tri-City region with yearround service to the LA basin. Aha! began weekly service to the Reno-Tahoe area and will provide travelers with another leisure destination option out of the Tri-Cities Airport. Finally, Allegiant added long awaited seasonal service to San Diego. San Diego is one of our top 10 destinations but has always seemed like a long shot due to the operational costs of going into the San Diego Airport. With airlines reducing flights into many airports, airports such as San Diego have become open for airlines like Allegiant. Although the Covid pandemic shut some doors for us – Chicago and Portland – it opened others such as Burbank, Reno and San Diego. Although the short-term prospect of Portland air service has closed, I do believe that as the airline industry starts to recover and Alaska Airlines begins to refocus on Portland as a hub, the TriCities Airport will be a viable option for air service in 2023 or 2024. With a decrease in passenger traffic comes a decrease in airport revenues. In 2021 the airport received two federal grants worth $8,892,043 to assist with lost revenue due to the effects of Covid. The majority will go toward airport debt service. These grants provided funds for airport terminal tenants, such as the rental car agencies, parking lot attendants and concessionaires. The Port of Pasco was able to provide $469,056 in relief to these tenants. Recently the U.S. Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, known as the infrastructure bill.

Courtesy Tri-Cities Airport The Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco reported passenger boardings are still below prepandemic levels, but it did add two new airlines in 2021.

This package will provide about $16.7 million to the Tri-Cities Airport over the next five years. We also will be eligible to compete for about $200 million a year that’s available for terminal improvements over the next five years. We currently have $52 million worth of terminal projects to complete in the next 10 years. We are working hard to put ourselves in a position to take advantage of as much of this grant money as we can. Staff plans to focus efforts on improving the infrastructure on the general aviation side of the airfield, as well as building a new maintenance facility that will mainly be used to house our winter operations equipment. Until the full details of this funding package are released, and we understand how the funds can be used, it is hard to say exactly how we will use them. We know these funds will be extremely helpful to the future development of the airport. The Tri-Cities Airport Business Park is finally starting to show some signs of life. Last year the Courtyard Marriott opened and this year the Landing began work on a 10,000-square-foot flex building and a 10,000-square-foot retail building. This development, coupled

with projected future projects, has led the port to invest in the completion of the road and taxiway infrastructure in 2022. These infrastructure projects are integral to the successful buildout of the Business Park and completing them will put the Port in a position to take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves. The Tri-Cities Airport is a direct reflection of our community. As the Tri-Cities continue to grow, the airport will mirror that growth. I anticipate substantial future growth in our community. We’re working to position the airport to successfully handle future increases in the volume of the traveling public, while providing the best possible facilities and customer service. The plan was to complete another terminal expansion in the next 7-10 years. With the new infrastructure funds available, this terminal work most likely will be completed prior to that window. This would set the airport up for a seamless transition into the next phase of our airport’s growth. Buck Taft is director of the Tri-Cities Airport, a Port of Pasco facility.

Merry C hristmas Best wishes this holiday season and in the year ahead.

from the Journal of Business team – Melanie, Kristina, Wendy, Tiffany, Chad and Vanessa.

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Richland notes growth in both public, private sectors The last year in the Tri-Cities was a busy one for all jurisdictions, and Richland was no different. Changes and improvements were made in many areas throughout the city, from building roads and upgrades, to new developments and increased rooftops, adding new businesses and growing some of our favorite businesses. Richland celebrated the completion of improvements on the first phase of the Columbia Park Trail corridor, and the opening of two new fire stations, Station 75 on Battelle Boulevard and Station 73 at 2120 Jadwin Ave. The relocation of Station 73 will open up the former site on the corner of Jadwin and McMurray avenues for reuse or redevelopment. Each year the city is surprised at the growth we see in the number of permits processed and inspections conducted. The 2021 numbers reflect the growth the area is seeing across all types of development. Through November, the building department issued 384 new single-family dwelling permits valued at $133.38 million, which is an increase of 43 new homes and more than $100 million from last year. Richland also saw growth in new commercial projects. There were more projects permitted in 2021, but total valuation lagged a bit. The city’s Building Department issued 76 new commercial permits valued at $46.87 million compared to 49

Mandy Wallner City of Richland

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valued at $58.7 million during 2020. Commercial remodel projects remained strong through the same period and are up this year with 106 commercial remodel projects valued at $19.43 million, compared to 88 issued at $87.81 million in 2020. Overall growth in the market and in the permitting numbers and the shifts in value, are attributed to large construction projects, such as schools, and other municipal buildings permitted in years past. In addition, inspections were up 8% year over year through November, with 13,926 were conducted. Plan reviews also are up by 404 this year for a total of 1,660 so far, exceeding the 2020 number of 1,256. There are several major economic development projects in the works around the city, as well as key properties that are up for sale or in negotiation for near term deals.

Photo by Scott Butner Photography The Washington State Military Department’s new Readiness Center takes shape in Richland and will serve a Stryker brigade when it opens.

The CityView property, owned by the city, will be available for Requests For Proposals in spring 2022. Additionally, a public safety feasibility study is nearing completion for determining the best use of city-owned property at the corner of Swift Boulevard and George Washington Way for municipal purposes. City staff also is working diligently with a developer on an agreement for Tracts D and E on Columbia Point. Privately there are several other key

properties that have seen improvements in the last year such as the complex at 1080 George Washington Way, which reached full occupancy with the final addition of Pedego Electric Bikes to the neighborhood. This new business addition fills the building and complements the other tenants such as Porter’s Real Barbecue, TriCities Cider House, Fresh Leaf Company and Amarillis Meat Market. The Parkway also welcomed new uWALLNER, Page A38

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Visit Tri-Cities champions tourism recovery, economic prosperity Sense of community is why we do what we do, and relationships are how we get it done. These two things enabled us to be successful during the pandemic as our industry was crippled by declining hotel occupancies, hospitality staffing shortages and financial hardships. Due to the impacts of the pandemic, visitor spending was down by 30% in 2020. That said, we more than survived; we made significant investments to position our community well to achieve greater outcomes for years to come and we’ve done it through numerous partnerships. 2021 got off to a slow start as our state was still operating under a phased approach with its associated restrictions, which crippled our ability to host meetings, conventions and sports. Visit TriCities worked directly with the Governor’s Policy Office, Washington State Department of Health, and Labor & Industries through a small coalition of tourism leaders across the state to safely bring back our meetings and conventions business. Our group, the Washington Safe Meetings Coalition, had success in advancing these opportunities that are significant economic drivers. Early this spring sports teams were still unable to compete due to phased restrictions. However, once teams had the ability to hit the fields, it was game on! We were excited to host nearly 100 teams for our largest baseball tournament in June and 80 softballs teams who competed in late season play this October. These are only two examples of the many sporting events that took place, which also included the Tri-Cities Water Follies and the WIAA State Cross Country Meet. Sports truly were a bright spot in 2021. To bring back the safe return of tourism while preserving local businesses, jobs, community health and economic vitality, Visit Tri-Cities partnered with Benton and Franklin counties, the cities of Kennewick, Pasco, Richland, West Richland, Prosser, Benton City and the Benton Franklin Health District to provide Covid mitigation communications to our region. In fact, our team was recently recognized by the Destination Marketing Association of the West with an Outstanding Achievement Best Idea Award for our innovative Covid mitigation communications. Leisure travel continues to reign supreme as we saw a steady stream of visitors in our community enjoying the heart of Washington wine country, outdoor recreation, and our growing food and craft beverage scene. The return of performing arts aided in attracting visitors to our region as did the return of many of our festivals like Art in the Park. Our partners in the leisure and hospitality space have done a dynamite job of creating new opportunities to safely host visitors and community members. Our seasonable climate has led many businesses to offer more opportunities outdoors. Others have adopted measures to remain financially viable while safely managing their environments. Hospitality work-

Michael Novakovich Visit Tri-Cities

2021 IN REVIEW

force shortages continue to be an issue for many. To address this, Visit Tri-Cities ran a hospitality workforce recruitment campaign highlighting how these jobs can provide ladder opportunities to managerial positions. To aid these businesses and drive economic recovery, in July we launched our new membership model, which eliminates dues for qualifying tourism-related businesses such as restaurants, attractions, museums, wineries, craft beverage operations, transportation providers, specialty retail, recreation, professional sports, performing arts and similar entities that attract leisure visitation to Benton and Franklin counties. This change allows us to better serve our community by showcasing all tourism-related aspects of our region rather than only dues paying members. This gives the Tri-Cities a more competitive

Courtesy American Queen Steamboat Company Tourism is big business and a significant economic engine for our region, even during a pandemic. In 2020 Visit Tri-Cities helped drive $345 million in visitor spending locally and generated nearly $40 million in state and local tax revenue. The American Empress paddleboat regularly stops in Richland.

position as a visitor destination. It also provides greater opportunity to embrace the diversity of our community in an inclusive manner. This year we launched a suite of digital products to compel visitation, enrich our visitors’ experiences and influence visitor spending. Residents can enjoy these same offerings, which include our new digital passes like our Wine Pass and Ales & Tails Pass. We will be launching an Indoor

Adventure Pass very soon. Each pass provides discounts, prizes and more. We also launched a virtual tour called SkyNav, which provides 360-degree bird’s eye views of the Tri-Cities as well as tours of various local establishments. We officially launched our new VisitTri-Cities. com website in November that includes an itinerary builder, a user-generated content uNOVAKOVICH, Page A38

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WALLNER, From page A36 businesses, saw some grow and created space through redevelopment of several buildings. Soi 705 is one of the new businesses to join the Parkway and is home to Mezzo Thai’s catering business. Oh Sushi and Hotoveli Boutique also joined the Parkway fun. If you haven’t visited The Parkway for a late morning stroll, coffee and pastry, or early evening for a cocktail and dinner, be sure to put this on your list for the coming year. The Horn Rapids Business Center and Industrial Park saw new business activity this year as well with the construction of the Washington State Military Department Readiness Center and the opening of the new Iconic Brewing, just to name a couple.

The extension of First Street in the Horn Rapids Industrial Park also offers the opportunity to create several new lots that will be for sale in 2022. The design of the Henderson Loop Extension has been a focus this year to open additional properties for the final phase of the Business Center. The Clubhouse Lane project, adjacent to the Horn Rapids Residential development, was completed this year. The new segment of road opened up five commercial lots for sale and development. Across the highway, at the corner of Highway 240 and Kingsgate, Firehouse Subs and SunMarket brought the first convenience options to the Horn Rapids area and will no doubt be the first of many that the area welcomes. Directly behind this development is the

growing Vicinity at Horn Rapids apartment complex developing in two phases, with multiple buildings totaling 288 apartments ranging in size from studio to twobedroom units that are occupying quickly in a market with 1% vacancy rates. In September, Washington State University Tri-Cities celebrated the grand opening of its new Collaboration Hall on the Richland campus. This 40,000-squarefoot building houses several teaching laboratories, classrooms, meeting spaces for students and faculty, as well as study spaces with open seating for lectures and presentations. The city is excited for the partnership, education and opportunities that WSU Tri-Cities offers to the region. In October, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory dedicated its new $90 million Energy Sciences Center to help meet the

YEAR IN REVIEW U.S. decarbonization goals by reducing emissions, supporting research energy storage technologies and solutions, and continuing to add efficiencies in manufacturing. PNNL is not only a vital partner in the success of our region but is also one of the largest employers. The Richland School District also was busy making accommodations for new students moving to the area and their passion for sports and the arts. Richland High School’s theater underwent a complete $7.7 million remodel before the 2021 school year and Hanford High School made investments in its athletic fields. Badger Mountain Elementary School is undergoing a full rebuild on its existing site. Once completed, the former school will be removed to allow for playfields to support the school. There are exciting things happening in Richland, stay tuned for more projects, news and updates in the coming months. Mandy Wallner is economic development manager for the city of Richland. NOVAKOVICH, From page A37 image gallery, ability to book a room, find great dining, entertainment, SkyNav and more. You also can find our digital passes under our Deals section. Visitors and Tri-Citians will love the new look and functionality of our Calendar of Events. We worked with the MyTri2030 Life Council to add features to create an even more robust community calendar. This includes our sharing feature that allows anyone to select event types they are interested in and copy a snippet of code they can placed on their website, which will populate with events from our calendar. If you are hosting an event that has the potential to draw visitors to our community, we encourage you post it on our website (select Calendar of Events/ Submit Event). It’s easy, it’s free and we receive over 300,000 unique visitors annually. Tourism is big business and a significant economic engine for our region. Even during Covid. In 2020 Visit Tri-Cities helped drive $345 million in visitor spending locally and generated nearly $40 million in state and local tax revenue. We are expecting the outcomes of 2021 to look substantially better. Tourism helps small businesses thrive and helps attract new business and supports thousands of local jobs. The nearly $40 million in state and local taxes generated by visitors last year helps lower Tri-Citians’ tax burden by roughly $400 per household. Even better, these taxes help to fund police and fire, schools and teachers, roads, parks and more. In short, the work we do touches every Tri-Citian in a positive way and helps to build a safe, educated, employed and beautiful community filled with many amenities for all to enjoy. The work of Visit Tri-Cities and our partners enhances quality of life for every Tri-Citian. So, get out there, enjoy our community, share it on your socials and invite your friends and family for a visit. Michael Novakovich is president and CEO of Visit Tri-Cities.

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Downtown Kennewick: creating a sense of place If the last two years of the Covid pandemic have taught us anything, it has demonstrated that active, livable downtowns don’t just happen. It takes a comprehensive approach coupled with professional leadership, collective coordination with partners and dedicated volunteers to ensure success. This is the role of the Historic Downtown Kennewick Partnership (HDKP). Our organization is a volunteer-governed nonprofit with a small staff. We are a Washington state and nationally-accredited Main Street program focused on the continued revitalization and regeneration of downtown Kennewick. We strive to make the downtown area an exciting place to live, shop, work and play. With our partners, the business community and stakeholders, we facilitate projects that create a stronger and more vibrant community through memorable experiences and opportunities. Downtown Kennewick is a resilient community. We are home to hundreds of small, locally-owned-and-operated businesses. Despite the challenges of the last two years, we have seen and supported exciting new public and private investments downtown. Here are a few accomplishments that we are proud of in 2021: • We expanded and refined our Alfresco Downtown Kennewick program from a piloted street closure first implemented in 2020 into a monthly Saturday Street Festival series of events. Starting in July and ending with our Halloween event, this series brought over 12,000 visitors to downtown. Downtown merchants reported increased sales and new customers during these events. Coordinating street closures enabled downtown merchants and food-based businesses to expand outside; it opened up downtown to pedestrian traffic; and it provided opportunities for pop-up entrepreneurs. Downtown Kennewick is a great place to hold events and outdoor gatherings in our community. • We successfully operated the Downtown Kennewick Farmers Market despite experiencing the second year of Covid-19 restrictions and limitations. We were able to double our total vendor count to 40. Our biggest growth of the market was in the expansion of EBT and SNAP benefits redemption (Farmers market nutrition programs, including a fresh fruits and veggies match incentive program). This program helps connect fresh, farm produce to customers who need it most. In 2022, we will continue to grow our intimate, neighborhood market as we bring back themed days, live music and launch youth farm nutrition education programming. • Consistent weekly and monthly events and downtown programming brought more than 30,000 people to downtown over the course of 2021. Events and programming create vibrancy and vitality that make a community feel like an active and exciting place to be whether you are a customer, business or

Stephanie Button Historic Downtown Kennewick Partnership 2021 IN REVIEW

resident. • After the isolation of 2020, we recognized that it was vital to communicate the assets and amenities of downtown Kennewick, especially its historic business district and its growing waterfront. We were thrilled to collaborate with the Port of Kennewick to produce two, 30-second TV commercials as part of our “Discover Downtown Kennewick” campaign. We filmed in the Historic Downtown Kennewick Business District, at Columbia Gardens and on Clover Island with these ads airing during the summer. You can still enjoy these ads on our YouTube page, just search “Historic Kennewick.” In 2021 HDKP invested nearly $20,000 in marketing downtown on a combination of TV, radio, social media and print platforms. • A cornerstone of our comprehensive downtown revitalization strategy is to develop and provide people with opportunities to safely come together and engage with the community in our downtown. HDKP was one of four Washington Main Street community programs to receive the Washington Main Street Place Activation Grant, designed to assist communities with Covid-19 recovery, economic growth and resilience through activating public spaces that can support small businesses, enhance the quality of life for residents, and restore vitality. Our place activation project took place over the summer in Flag Plaza, home of the farmers market. This site, renamed Avenue Square, represents our vision to evolve this parking lot into a public space that is accessible, dynamic and multifunctional to our community needs with expanded programming and responsible community gathering opportunities. Overall, this pilot demonstrated that downtown will benefit from a committed space to foster gatherings and events and that there is a market for hosting food trucks in the heart of downtown. • We are excited to continue to develop Avenue Square as a place to gather downtown. This development will be continued in 2022 with funds from the Washington State Community Projects Fund for $48,000 to expand the electrical infrastructure at Avenue Square so that the space can grow to support multiple food trucks, electric vehicle charging, additional lighting, live music and public Wi-Fi. These investments will expand opportunities for entrepreneurship and connecting communities downtown. • Our crowning achievement in 2021 is our partnership with the city of KenuBUTTON, Page 42

Photo by Kristina Lord Downtown Kennewick is home to hundreds of small businesses. Closing streets for special events in 2021 brought thousands of new visitors to the historic heart of Kennewick.

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Pasco chamber will continue to advocate for business community as growth takes hold We are in the midst of a launching point for major achievements for our region and nation. We are still adapting how we live our lives. As I pointed out in last year’s column, history points to shifts in human behavior after periods of strife. The Pasco Chamber of Commerce also adapted to capitalize on opportunities in 2021. The Great Depression brought us major technological advances. Agriculture became much more efficient and production techniques and applications increased yields dramatically, primarily driven by the Dust Bowl and weak commodity prices. Locally, we began the foundation of creating the great Columbia Basin with its abundance of water and rich soil. This led to irrigation with the construction of Grand Coulee Dam, turning a desert into a prime agriculture-producing region. The Depression also saw the invention of sliced bread, nylon toothbrushes and car radios – which we use regularly nearly 100 years later.

The power of in person Our chamber continued to meetups virtually for the first part of 2021. This created a new efficiency by eliminating travel time. Zoom meetings also tend to take less time than in person. But as this year progressed, it became appar-

Colin Hastings

Pasco Chamber of Commerce 2021 IN REVIEW

ent with the advancement of health science and vaccines the appetite to restore human connection had grown. When we resumed in-person meetings this summer, it was amazing how many showed up early and lingered long after the event to visit with business peers they hadn’t “seen” in months! Meeting virtually reveals the power of in-person networking as a key tool for business development. It was an honor to have retiring Pasco Mayor Saul Martinez give the keynote at that very first in-person luncheon in June. He was able to provide an update on city happenings but more importantly a glimpse of his personality and devotion, as he shared his experiences with the larger than normal crowd for the luncheon. The Pasco chamber appreciated his dedication to Pasco as mayor during such a strenuous and difficult period. His leadership shined. Thank you for

Photo by Scott Butner Photography Grain raised in the Mid-Columbia is stored at a terminal near the confluence of the Snake and Columbia rivers.

serving Pasco, and we wish you the best as you proceed to the next chapter in life. Pasco is now gearing up for immense growth over the next few years. For a while the front page of the TriCities Area Journal of Business was dominated by economic development announcements of Osprey Pointe, Darigold, Amazon, Local Bounti, Broadmoor Development and the Colville Tribes’ plans, to name a few.

Preparing for growth The work now begins to prepare for the thousands of new jobs in the region, where we will see needed growth in housing, retail and support services, infrastructure and education. There is great collaboration with leaders as the Port of Pasco, Pasco School District, city of Pasco, Franklin County, Franklin PUD and Columbia Basin College work to address the needs and we are prepared to take on this task. We are pleased that these businesses have reached out to the chamber and are eager to participate in the Pasco chamber. To commemorate and promote this growth, the Pasco chamber with the help from longtime Pasco supporter Ed Ray, erected a billboard on Highway 395 north of Pasco advising drivers to “Keep Your Eye on Pasco” as we continue to grow! Providing relief Many local retail operations have continued to suffer immensely. The chamber assisted the city of Pasco in dispersing $1.7 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to provide relief to Pasco businesses. Thank you to the leadership of Pasco for breaking the mold and prioritizing this tool to help struggling businesses. ARPA funds differ from the CARES funds of 2020. They don’t have to be earmarked until 2024 and the money spent until 2026. It would have been easy to overlook the urgency that existed for these struggling businesses. Our research this summer showed that Pasco was the only city that received

ARPA funds in the state to immediately launch a business relief plan. Many other municipalities are just beginning the process of collecting citizen feedback on how to spend the funds, investing it into capital needs or setting aside small amounts for future business relief. We thank Pasco staff and council for their work to implement this project that helped many businesses in need. The Pasco chamber continued to endure its fair share of interruption of normal routine with cancellation of events with large gatherings in 2021, yet we have adapted and explored new opportunities. For example, RiverFest pivoted away from a large community event drawing thousands of families to Columbia Park to celebrate our river system to create quality documentary, “Our Rivers, Our Life” in 2020, and we repeated this effort again in 2021. This hour-long presentation has engaged thousands in the Portland and Spokane markets telling the story of our river system. If you haven’t watched, you can find it at riverfestwa. com. We also had to have to suspend our in-person monthly meetings for a couple months as the delta variant surged. We reconvened in-person meetings again in November. We also will host the Mid-Columbia Ag Hall of Fame on Jan. 19 at the Red Lion Hotel and Conference Center in Pasco. Faced with the challenges over the past two years, our chamber membership has increased and continues to grow! The Pasco chamber will continue to advocate on behalf of our businesses and community to foster growth and adaptation for the future. Our foundation is as strong as ever, and we are eager to finally launch into normalcy. Colin Hastings is executive director of the Pasco Chamber of Commerce.

YEAR IN REVIEW

It’s been an exciting year in the Kennewick School District – one marked by growth, expansion and innovation. We’ve celebrated milestones, including the opening of the new Kennewick High School, classroom additions and athletic facility upgrades at Kamiakin and Southridge high schools and the debut of a new online school program. We’ve also spent time planning for the future, guided by our new strategic plan and our vision that all students are “known well, safe and destined to reach their highest potential.” As part of that planning, we’re preparing two levy measures – to support educational programs and operations, as well as technology needs – for the Feb. 8, 2022, ballot. Our school district is home to more than 3,000 staff members and 18,600 students, and we’re looking forward to a strong 2022 that builds on all we’ve accomplished in previous years and sets the stage for continued improvement and success.

Growth and expansion We kicked off the 2021-22 school year by opening the new Kennewick High School, capping off years of dreaming, planning, preparation and construction. Kennewick High is now completely transformed, with a new two-story, 292,000-square-foot facility replacing the 1950s-era buildings that made up the

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Kennewick schools celebrate year of growth, new high school Traci Pierce

Kennewick School District

2021 IN REVIEW

Lions’ old home. The new building ties all the school’s programs together into a single space that can accommodate 2,000 students, leaving room for future enrollment growth. Two buildings from the old Kennewick High remain and are incorporated into the new school design: the Lion’s Den Gym and the remodeled auditorium. New athletic facilities include a track, field, tennis courts and baseball fields. We celebrated the new Kennewick High with a ribbon cutting and public tours that drew current staff and students, community members, and many proud Lion alumni from throughout the school’s long history. This year, we also celebrated the completion of two other major capital projects: classroom additions and athletic facility improvements at Kamiakin and Southridge high schools. At Kamiakin, we added 12 new class-

File photo Kennewick High School has been transformed into a modern school, replacing 1950s-era buildings.

rooms – bringing the school’s capacity to 2,000 students. We also added parking and made several athletic facility upgrades, including replacing the school’s grass field with artificial turf, replacing the track, adding restrooms, concessions, a grandstand and sports storage, and rebuilding the tennis courts. At Southridge, we added 12 new classrooms, which – just like at Kamiakin – bring the school’s capacity to 2,000 students. We also added a 3,200-square-

foot weight training facility, resurfaced the track, added track storage, added a bus loop, replaced the existing grass field with artificial turf and made HVAC improvements. The Kennewick, Kamiakin and Southridge construction projects were all part of a bond package approved by school district voters in 2019. The bond also included Phase II of the Amistad Elementary replacement and expansion, uPIERCE, Page A42

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | DECEMBER 2021 uBUSINESS BRIEF

TARGET ZERO

CELEBRATES 2022 You can MAKE A DIFFERENCE in our community this new year by committing to ALWAYS PLAN AHEAD. In WA it is our goal to have ZERO people in your household be involved in a serious or fatal crash.

CELEBRATE RESPONSIBLY, whether you are hosting, driving or riding. • Before celebrating plan a safe and sober ride home. • Don’t let someone get behind the wheel if they have been using alcohol, cannabis or other drugs. • If you are hosting, make sure to remind your guests to have a sober ride home or offer space for them to stay. • Offer to be a designated driver. • If you see an impaired driver, call 911. • Always wear you seat belt, it is your best defense against impaired drivers.

Most adults in WA do not drive under the influence, yet over 50% of all WA fatal crashes are due to driving under the influence.

THANK YOU for keeping our community safe this year and every year by celebrating responsibly. Remember WA State’s goal is TARGET ZERO. What is your goal for 2022?

#planahead #targetzero

Realtors: Moving closer to family drives home sales

A desire to live closer to family and friends is a key factor for moving, according to the National Association of Realtors’ annual profile of U.S. home buyers and sellers, released in November. Among repeat homebuyers, being closer to family and friends as well as a need for a larger home were the biggest factors. Sellers are reaping the benefits of a tight market, typically earning their full asking price and selling in one week. Moving to be closer to family has been on the upswing for several years, but is accelerated by the Covid-19, pandemic, said Jessica Lautz, vice president of demographics and behavioral insights for the BUTTON, From page A39 newick for the successful bid to designate downtown Kennewick as a state Certified Creative District. The South Columbia Creative District (SOCO) was officially designated in October. Downtown Kennewick is now officially recognized as a hub for creativity and creative enterprise. Kennewick now houses one of the 11 Creative Districts in the entire state and is the only one in Southeastern Washington. This certification is an opportunity to recognize downtown Kennewick as the creative and artistic heart of the city while promoting current established creative industries. This designation will help promote, connect and unify the many downtown Kennewick anchors as a rich, creative community that reflects KenPIERCE, From page A41 which wrapped up in 2020, plus two future elementary school projects. Those future elementary projects are: replacing the existing Ridge View Elementary and building the district’s 18th elementary school in a high-growth area. The new Ridge View is expected to open in the winter of 2024. We invite you to track the progress of all our capital projects at ksd.org/District/ Departments/Capital-Projects.

New school program This year also marked the debut of a new KSD school that doesn’t have a brick-and-mortar home: Endeavor High School, our online program for students in grades 9-12. Endeavor uses accredited Apex Learning and Apex Literacy Advantage courses that meet district and state learning standards, with supervision by highly qualified KSD teachers. The new school is part of our robust online learning program, which also includes online classes for students in grades K-8 through Mid-Columbia Partnership. To learn more about online learning, please visit: ksd.org/programs/onlinelearning Planning for the Future Even as we’ve celebrated innovations and accomplishments this year, we’ve

YEAR IN REVIEW Realtors group. It’s a dramatic change from past years, when convenience to work and affordability were the top reasons people moved. The median home price was 100% of asking, the highest recorded since 2002. More than a third of homes sold for more than the asking prices, with a median of $85,000 more than asking. That was up from $66,000 over asking last year. “Buyers moving quickly during the pandemic, coupled with all-time-low inventory, led to a decline in time on market to the shortest ever recorded, which was just one week,” Lautz said. The average buyer took eight weeks to find a home to purchase. Agents or brokers represented 87% of buyers and 90% of sellers. Go to: bit.ly/NARReport2021. newick’s history and embraces its diverse population. This unified creative identity is bolstered by the ongoing public investments made by the city of Kennewick and the Port of Kennewick toward connectivity within downtown, such as the recent Washington Street Corridor Project and the reconnection of Auburn Street to 10th Avenue. Downtown Kennewick is resilient and evolving and HDKP will continue to implement a balance of activities in the areas of community development, economic vitality and infrastructure investments to support downtown businesses, building owners and our community. Stephanie Button is the executive director of the Historic Downtown Kennewick Partnership.

also been planning for the future. Our district is preparing to run an Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) Levy and an Instructional Technology Improvements Levy on the February 2022 ballot. These measures will provide district funding for the next four years. The measures are replacement levies, not new initiatives, meaning they’ll take the place of the existing EP&O and technology levies that district voters approved in 2018. Levies provide funding for health and safety, student learning and staffing, instructional support, operations and maintenance, athletics and activities and technology, and they cover costs that aren’t funded by the state or federal governments.

Thank you to our community We want to thank our Kennewick School District community for supporting us, this year and always. The community steps up to help our district in myriad ways, from donating school supplies for students in need to volunteering for committees. We look forward to continued partnership as we keep growing, expanding and innovating, and as we work to ensure all our students are able to reach their highest potential. Traci Pierce is superintendent of the Kennewick School District.

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West Richland chamber cheers uptick in commercial, industrial growth When a pandemic can’t slow a community down, you know you’re living in exciting times. While we may not have been able to completely leave Covid-19 in the rearview mirror in 2021, West Richland sure hit the ground running with some exciting growth, and there are no signs of slowing down anytime soon. The residential growth is astounding! Last year was a good year for residential single-family home growth in West Richland, but in 2021 the community has already exceeded last year’s single-family home permits, with more than a month to go. Plus, multifamily permits have gone from zero to 75 so far in 2021. This significant uptick in residential growth in West Richland is spearheading commercial and industrial growth. West Richland is already experiencing just the tip of that spear. Sun Mart & Firehouse Subs is under construction, HAPO Community Credit Union has purchased property, Red Mountain Event Center has brought the Tri-City Raceway back in a big way, Richland School District is finishing up both Tapteal Elementary School and its Teaching Learning and Administration Center, West Richland Police Station is opening in December, plus an industrial business is in the process of purchasing property near the Red Mountain Event Center. There is little doubt that this uptick in commercial and industrial growth in West Richland is just the beginning and as residential growth in the community continues, so will the commercial and industrial growth. The West Richland Area Chamber could not be more thrilled with the how the West Richland community is growing and is even more excited to help these new community members and businesses thrive. After all, it’s right in our mission statement to promote growth and economic vitality for our members and our community through collaborative business to business interactions. The chamber is doing exactly that and with a renewed effort. This collaboration is happening through several different avenues and includes both in person and electronic interactions. The West Richland chamber membership luncheons continue to be a member favorite as businesses come to a friendly atmosphere to interact with fellow businesses and hear presentations by local leaders and businesses. Electronic interactions have picked up through social media, email blasts and other online and web content. The West Richland chamber also promotes economic vitality and quality of life through its community events, which take place both in West Richland and surrounding communities. The most highprofile examples include the Hogs & Dogs Family Festival, Cool Desert Nights and the West Richland Veterans Day Parade. These events bring thousands of people into our communities, giving our local businesses new opportunities to be in front of potential new customers.

May Hays

West Richland Area Chamber of Commerce

2021 IN REVIEW

The future success of the West Richland community is not dependent on one entity, like a chamber of commerce. Our success is dependent on our ability to work together, collaboratively, for the betterment of the entire community. Citizens, businesses, civic groups, and local agencies all benefit by working together. At the West Richland chamber, we take that very seriously. We take pride in our close working relationship with various local entities and citizens. We cherish our close working relationship with the city of West Richland, its elected leaders and its staff. We are honored that we work hand in hand with the West Richland Police Department and Benton Fire District 4. We have built strong partnerships with local businesses and civic groups to leverage our resources and maximize their impact. Yet despite having all these positive things to include in this column, there is much more we can and will do. We will welcome our new citizens and businesses

File photo Residential developments are spearheading commercial and industrial growth in West Richland.

with open arms and work with them to help ensure the success of this community. The chamber must continue to work with the city and other local economic development partners to help attract new businesses and industries to our community and the quality jobs that come with them. It truly feels like we are at the cusp of making some giant leaps forward. The West Richland Chamber Board just finished a retreat and has identified several fresh ideas on how to improve and

enhance our service to our members and the local community. While the last couple of years have been challenging for many of us, it has also shown that we must adapt if we are to succeed. We must embrace these challenges and find the opportunities that exist within them. These are exciting times in West Richland and surrounding communities! May Hays is executive director of the West Richland Area Chamber of Commerce.

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BUSINESS PROFILE

Music store knows learning how to play makes life more fun sons though. “I teach one day a week here in the store and three days a week in our home studio,” she said. “I’m a teacher at heart. I love to see a kid progress and have that aha moment, with the realization in their face of ‘Look what I can do!’” She’s also had parents come to recitals, watch their children and then sign up for lessons for themselves. “I’ve got three sets of parents-children who are taking lessons now,” Bobbi said. “I’ve also got students in their 70s. I firmly believe in lifelong learning.”

By Jeff Morrow

for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

Music has always played a major part in the lives of Bobbi and David Dickerson, even before they married three years ago. David, 68, ran Dickerson’s Piano Service company. Bobbi, 64, is a retired school teacher who has given countless piano lessons. Together, they run Tri-City Music, a Richland store where musicians can buy or rent pianos, attend recitals or listen to concerts — either in the store or live on Facebook. The couple bought Tri-City Music in 2019 from Allan Willis, who operated it for years after buying it from founder Fred Von Goh.

Their musical history David comes from a long line of piano tuners, beginning in Arkansas. “Our family has been tuning pianos since 1875,” he said. “That’s six generations.” The family moved to the Tri-Cities in 1963. David spent half his high school career in Richland, then moved with his family to Walla Walla. He majored in voice in college, but embarked on a wide-ranging career that included auto body repair and residential real estate. Both experiences helped prepare him to run Tri-City Music. “It all helped me in this business,”

Photo by Jeff Morrow Employees Lydia Dillsworth, from left, and Lisa Ortiz, stand next to Tri-City Music owners Bobbi and Dave Dickerson. The Richland store is a place where people can buy or rent pianos, attend recitals, or listen to concerts to share the joy of music.

he said. “As an auto body repairman, I learned about details. In real estate, I learned about communicating with people. All of these things helped me in business.” He continues to tune pianos, which need the service yearly. His father, Bill Dickerson, 88, is his assistant, scheduling the tune-ups. “I do a lot of work at schools, and a lot of churches,” he said.

His wife is another Richland resident and knew Dave through the music community. He is a widower and she was divorced. A mutual friend introduced them, leading to a blended family with five sons – three for her and two for him. Bobbi taught school in New Mexico and then Oregon for 40 years before retiring in 2018. She kept up her piano les-

Making music together Dave’s previous wife died from cancer. Bobbi and her now ex-husband raised their kids in New Mexico and later on the Oregon Coast. “A mutual friend of Dave and mine got us together,” she said. At first, Dave would visit Bobbi in Tillamook, on the Oregon Coast, and the pair bonded over their shared love of music. “Whether it’s music lessons or piano lessons, I’ve been doing them since I was 7,” Bobbi said. “Music has always been a part of my life. Music has been a part of our lives forever. “Both Dave and I in our younger years — and in fact, Dave is doing it now — directed church choirs,” Bobbi said. Both believe in the power of music to uTRI-CITIES MUSIC, Page A45

BUSINESS PROFILE TRI-CITY MUSIC, From page A44 boost academic performance and physical health. Both raised their sons with music. “It’s been proven that kids who take music lessons do better in the classroom in many subjects, including math. It enhances their lives,” Bobbi said. According to the National Piano Foundation, “middle school and high school students who participated in instrumental music scored significantly higher than their non-band peers in standardized tests.”

The store The Dickersons carry popular and prestigious piano brands at Tri-City Music, including Samick, Steinway and Yamaha. Grand pianos, digital, upright, new and used are spread throughout the store. And David says if they don’t have it, they’ll find it. “We support the music community,” he said. “If we don’t have what they want, we send the customer to a store that does have it. We want piano sales to stay in the Tri-Cities.” The store soon will debut a new name: Dickerson’s Tri-City Piano. “That’ll probably happen after the

uBUSINESS BRIEFS

How to vacation in your own backyard

Visit Tri-Cities relaunched its website to showcase opportunities for area residents to vacation in their own backyards. The newly launched site, VisitTri. Cities.com, offers information about local restaurants, wineries, attractions, events and more. “Our vision is to inspire wanderlust,” said Michael Novakovich, president and CEO.

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | DECEMBER 2021

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first of the year,” David said. He and Bobbi want customers to know they own the store, and they also don’t want to confuse customers who come into the store looking for a saxophone or guitar or other instrument that isn’t a piano. But piano sales seem to be making a comeback nationally, courtesy the pandemic and the shutdowns that ended live concerts. New piano sales remain far below the national peak of 364,000 sold in 1909, when access to music was far more restricted than it is now, according to a 2020 New York Times story. But Americans bought about 30,000 new acoustic pianos last year, an unexpected surge reported across multiple brands. The number that topped a million when digital pianos were counted, the report said. Tri-City Music confirms sales are growing. “When we started,” Bobbi said, “our monthly goal was four pianos. Then it was eight, then 12.” On the day of this interview, Black Friday, they sold three pianos at Tri-City Music. The pandemic also has created busi-

ness. “Kids have got to have something to do,” David said. “So maybe they start piano lessons. And I think it’s trending up.” The Christmas season can get busy, Bobbi said. “It starts in November, when families get together. We get pretty busy from mid-November through the end of December. Summer isn’t too bad either, because the kids are home for the summer.” David said pianos are a year-round business. “What we have found in both tuning and Christmas is that it stays busy,” he said. The store holds weekly mini-concerts that have fueled interest. Every Friday at noon, it holds a mini concert that can be viewed on Facebook. “It’s been one of my desires since we opened the store. I believe people want to play music. And I believe that people want to hear music,” David said. The mini concerts are scheduled about a month out. That includes using the recital studio. “We invite any music or piano teachers to use our recital studio,” added

Bobbi.

The site was developed by Tempest, a digital marketing agency focused on tourism.

nonprofit that offers a series of subscription concerts each year as well as special events and a youth choir for singers age 9-18. It conducts a summer camp each August. She joins a leadership team that includes Justin

Raffa, artistic director, and Reginald Unterseher, associate conductor. Upcoming performances include a Christmas concert on Dec. 19. Go to: mcmastersingers.org for details.

Mid-Columbia Mastersingers has new director

Lori Fregin has joined Mid-Columbia Mastersingers as managing director. She brings 35 years of nonprofit management with a background in health care and world relief. In her most recent post, she was director of Residence XII, a rehabilitation center for women. Mid-Columbia Mastersingers is a

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And the beat goes on Both Bobbi and David credit their three employees for the store’s success – Lydia Dillsworth, Lisa Ortiz and Ana Newcomer. “I mean everybody (all local piano teachers) is full,” Bobbi said. “I’ve got 31 students. That’s five hours a day, four days a week. That’s enough for me right there.” Bobbi said she and David complement each other. “Both of us are achievers,” she said. “He keeps busy tuning pianos. I stay busy teaching piano lessons. I help him where I can with the business. He runs the business. I pay the bills.” They have no plans to retire just yet. Together, with their attitudes, this whole music thing has worked out to be a No. 1 hit. “I’m serving people when I go out every day,” Dave said. “This is too much fun. Life is more fun when you know how to play.” Search Tri-City Music: 1330 Jadwin Ave., Uptown Shopping Center, Richland; 509-713-7288; tri-citymusic.com. For Dickerson’s Piano Service, call 509-547-5471.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | DECEMBER 2021

uCERTIFICATION • Maria Alleman, convention sales manager of Visit Tri-Cities, earned her certified faith-based meeting professional credentials through Maria Alleman the Religious Conference Management Association in October. The association’s certification program is designed to equip meeting professionals in the essentials of faith-based meeting planning. Certification is valid for five years, after which time, those holding the certification will be required to recertify by verifying their continued involvement in the faith-based event industry.

uDONATIONS • In response to the pandemic and its continued impact on local nonprofits, Baker Boyer announced $45,000 in donations to organizations in Tri-Cities, Walla Walla, Milton-Freewater and Yakima. This funding will be directed toward the operational costs of these organizations as that has been a huge challenge for some. The Tri-City recipient was Safe Harbor, a shelter for homeless teens ages 13-17 that provides counseling for substance abuse. It received $5,000. • Speck Family Dealerships donated one mammogram for every vehicle sold at all four of its dealerships. It was part of a partnership with the Tri-Cities

Cancer Center Foundation in October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In total Speck donated 269 mammograms this year totaling $26,900. This is the third year Speck Family Dealerships has partnered with the foundation. 2021 was a record year of mammograms donated. In total, Speck Family Dealerships has provided over 500 free mammograms to community members in need in the Tri-Cities. • Corwin Ford Tri-Cities and the Ford Motor Company Fund recently donated $2,200 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties to help fight child hunger in the community. This donation is part of the annual Ford Focus on Child Hunger campaign across the Northwest. In total, 65 Boys & Girls Clubs across five states are receiving a total of about $100,000. Locally, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties received $1,100 from the Ford Fund, and $1,100 in matching funds from Corwin Ford Tri-Cities. This donation is in addition to more than $15,000 in operating support that Corwin Ford Tri-Cities has donated to the clubs this year.

uRETIREMENT • Kathy Powell, event director of the Tri-City Water Follies, announced plans to retire in February after 15 years of managing the largest and most profitable signature event in the Tri-Cities. Powell started volunteering in 1994 and was recruited to take over the bankrupted event in 2007. During Powell’s tenure, Water Follies has been recognized as race site

of the year by H1 Unlimited for several years and received an award for excellence; received the Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Kathy Powell Bureau Tourism Champion of the Year; was honored by the International Council of Air Shows for the 2020 Drive in Air Show; and was honored as best event in Southeast Washington 2021 by the Washington State Festival and Events Association.

uPROMOTIONS • Gesa Credit Union promoted Keven Gray to executive vice president of member fulfillment. Gray brings more than 25 years of experience to his new role. He will oversee and provide strategic direction to Gesa’s retail branch operations and virtual branch division. Prior to joining Gesa earlier this year, Gray, a Washington state native, held executive level roles at Rabobank, Golden 1 Credit Union, World Savings and Wachovia. • Dana Storms has been named executive director for performance management and chief risk officer at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland. Storms has 25 years of experience in government and commercial sectors, leading teams and programs and managing performance-based contracts with U.S. government agencies, universities, industry and nonprofit organizations.

In her new role, Storms will lead a team of 70 staff accountable for a broad scope of enterprise-level activities, including oversight of the DepartDana Storms ment of Energy prime contract for the management and operation of PNNL. Storms most recently served as PNNL’s prime contract manager.

uAPPOINTMENT • The Kennewick Public Hospital District appointed Dr. Sheila Dunlop, a longtime Kennewick physician, to the vacancy on its seven-member commissioner board on Nov. 18. She fills the unexpired term on the KPHD Board of Commissioner Dr. Leonard Dreisbach, who moved out of state. Dunlop was one of eight people who applied for the vacancy.

uGRANTS • The Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation received a $4,000 grant from the Pink Shamrock Foundation to fund chemotherapy care bags through Warrior Sisterhood, a women’s group operating under the foundation. In addition to this grant, the foundation also ran a campaign in October to help fund these bags, raising more than $13,000 from community donors.

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | DECEMBER 2021 uAWARDS & HONORS • UScellular announced the three winners of its first-ever Hispanic Heritage Month Art Contest with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties during a recent celebration in Kennewick. Public voting for the finalists’ art was available online, and the winning artists received gift cards in the following amounts: Sarah Ling Lang, $250 for first place; AvaLee Cisneros, $150 for second place; and Edgar Pinedo Avalos, $100 for third place. • Gesa Credit Union has been named a regional Credit Union National Association (CUNA) award winner for demonstrating outstanding commitment through ongoing support of its community through events and financial services. Gesa received the Alphonse Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award. During the pandemic, Gesa hosted a variety of webinars, partnered with Junior Achievement and launched a monthlong Financial Literacy Challenge. The credit union also provided real-work experience to students throughout its 12 campus branches. • Energy Northwest earned the Military Friendly Employer designation for 2022. This is the seventh year in a row that Energy Northwest earned this designation. More than 30% of its employees are veterans. Institutions earning the Military Friendly Employer designation were evaluated using public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. Energy Northwest will be showcased, along with other 2022 Military Friendly Employers, in the December issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and on MilitaryFriendly.com. • Visit Tri-Cities recognized the TriCities tourism and hospitality workforce, from baristas to front desk agents to servers and beyond, as the 2021 Kris Watkins Tourism Champions of the Year during Visit Tri-Cities Annual Meeting: Champions of Tourism Recovery, held virtually Nov. 4. The award is the organization’s most prestigious honor and recipients are chosen based on their dedication to the tourism industry and supporting the efforts of Visit Tri-Cities to continually elevate the region as a premier tourism destination. Visit Tri-Cities also announced the 2021 Excellence in Service award during the program. Kathy Nutt of Frichette Winery was recognized for providing outstanding customer service. She was one of 37 nominees who were recognized by the community for exceptional hospitality. Nominees were judged on following

criteria: the ability to serve as an example to others, provide exemplary customer service and create a memorable visitor experience.

uNEW HIRES

• Lourdes Health has announced Carly Beesley has joined Lourdes Urgent Care in Pasco as a provider. She recently completed her doctor of nursing practice through Washington State University. She Carly Beesley earned a bachelor of science in nursing at Grand Canyon University in 2018. • John Huibregtse has joined Alegria + Company, one of the largest local accounting and consulting firms in Central Washington. He was hired to its partner group. Alegria + Company serves clients from its John Huibregtse offices in Prosser, Yakima and Ellensburg. He re-joins the firm after having most recently served as the chief financial officer and an owner of vertically integrated tree fruit companies in Central Washington. Huibregtse also has prior experience working with a regional CPA firm and practiced law after obtaining his accounting degree from Gonzaga University and his law degree from Seattle

University School of Law. • Christina Lomasney, a veteran entrepreneur with experience in technology innovation and commercialization, has been named director of technology deployment and outreach at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Christina Lomasney Northwest National Laboratory in Richland. In this role, she will create new start-up and entrepreneurship initiatives and capabilities that are designed to boost job creation, create new markets for ideas and products and maximize the impact of federal science investments. • Prosser Memorial hired pediatrician Dr. Tamara Cooks for its Prosser Clinic. She earned her bachelor’s in social thought and analysis with miDr. Tamara Cooks nors in anthropology, biology and Spanish from Washington University St. Louis, and her doctorate from Washington University School of Medicine. She then went on to complete a pediatric residency at Wayne State University’s Children’s Hospital of Michigan. Her services include general pediatrics, sports and school physicals, wellness exams and care for newborns through age 18. • Three providers have joined Tri-Cities

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Community Health. They are: - Dr. Nitish Jagpal is a pediatric provider at the 829 Goethals Health Center in Richland. He completed his pediatric residency with Nassau University Medical Center in New York. He Dr. Nitish Jagpal attended medical school at Government Medical College, Patiala, India. - Dr. Danielle Ello Cruto is family medicine provider at 515 W. Court St. in Pasco. A Tri-City native, she received her Dr. Danielle Ello Cruto doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from Pacific Northwest University, College of Medicine, Yakima, and completed her residency at RCCH Trios Health in Kennewick. - Dr. Michael Cabasug is a board-certified family medicine provider at 721 S. Auburn St. in Kennewick. He has over 10 years of clinical Dr. Michael experience in the Cabasug Tri-Cities.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | DECEMBER 2021

CELEBRATING

New burrito, sub and pizza restaurants coming to Pasco

Page B2

YEARS

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION

Fashionista brands Forever 21, Windsor now open at Columbia Center mall

Page B4

December 2021 Volume 20 | Issue 12 | B1

Reser’s construction is back on track after collapse stopped work By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

Reser’s Fine Foods is proceeding with construction of a food processing facility in Pasco after a framed section of the building collapsed during a windstorm. No workers were injured in the Nov. 15 incident. Reser’s, serving as its own contractor, briefly halted work. By early December, crews were operating at both ends of the massive structure. “Construction is currently continuing on our new Pasco facility. Our plan is to meet a completion date of summer 2022,” the company said in response to an inquiry about the project’s status to its public relations firm. Reser’s, based in the Portland suburbs, is building a 277,681-square-foot, two-story complex with a production plant, offices and other structures at 5526 Capitol Ave. The site is between Capitol Avenue and Highway 395 in north Pasco. The project is among the largest foodrelated construction projects of 2021, which also saw Darigold Inc. and Local Bounti Inc. commit to big investments

Developer plans to end north Richland’s coffee desert By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

A Bellevue-based developer is converting a north Richland building into a coffee shop to serve residents and workers near the PNNL campus. IC University Square LLC plans to apply for permits to reconfigure the building in January, with a tentative opening date in mid-2022. The LLC is associated with Shotgun uCOFFEE SHOP, Page B3

in food production plants in Pasco. Work began after the city authorized the $11 million plant in September. In December, the city approved a $2 million, 20,500-square-foot office building abutting the main structure. When the new building opens, Reser’s will move operations from its existing Pasco plant at the nearby Pasco Processing Center, where it has about 250 employees. That facility will be repurposed, a company spokesperson said. Local economic development officials expect Reser’s will add to its local workforce when the new building is open, though the company has not said how many new jobs to expect. Reser’s acquired the 38-acre Pasco property in June, paying $3 million for a portion of the former Cox Family Land LLC site. The Port of Pasco bought 55 acres to the north for a new industrial park, known as the Pasco Industrial Center Highway 395, or PIC395, site. Reser’s is not a tenant of the future park. Reser’s is a family-owned $1 billionplus company formed in the 1950s by Earl and Mildred Reser to sell her potato sales. Today, it is led by their grandson,

Photo by Wendy Culverwell Workers assemble a crane at the construction site for Reser’s Fine Foods, the Portland-area deli salad maker that is building a 277,681-square-foot processing plant and offices at 5526 Capitol Ave., east of Highway 395, north of Pasco. Construction resumed after a brief stoppage after framing collapsed in a windstorm.

CEO Mark Reser, and is known chiefly for its potato salads, deli offerings and other staples carried in grocery stores. It sells under a variety of brands, including Reser’s, Stonemill Kitchens, Don Pancho Authentic Mexican Foods and Baja Café. It is widely available in

the Tri-Cities through Albertsons, Fiesta Foods, Safeway, Walmart and Fred Meyer groceries Cida Inc. of Portland is the architect and structural engineer for the project. Reser’s is building it through its construction arm.

Graze makes big bet on China Café spot in Kennewick By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

Graze – a Place to Eat is making its biggest bet ever on the Tri-Cities with a new location planned in the former China Café spot in Kennewick. Graze owners Rebecca and John Lastoskie bought the restaurant at 131 N. Ely St. in July and expect to open it in mid-2022 following a down-to-thestuds renovation that will rid it of its “former Pizza Hut” vibe. It will be the fifth outlet for Graze, which is based in Walla Walla and has locations in Kennewick and Richland. It prepares most of its food in a

3,800-square-foot commissary in Walla Walla. John Lastoskie said the expense is significant, though he declined to disclose the budget. “We just hope to not run out of money. That could really be a quote,” he said. The couple, operating as Graze LLC, paid $1.23 million for the former China Café building. The restaurant closed for good on Nov. 30. The former operators were still removing items in early December. The Lastoskies had long identified it as a location they wanted for their business. The building, originally constructed in 1975, shares a parking lot with

REI, Gold’s Gym, Starbucks and other destination businesses. “We’ve driven around the Tri-Cities a lot looking for where we wanted to go next. For some reason, we’ve always pointed at that building and said we want to go there,” he said. REI customers, gym users and coffee drinkers are “our people,” he said. He expects to submit building plans to the city of Kennewick in December and is pushing to open in July or August, though it could take longer. While Graze does most of its cooking in Walla Walla, the newest Kennewick restaurant will have two high-speed ov-

uGRAZE, Page B3

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | DECEMBER 2021

uBUSINESS BRIEFS Popular Kennewick restaurant damaged by fire

Double Dragon, a popular Kennewick restaurant, was damaged by an early morning fire on Dec. 7. The Kennewick Fire Department said passersby called in the blaze after spotting fire coming from a roof vent at about 3:30 a.m. The fire department noted the 1979-built building, 3107 W. Clearwater Ave., did not have a sprinkler system or a fire detection system. Firefighters found fire in the kitchen, which they extinguished within 10 minutes, containing the damage. The cause was under investigation. The fire department warned that

early detection is key and cited Federal Emergency Management Agency statistics showing that nearly 40% of small businesses fail to reopen after a disaster such as a fire and another 25% fail within one year.

New burrito, sub and pizza restaurants coming to Pasco

Plans are underway to build a $1.3 million multi-tenant restaurant building in Pasco at 5326 Road 68, just south of Sandifur Parkway. Building permits filed by Yakimabased Hogback Development with the city of Pasco indicate the new 6,511-squarefoot building will be home to Chipotle Mexican Grill, Jersey Mike’s and MOD Pizza.

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION

Hogback is building the building core and shell only, with interior buildout to be under separate permits. The contractor for the project is Stephens & Sons Construction of Yakima.

Kennewick launches new permitting system

The city of Kennewick has launched a new permitting system that allows customers to apply online for commercial, residential and express building permits, among other things. The platform is easier to navigate, provides more information on application statuses and streamlines the application process, according to the city. It went live Nov. 15. The new portal required the shutdown of the previous system, which was more than 20 years old, while data was transferred over. Current customers must register for a new profile to apply for online permits. All applications submitted after Nov. 19 will need to be submitted online or in person. Emailed and faxed applications are no longer being accepted. To access the new permit portal, go to selfservice.ci.kennewick.wa.us/EnerGov_ Prod/SelfService#/home.

Hanford contractor acquired by nuclear waste storage firm Freestone Environmental Services, a Richland firm that provides services to the Hanford site, has been acquired by Deep Isolation, a Berkeley, California-based company focuses on solving the challenge

of nuclear waste disposal. Terms were not disclosed. Freestone will operate as a whollyowned subsidiary. The company includes a team of 15 scientists and engineers with a variety of clients, most notably the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hanford site. “We are pleased to welcome Freestone as a Deep Isolation company,” said Liz Muller, CEO of Deep Isolation. “Freestone has a track record of delivering high-quality regulatory planning and environmental clean up projects for government customers. The Freestone team will continue to be led by geologist Steve Airhart, president. “We’ve been watching Deep Isolation’s progress toward solving the seemingly unsolvable problem of nuclear waste disposal, and we’re excited to join such an important mission,” Airhart said.

Senske acquires insect, weed control business in Gig Harbor

Senske Services has acquired Custom Insect & Weed Control based in Gig Harbor. Senske, a 75-year-old family-owned provider of premier lawn, tree, and pest control services, has an office in Kennewick. Custom Insect & Weed Control was founded in 1978 by Larry Morrison. Its customers will be serviced by Washington Tree & Lawn Care, a division of Senske Services. Existing services will continue uninterrupted from the Lakewood location, and customers can take advantage of the expanded service offerings. The acquisition represents the sixth completed by Senske in the last 13 months. The Senske family of brands includes Senske Pest Control, Senske Lawn and Tree Care, Senske Grounds Maintenance, Washington Tree & Lawn Care, and Christmas Décor by Senske. Senske said it is actively exploring expansion opportunities.

Connect with us! /tcajob /tcajob /company/tcajob

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION GRAZE, From page B1 ens, which Lastoskie said should speed up cooking times and improve customer service. The new equipment is part of a makeover that will transform the building’s appearance. “We have to do a lot. We are completely taking off the roof and doing a new shape when it’s finished,” Lastoskie said. “It won’t look anything like it looks.” Graze makes sauces and some salad dressings in its restaurants, along with slicing, dicing and mixing. But the heavy-duty cooking occurs in Walla Walla. “We’ve taken most of the complicated kitchen tasks out of the sandwich shops,” he said. The commissary can support more locations, though Lastoskie said the company wants to get through the current COFFEE SHOP, From page B1 Creek Investments, a real estate-focused private equity firm led by Doug Perry. It owns 300-plus apartment units in two nearby complexes and other properties in the Innovation Square area south of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. David Plotts, project manager, said interior demolition began in spaces formerly occupied by Gesa Credit Union and Ethos Bakery. The property, 800 Dalton St., is near University and Stevens drives and is also home to Shogun Teriyaki & Sushi. Banlin Construction Co. LLC is the contractor.

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | DECEMBER 2021

one before it commits to anything new. “If we don’t go bankrupt on 395, we would love to be on Road 68. And then from there, it’s probably Spokane or Yakima if we’re dumb enough,” he said. Lastoskie said Graze’s new Richland location – it moved from The Parkway to Park Place – has been a win. Sales are up and the newly developed Park Place at the entrance to Howard Amon Park on George Washington Way has better parking. “We're selling significantly more food on that busy street with easy access (to George Washington Way),” he said. Lastoskie said staffing, a challenge for the food service industry, has been eased by raising the company’s wages and reinstating tips after changes in federal law brought more clarity. Employees average between $18 and $21 an hour, he said, adding that it makes recruitment easier.

The Lastoskies are launching a new initiative this winter. They’re publishing a book about the business, including all the ingredients in all the recipes.

He said while Graze has not gone organic and local for logistical reasons, it focuses on wholesome and humble food at a fair price.

The former Gesa space will be remade into a traditional coffee shop. The former Ethos space will provide room for gatherings, meetings, get-togethers and study groups. The wall has been breached to connect the two. The two spaces have a combined area of about 4,000 square feet Plotts said he has interviewed several coffee shop operators to take over the space, but has not decided about the eventual tenant. “We’re forging forth on the expectation that we’ll find a good fit,” he said. Plotts said the company is investing in the 2013-built building – $300,000 ac-

cording to a demolition permit for the interior work – after surveying tenants of its nearby office and apartment properties. The results were clear: The area is a coffee desert. Tenants complained that they had to drive to get a cup of coffee. The nearest Starbucks is at the Safeway-anchored strip mall at George Washington Way and McMurray Street. Other coffee stands are on Highway 240, on the way to Horn Rapids, several miles away. Creating a coffee shop closer to Innovation Center will fill a desired need, Plotts said. It is intended to cater to tenants as well

as those who work at PNNL, Washington State University Tri-Cities, Hanford contractors, the Port of Benton and Hanford High School. In the longer term, it will anchor the owner’s long-term plans for the undeveloped portion of the property it holds. Plott said the owner are contemplating developing townhomes in the area and light industrial. It developed and owns The Lofts at Innovation Center and The Commons, upscale apartment complexes with about 150 units each. It also leases an office building to PNNL and an office/storage building to WSU Tri-Cities.

Photo by Wendy Culverwell The former China Café, 131 N. Ely St., will reopen as Graze – A Place to Eat in mid-2022 following a down-to-the-studs remodel by owners Rebecca and John Lastoskie, who bought the building in July.

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | DECEMBER 2021

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION

File photo Forever 21 opened in early December at Columbia Center mall in Kennewick. The trendy clothing chain first announced plans to open its first store in the TriCities nearly three years ago

Fashionista brands Forever 21, Windsor now open at Columbia Center mall By Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

Two fast-fashion brands have opened at Columbia Center mall in Kennewick. Forever 21, the trendy clothing chain, opened in early December near JCPenney, nearly three years after it first announced plans to open its first store in the Tri-Cities. Columbia Center announced the opening on its Facebook page. The company’s Kennewick plans stalled when it went through bankruptcy and was acquired by a new group that includes Simon Property Group, the mall operator that owns Columbia Center. The new store occupies an 11,800square-foot space that underwent a $1.3 million remodel, according to Kennewick building permits. Contractor Axxys Construction Group wrapped up work Dec. 3. The mall’s other newcomer is Windsor

Fashions LLC, a fast-fashion brand that offers a mix of formal and casual apparel for women, opened Nov. 11 near Old Navy. Based in Santa Fe Springs, California, it in 1937 and operates 280 stores in the U.S. It is a holding of Sun Capital Partners and focuses on special occasion apparel for school and other events, including proms and graduation and holiday parties. In early 2021, it said it would open 150 new stores, citing growing interest in events and formal wear following the end of the original Covid-19 lockdowns. “Post-pandemic Windsor is positioned in an ideal spot to capitalize on the return to normalcy and deliver accessible fashion for all the social events in our customers’ lives,” said CEO Leon Zekaria at the time. For employment information, go to bit. ly/30IU2Nb (Windsor) or Forever21.com/ us/careers/careers.html.

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | DECEMBER 2021

Courtesy Spokane Journal Of Business

Equity firm acquires Fran Rish’s $10M update historic Spokane hotel to begin in new year Photo by Wendy Culverwell The Richland School District is preparing to begin construction on updates to Fran Rish Stadium at Richland High School.

By Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

Fran Rish Stadium at Richland High School will get a $10 million update beginning in February. The Richland School District expects the eight-month project to wrap up by September, according to an environmental checklist filed under Washington’s Environmental Protection Act in October. The voter-approved project includes new artificial turf, track surface, grandstand bleachers for the home side, restrooms, locker rooms and training spaces. Design West Architects and DA Hogan and Associates are the designers. Chervenell Construction is the contractor and manager. The project is part of a package of capi-

tal projects included in a $99 million bond approved by voters in 2017. Nearly 62% of voters approved it. The bond, which was expected to leverage $43 million in state funds, also paid for new buildings for Tapteal and Badger Mountain elementaries, a new elementary school building in West Richland, renovations to the Richland High School Auditorium, updates to the Hanford High School athletic field, the new Teaching, Learning & Administrative Center in West Richland and creating the Early Learning Center in the former Jefferson Elementary building. Property owners in the district paid $1.99 per $1,000 of assessed value to support construction bond debt, or about $700 for a home valued at $350,000 for tax purposes.

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KSL Capital Partners LLC, a Denverbased private equity firm, has reached a deal to purchase a collection of Spokane area hotels that includes The Historic Davenport, an iconic landmark built in 1914. Terms of the deal, expected to close in January, were not disclosed. Davenport Hotels is a privately-held company owned by Karen and Walt Worthy and also includes five luxury, convention, business and leisure hotels, assembled over the past two decades in the Spokane area. KSL specializes in travel and leisure enterprises. Since 2005, it has raised about $15 billion in capital across both debt and equity funds. In Washington state, it is an investor in the Crystal Mountain Resort and in CitizenM, a Seattle hotel. Upon completion of the sale, Daven-

port Hotels will operate under the continued leadership of Lynnelle Caudill, managing director of Davenport Hotels since 2002. The Worthys plan to retire. Davidson Hospitality Group, a fullservice hospitality management company, will manage the properties in partnership with Caudill and her team. Davenport Hotels includes The Historic Davenport, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Davenport Tower, The Davenport Lusso, The Centennial and The Davenport Grand Hotel. The properties form a mix of new and historic hotels, all in downtown Spokane. Together, they range from boutique to full size, classic to contemporary, offering a total of 1,787 guest rooms. KSL also owns the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan, La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California, and The Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | DECEMBER 2021

Photos by Wendy Culverwell Ryan Companies US Inc. of Bellevue and Minneapolis is proceeding on development of two distribution centers for Amazon Inc. Both are more than 1 million square feet and will collectively employ about 1,500. Project Pearl, left, is at 1351 S. Road 40 East and has a construction value of $61 million. Project Oyster, right, is at 1202 S. Road 40 East, has a construction value of $84 million and includes a 35,000-square-foot office.

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The city of West Richland has completed its $12.3 million police station on a fiveacre site at the former Tri-City Raceway, 7920 W. Van Giesen St. The new station includes a 20,500-square-foot main building and a 2,750-square-foot outbuilding, The main building features space for police administration, patrol, records, investigations, animal and code compliance, evidence and a community room. The outbuilding contains a drive-thru garage, storage and climate-controlled kennels. Drew Woodruff, the city’s engineer, led the project for the city. Darrin Sweeney of Hill International provided project management. Chervenell Construction of Kennewick was the general contractor, with Patrick Bestebreur serving as project manager. Architect Brandon Wilm of Design West Architects of Kennewick designed the new police station. West Richland voters approved a bond to build a new station to replace an aging and cramped facility by the former city hall. The new building is designed to accommodate 25 to 30 years of anticipated growth. uWEST RICHLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT, Page B8

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | DECEMBER 2021 cess to youth sports as part of Disney’s commitment to providing access to active play and creating healthier generations. “We’re pleased that the city was one of 16 selected out of the country for this grant, and we thank the NRPA and Disney,” said Zach Ratkai, the city’s director of administrative and community services. Thanks to a $ 1 million grant from Disney, NRPA is providing communities like Pasco with increased access to youth sports and play spaces in local parks for children and families across the United States. NRPA is developing resources aimed at training and mentoring park and recreation professionals to help close

uBUSINESS BRIEFS Pasco gets grant to convert tennis courts into soccer fields

The city of Pasco plans to convert two of the tennis courts at Sylvester Park into soccer mini-fields, or mini soccer courts, thanks to a $40,000 grant. City officials say the grant will cover about a third of the projected cost. The city of Pasco, in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association, or NRPA, received the grant to provide increased access to youth sports and play spaces in local parks. The NRPA is collaborating with The Walt Disney Company on improving ac-

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gaps in access to youth sports programs, facilities and policies. This investment supports NRPA and Disney’s combined goal to increase equitable access to play opportunities, including youth sports, and encourage children and families to enjoy their local parks to improve overall health and well-being.

Black Rock pauses Roasters conversions, opens 100th store

Black Rock Coffee Bar, the TriCities' newest coffee brand, recently hit a milestone. ChainStore Age, which tracks the retail sector, reports it opened its 100th

store, in Chandler, Arizona, where it now has 22 locations. The family-owned company from Portland formed in 2008 and purchased the Kennewick-based Roasters Coffee chain in early 2021. It has converted locations in Kennewick but paused the process for the holidays. “There’s a bunch of factors including the busyness of the holiday season, supply chain snags, and contractor schedules to name a few. We don’t want to disrupt customer or barista flows,” said McKenzie Parker, manager for the TriCities, as well as Colorado and Idaho. The company has converted the coffee shops at 5215 W. Okanogan Ave. and 300 N. Ely St.

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REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION uBUSINESS BRIEFS How many Tri-Citians are there? Here’s the latest

There were 305,223 people living in the greater Tri-Cities in November, according to updated population figures released by the state Office of Financial Management in December. The latest stats show Benton County had 209,400 residents, with more than 82% living in one of the county’s five cities – Benton City, Kennewick, Prosser, Richland and West Richland. Franklin County had 98,350 residents, with nearly 86% living in one of its four cities – Connell, Kahlotus, Mesa and Pasco.

The populations for individual cities, with their rank in the state in parenthesis, were: Benton City, 3,500 (133); Connell, 5,125 (121); Kahlotus, 145 (275); Kennewick, 84,620 (6); Mesa, 390 (247) Pasco, 78,700 (16); Prosser 6,130 (116); Richland, 61,320 (21) and West Richland, 17,070 (63) Washington had 7.76 million residents, with 65% living in cities. Go to: bit.ly/WaNov2021Population.

Home Builders Association of TriCities is accepting registrations from vendors for its Feb. 25-27 Regional Home & Garden Show, to be held at the

HAPO Center in Pasco. Prospective vendors should visit HBATC.com for registration information, which includes completing a vendor agreement and paying a deposit. Spaces are not reserved until both are received. Call 509-735-2745 for more information.

Prosser police station moves into new temporary home The Prosser Police Department has moved into its new temporary home. Located behind Chukar Cherries at 205 Hagarty Lane, the department recently opened its doors to the public after a May 8 commercial fire destroyed downtown city offices.

Business office hours are from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, excluding holidays. The department is not processing new/ original concealed pistol licenses (CPL) or offering fingerprinting services at this time. Residents may still submit renewal, late renewal and replacement CPL applications. More information on how you can submit these forms can be found on the Police Department’s website: cityofprosser.com\police. For general business questions, call the department’s business office at 509-7861500. To file a report or reach an officer, call non-emergency dispatch at 509-786-2112.

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Speck Buick GMC of Tri-Cities 9610 Sandifur Parkway, Pasco

GENERAL CONTRACTOR Speck Buick GMC of Tri-Cities has built a new automobile dealership at 9610 Sandifur Parkway in Pasco. The new facility is next to Camping World. J.P. and Katy Moore of the Speck Family Dealerships had the project built after Speck Buick GMC outgrew its location on West Clearwater Avenue in Kennewick The 36,000-square-foot store sits on seven acres and features 18 service bays, including heavy duty 16,000-pound lifts, alignment rack, EV charging stations. It increases the capacity for customers to have vehicles serviced and allows Speck to stay current on its business. Customer amenities include a refreshment bar, waiting area and professional work stations with charging docks. The dealership sells new Buick and GMC, GM certified pre-owned vehicles and is a full GM accessory and parts dealer. Lee Petty of LCR Construction of Richland oversaw the project. Baker Architecture was the designer.

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Advanced Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics 9720 Sandifur Parkway, Pasco Advanced Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics has completed a single-story, 7,431-square-foot medical and office space at 9720 Sandifur Parkway, Pasco, off Road 100. Dr. J. Kyle House of Professional Development Group LLC had the project built. The $2.2 million project is home for the clinic, a children’s dentistry and orthodontics practice and was designed to complement the surrounding neighborhood and business park in both color and finishes. The new building will expand Advanced Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics services provided at its location at Road 68 and Wrigley Drive. The new clinic was designed to be energy efficient and to provide an exceptional environment for clients, including an expansive waiting area. Eric Armstrong of Pondera Architecture in Spokane was the architect. G2 Commercial Construction Inc. of Kennewick was the general contractor.

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Benton County has completed a three-story administration building at its Kennewick Justice Center campus, 7122 W. Okanogan Place. The $15 million project has 44,000 square feet and consolidates the county auditor, assessor, commissioners, treasurer and administration from offices in the justice center and at the Canal Street annex. The move frees up space in the secured justice center building for court-related activities in the district and superior courts. The county describes the new addition to the complex as a modern office that uses natural light in contrast to the midcentury brutalist style of the existing structures, which were built in the 1980s and were designed to maximize space. The new building has windows on all sides and a well-lit atrium at its heart. It does not affect essential services available in Prosser, the official Benton County seat. Banlin Construction of Kennewick was the general contractor. MMEC Architecture & Interiors of Kennewick was the designer.

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Energy Sciences Center Pacific Northwest National Laboratory 3340 Horn Rapids Road, Richland

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The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory dedicated its newest building, the Energy Sciences Center, at 3340 Horn Rapids Road, in October. Completion is expected over the coming winter. The 140,000-square-foot facility has space for 52 research laboratories, including flexible and collaborative spaces, conference rooms and offices for 250 PNNL staff, as well as visiting scientists and engineers. The building incorporates energy-and water-reducing features and maximizes natural light. Waste heat generated by computers and research equipment in an adjacent building will help heat the building. The $90 million budget was approved by Congress, with funding coming from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science and its Science Laboratories Infrastructure program. The state of Washington appropriated $5 million through its Clean Energy fund to support the project, which is at the intersection with Stevens Drive. The Energy Sciences Center is focused on scientific discovery in chemistry, materials science and computing and is meant to position of the U.S. as a leader in clean energy research and decarbonization strategies. PNNL oversaw the project. It was designed and constructed by a Houston-based partnership of Harvey Cleary Builders and Kirksey Architecture.

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PUBLIC RECORD uBANKRUPTCIES Bankruptcies are filed under the following chapter headings: Chapter 7 — Straight Bankruptcy: debtor gives up non-exempt property and debt is discharged. Chapter 11 — Allows companies and individuals to restructure debts to repay them. Chapter 12 — Allows family farmers or fishermen to restructure finances to avoid liquidation for foreclosure. Chapter 13 — Plan is devised by the individual to pay a percentage of debt based on ability to pay. All disposable income must be used to pay debts. Information provided by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Spokane.

CHAPTER 7 Moises Reyes & Alisa Reyes, 312 W. 11th Ave., Kennewick. Kevin Zarndt, 6502 Ridgeline Drive, Kennewick. Alejandra Navarro Medina, 907 W. Opal St., Pasco. W. James David Cowan, 7715 W. Dradie, Pasco. Jenny Lisseth Cervantes, 5702 Pierre Drive, Pasco. Cesar Oregon, PO Box 4799, Pasco. Kim S. Reis, 2499 Brodie Lane, Richland. Esperanza Y. Corona, 5100 W. Clearwater Ave., Apt. D205, Kennewick.

CHAPTER 13 Michael Cargill & Cheryl Cargill, 415 S. Beech St., Kennewick. Jeraldin Sara Lopez, 850 Aaron Drive, Apt. 109, Richland. Patricia Louise Allen, 439 N. Douglas Ave., Pasco. Daniel Lee Martinez, 167 Newhaven Place, Richland.

uTOP PROPERTIES BENTON COUNTY 13322 S. Furlong Lane, Kennewick, 2,699-square-foot home. Price: $765,000 Buyer: Jordan & Shannon Smith. Seller: Landmark Homes of Washington LLC. 2465 Tiger Lane, Richland, 2,671-squarefoot home. Price: $747,000. Buyer: Albert J. & Cheryl B. Schauble. Seller: Richard & Janet Gerlitz. 6818 W. First Ave., Kennewick, 3,724-square-foot apartment buildings. Price: $1 million. Buyer: Acacio Domar. Seller: Nadia A. & Alexandre S. Nelson. 6612 W. 20th Ave., Kennewick, 3,174-square-foot home. Price: $700,000. Buyer: Merrideth A. & Jessie L. Johnson. Seller: Scott & Sara S. Stephens. 4103 Highview St., Richland, 0.29-acre home site. Price: $730,000. Buyer: Steven K. & Carrie L. Little. Seller: Signature Homes LLC. 15579 S. Furlong Lane, Kennewick, 1-acre home site. Price: $792,000. Buyer: Dale & Dee Ann Price. Seller: Hammerstrom Construction LLC. 8001 W. 10th Ave., Kennewick, 1,944-square-foot home on 5 acres. Price: $1 million. Buyer: TDKJ Residential Property LLC. Seller: Louis W. & Violet D. Meissner Trustees. 1813 Nova Lane, Richland, 3,663-squarefoot home. Price: $827,000. Buyer: Paul Craig Strait. Seller: Viktor & Alena Gis. 2168 Legacy Lane, Richland, 3,061-square-foot home. Price: $960,000. Buyer: Cesar W. & Ruthanne Cortez. Seller: Pahlisch Homes at Westcliffe Heights.

1007 Wright Ave., Richland, 14,940-square-foot church and storage warehouse. Price: $750,000. Buyer: Lighthouse Community Church. Seller: Trinity Church of Tri-Cities. 485 S. 38th Ave., West Richland, 0.55 acres of commercial/industrial land. Price: $2.6 million. Buyer: Ritzville Lodging Group LLC. Seller: Urban Range LLC. 2383 Eagle Ridge Court, Richland, 2,666-square-foot home. Price: $840,000. Buyer: Kevin & Patricia G. Ensign. Seller: Robert C. & Julie M. Dikeman. 3701 Strawberry Lane, Richland, 6,611-square-foot home. Price: $1.1 million. Buyer: Nick & Mandy Kooiker. Seller: Lance R. & Karen L. Kenmore. Property north of West Hanks Road, 73 acres of irrigated ag land and 10 acres of dry pasture. Price: $1.1 million. Buyer: Brenton & Alicia Roy. Seller: Schmitt Vineyards Partnership. 4862 W. Hildebrand Blvd., Kennewick, 8,314-square-foot restaurant. Price: $3.5 million. Buyer: Weds LP. Seller: KLB 4862 Hildebrand LLC. 4102 Highview St., Richland, 0.64acre home site. Price: $712,000. Buyer: Jay & Janet S. Anderson. Seller: P & R Construction LLC. 1659 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick, 7,261-square-foot restaurant. Price: $5.4 million. Buyer: NWI WA6 LLC. Seller: Hogback Columbia Center LLC. 1161 Bridle Drive, Richland, 6,256-squarefoot home. Price: $1.4 million. Buyer: Gary L. & Linda N. Dunford. Seller: Juergen J. Mueller. 4764 Cowlitz Blvd., Richland, 1,835-square-foot home. Price: $720,000. Buyer: Christopher & Lindsey Ross. Seller:

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Jason L. & Nancy Smith. 29911 E. Jacobs Road, Benton City, 4,090-square-foot pole building on 6.4 acres. Price: $820,000. Buyer: Victory Baptist Church. Seller: Isinel LLC. 2951 S. Harrison St., Kennewick, 1,858-square-foot home. Price: $725,000. Buyer: Travis Hibler. Seller: Paul J. & Heather A. Weidert. 1254 Medley Drive, Richland, 0.34acre home site. Price: $725,000. Buyer: Yevgeniy Korolev & Naomi Calderon. Seller: Alderbrook Investments Inc. 3121 S. Gum St., Kennewick, 2,277-square-foot home on 8 acres. Price: $825,000. Buyer: Kellen & Mary E. Adcock. Seller: Steven J. & Kelli D. VanHorne. 5151 Trowbridge Blvd., Richland, 4,151-square-foot convenience store. Price: $3.7 million. Buyer: Dallas Gasoline LLC. Seller: AJSA LLC 2. 7220 W. Okanogan Place, Kennewick, 24,233-square-foot commercial building on 1.8 acres. Price: $7 million. Buyer: Ancient Boundary LLC. Seller: CCM Investments LLC. 1202 Meadow Hills Drive, Richland, 2,421-square-foot home. Price: $780,000. Buyer: Kelly C. & Evah Ann Powelson. Seller: Serhly & Inna Botnlychuk. 8207 W. Fifth Ave., Kennewick, 2,116-square-foot home. Price: $850,000. Buyer: Kristopher Michael & Bobi Anne Jennings. Seller: Bruce Wayne & Lorrie A. Ratchford. 2205 S. Coulee Vista Drive, Kennewick, 2,123-square-foot home. Price: $706,000. Buyer: Damon Herman. Seller: Chris Cowgill.

uPUBLIC RECORD, Page B18

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Don’t avoid ‘taboo’ topics with older parents about how to open the conversation, preferably not with what they want to do with their money – this could be interpreted as your seeking information about your inheritance or being skeptical about their financial decisions. Instead, build a broadbased discussion about their vision for their aging years. A series of shorter conversations may allow you to cover topics more comfortably, one by one, rather than trying to solve everything at once. Try to address these areas:

TARA WISWALL

(509) 783-2042 If your parents are getting close to retirement age, or are already retired, it may be time to talk with them about financial and aging issues, some of which may involve difficult conversations. For the sake of everyone in your family, don’t avoid these “taboo” topics.

parents updated their will or other arrangements, such as a living trust? Have they named a financial power of attorney to make decisions on their behalf if they become incapacitated? Do they have the proper beneficiary designations on their insurance policies and retirement plan accounts? If you can position these issues as being more about your parents’ control over their financial destiny, rather than “who will get what,” you’ll more likely have a productive conversation. • Last wishes – You’ll want to find out if your parents have left instructions in their will about their funerals and last wishes. Express to them that you, or another close family member, should know who is responsible for making sure their wishes are met.

• Health care – You’ll want to learn if your parents have established the appropriate health-related legal documents – a health care power of attorney, which gives someone the authority to make important decisions about their medical care if they become unable to do so themselves, and a living will, which spells out the extraordinary medical treatments they may or may not want.

Money, independence and aging can be sensitive topics. Don’t think you have to go it alone – you can enlist help from another close family member. Or, if you know your parents are working with a trusted advisor, such as an attorney or financial professional, you could see if they’d be willing to have this person participate in your talks. You might even be able to introduce them to one of your advisors.

You’ll need to be careful about approaching these subjects with your parents. Mention ahead of time that you’d like to talk to them about their future plans and reassure them that you want to understand their wishes, so their affairs will be taken care of as they would like.

• Independence – As people age, they may begin to lose their independence. Have your parents considered any options for long-term care, such as a nursing home stay, or the services of a home health aide? And do they have plans in place? If they plan to receive support from family members, do their expectations match yours?

If your parents are agreeable, choose a location comfortable for them and ask whom they might like to invite (or not invite). Then, think

• Financial goals – Focusing on the personal and financial aspects of the legacy your parents want to leave can be a valuable conversation. Have your

In any case, keep talking. These conversations can be challenging, but, if handled correctly, can be of great benefit to your parents and your entire family.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

JOY BEHEN

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DUSTIN CLONTZ

JAY FREEMAN

SHELLEY KENNEDY

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(509) 735-1497

(509) 783-2042

2173 Sky Meadow Ave., Richland, 2,913-square-foot home. Price: $741,000. Buyer: Michael & Michelle Blazon. Seller: Maamoon Tammaa & Ola Bawab. 174 Bradley Blvd., Richland, 2,332-square-foot home. Price: $859,000. Buyer: Chris W. & Janis A. Jensen. Seller: Robert Paul Marshall & Mary Griffin Trustees. 91022 E. Summit View Drive, Kennewick, 2,821-square-foot home. Price: $759,000. Buyer: Laurene & Matthew Concienne. Seller: Ricky & Angie Goddard. 3205 W. Kennewick Ave., Kennewick, 3,808-square-foot commercial building. Price: $730,000. Buyer: Zen Wellness LLC. Seller: Duane A. & Gayla S. Snyder Trustees. 7511 W. Arrowhead Ave., Kennewick, 14,360-square-foot commercial building. Price: $980,000. Buyer: 7511 Opportunity LLC. Seller: Benton Fire District 1. 5831 W. 28th Place, Kennewick, 0.58acre home site. Price: $781,000. Buyer: Richard Frank Weatherill & Angela Maria Lemos. Seller: Prodigy Homes Inc. 5889 W. 28th Ave., Kennewick, 0.41-acre home site. Price: $892,000. Buyer: Veronica & Daniel C. Perez. Seller: Prodigy Homes Inc. 313 E. First Ave., Kennewick, 3,904-square-foot commercial building on 1.5 acres. Price: $720,000. Buyer: Martinez & Sons Enterprise LLC. Seller: Dan G. & Traci R. Ellig. 18 S. Lyle St., Kennewick, 5,800-squarefoot apartment complex. Price: $890,000. Buyer: Lyle Walley LLC. Seller: DJTJ LLC. 1327 Goethals Drive, Richland, three 9,400+-square-foot apartment buildings. Price: $3.5 million. Buyer: 1327 Goethals Drive LLC. Seller: Richland Colonial Apartments. 89758 E. Calico Road, Kennewick, 1-acre home site. Price: $759,000. Buyer: Kimberly & Eric Drury. Seller: Tanninen Custom Homes Inc. 84 Wellsian Way & 1330 Aaron Drive, Richland, commercial property. Price: $935,000. Buyer: AAA Renovation & Construction LLC. Seller: LN Real Estate LLC.

FRANKLIN COUNTY 12515 Whiskey River Road, Pasco, 0.54acre home site. Price: $813,000. Buyer: Adam & Kimberly Lincoln. Seller: P&R Construction LLC. 6615 Chapel Hill Blvd., Pasco, multiple mini warehouses and shopping centers on 6.6 acres. Price: $11.3 million. Buyer: Walla Walla Self-Storage LLC. Seller: Self Storage at Chapel Hill LLC. 10704 W. Court St., Pasco, 2,477-squarefoot home. Price: $975,000. Buyer: Lance Ray & Karen Kenmore. Seller: Suzanne Swisher. Land south of East A Street and east of South Elm Avenue, 54 acres of ag land. Price: $1.5 million. Buyer: Broetje Orchards LLC. Seller: Neil F. Lampson Inc. 9521 Sandifur Parkway, Pasco, 10,482-square-foot medical office. Price: $3 million. Buyer: Thompson Tri-Cities LLC. Seller: Ekta Navjot Khurana LLC. 5561 Columbia River Road, Pasco, 4,275-square-foot home on 5 acres. Price: $940,000. Buyer: Michael R. & Melanie Stone. Seller: Mike C. & Rita L. Welch. 4802, 4805, 4811, 4907 & 4910 Porlier Lane and 4803, 4809, 4903, 4905 & 4907 Montague Lane, Pasco, multiple townhomes. Price: $2.8 million. Buyer: Haagen Properties LLC. Seller: MAJ Pasco LLC (et al). 7810, 7710 & 7712 Quadra Drive and 4906, 4912 & 4902 Guemes Lane, Pasco, multiple townhomes. Price: $1.8 million. Buyer: Dale Haagen. Seller: AE Townhomes. Property along Road 170, 160 acres of ag land. Price: $1.2 million. Buyer: Glade Springs Ranch LLC. Seller: Duane O. & Vard B. Jenks (Trustees). 3 Buttercup Court, Pasco, 2,144-squarefoot home. Price: $830,000. Buyer: Cathy J. Clark. Seller: Dorothy K. Sparks (TR). 90 Terrace Drive, Pasco, 1,783-squarefoot home. Price: $915,000. Buyer: David & Bobbie Jean Strasser. Seller: Robert &

uPUBLIC RECORD, Page B19

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | DECEMBER 2021 Beverly Knecht (TR). 101 Pisces Drive, 3,134-square-foot home on 5 acres. Price: $800,000. Buyer: Kaylor D. Hasbargen (etux). Seller: Cully & Shani Easterday. 1026 Road 52, Pasco, 704-square-foot home on 14 acres. Price: $1 million. Buyer: Leonard C. Lewis (et al). Seller: J & J Kelly Construction Inc. 720 W. Lewis St., Pasco, 20,909-squarefoot motel. Price: $1 million. Buyer: CJM Investments LLC. Seller: Dagoberto Garcia (etux). 12901 Glade North Road, 16,000-squarefoot commercial utility building on 14 acres. Price: $900,000. Buyer: Clint Didier. Seller: Ingham Holdings LLC. 5905 Maryhill Lane, 1,000-square-foot home. Price: $3.1 million Buyer: Sherri Martin. Seller: Micheal J. Rodgers. 2412 Road 57, Pasco, 3,163-square-foot home. Price, $790,000. Buyer: Eric C. & Stephanie E. Pearson. Seller: Brent J. & Lisa M. Ridge. 11807 Shoreline Court, Pasco, 3,351-square-foot home. Price: $850,000. Buyer: Vyacheslav B. & Olga P. Kondratskiy. Seller: P&R Construction LLC. Property off Fraser Road, 41 acres of ag land. Price: $3 million. Buyer: Deep Creek Investment Properties Inc. Seller: Seventh Heaven Properties LLC. 6314 Market Drive, Pasco, 3,205-squarefoot home. Price: $800,000. Buyer: Jon & Erin McKibben. Seller: Doris M. Mansperger.

uBUILDING PERMITS BENTON CITY

Prosser Memorial Health, 701 Dale Ave., $134,000 for commercial remodel. Contractor: Nelson Construction Co.

FRANKLIN COUNTY

Brent Heinen, 13214 Highway 395, Eltopia, $20,000 for antenna/tower. Contractor: A&M Communications Co.

KENNEWICK

Editor’s note: The city of Kennewick recently installed new permit reporting software so no information is available at this time.

PASCO

Todd Johnson, parcel 112 520 140, $53,700 for grading. Contractor: Premier Excavation. Port of Pasco, 3410 Stearman Ave., $3 million for new commercial. Contractor: To be determined. M & L Contractor LLC, parcel 113 502 096, $18,000 for grading. Contractor: M & L Contractor LLC. Ryan Companies US Inc., 1351 S. Road 40 East, $27.3 million for tenant improvement. Contractor: Ryan Companies US Inc. Pasco School District, 8125 W. Argent Road, $25,000 for tenant improvements. Contractor: Siefken & Sons Construction. Port of Pasco, 4022 Stearman Ave. 72, $26,000 for antenna/tower. Contractor: Owner. Nulph Properties, 1522 E. Hillsboro St., $1.5 million for new commercial. Contractor: Ordell Construction LLC. Vander Pol Enterprises, 2300 E. St. Helens St., $370,000 for commercial addition. Contractor: Teton West of WA LLC. Real Property Acquisitions LLC, 7421 Sandifur Parkway, $82,000 for sign. Contractor: Quality Signs. Road 68 Properties, 4605 Road 68, $41,000 for sign. Contractor: Mustang Sign Group. McCurley Chevrolet Property LLC, 1325 Autoplex Way, $24,000 for commercial addition. Contractor: Ray Poland & Sons Inc. United Methodist Church, 703 W. Clark St., $20,000 for commercial reroof. Contractor: JC’s Construction. Pasco Commercial Investments, 5025 Road 68, $6,000 for sign. Contractor: Mustang Sign Group. Ryan Companies US Inc., 1531 S. Road 40 East, $18,300 for accessory building; $10,000 for accessory building; $27,000 for accessory building. Contractor: Ryan Companies US Inc. Pasco Commercial Investments LLC, 5025 Road 68, $67,000 for tenant improvements.

Contractor: Hummel Construction & Development. Port of Pasco, Parcel 112 420 028, $141,000 for commercial addition. Contractor: ESF Development LLC. Road 68 Properties, 4605 Road 68, $27,000 for commercial reroof. Contractor: Palmer Roofing Co. Hogback Road 68, 5326 Road 68, $797,000 for new commercial. Contractor: Stephens & Sons Construction.

RICHLAND JJA Properties LLC, 2504 Manufacturing Lane, $680,000 for new commercial. Contractor: Clearspan Steel LLC. Korean Presbyterian, 950 Gage Blvd., $34,000 for commercial reroof. Contractor: Black Diamond Roofing. CPT Partners LLC, 1248 Montana Ave., $15,000 for demolition. Contractor: Pratt and Co. Construction. CPT Partners LLC, 1256 Montana Ave., $15,000 for demolition. Contractor: Pratt and

Co. Construction. Troy Grady, 1044 Saint St., $45,000 for tenant improvements. Contractor: Aden Masonry Inc. Tri-Cities Food Bank, $57,000 for tenant improvements. Contractor: Cliff Thorn Construction. Gsota Family LLC, 121 Gage Blvd., $63,000 for commercial reroof. Contractor: Above the Rest Roofing. WRP Washington Place, 1803 George Washington Way, $475,000 for tenant improvements. Contractor: Elite Commercial Contracting. IC University Square, 800 Dalton St., $300,000 for demolition. Contractor: Banlin Construction Co. LLC.

uBUSINESS LICENSES KENNEWICK Hermiston General Construction LLC, 1550 W. Sunland Ave., Hermiston, Oregon.

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Credo Mobile, 931 Village Blvd., West Palm Beach, Florida. Velocitel LLC, 475 Sentry Parkway East, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. Schommer & Sons, 6421 NE Colwood Way, Portland, Oregon. SBS King Carpenter LLC, 3101 SE 157th Ave., Portland, Oregon. Certified Applicators LLC, 323 W. Pine St., Missoula, Montana. Hydroflow West Inc., 5219 W. Clearwater Ave. Liquid Environmental Solutions of California LLC, 16207 Meridian E., Puyallup. Engage: PR + Social Media LLC, 8709 W. Imnaha Ave. Kerry C. Lawrence, Attorney, 8350 W. Grandridge Blvd. Randalls, 96707 E. 382 PR SE. Isabel Mendoza, 1321 N. Columbia Center Blvd.

uPUBLIC RECORD, Page B20

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | DECEMBER 2021

Red Robin - America’s Gourmet Burgers & Spirits, 1021 N. Columbia Center Blvd. Orchid Spa, 1407 N. Young St., Suite B. Foot Locker #7906, 1321 N. Columbia Center Blvd. Champs #14577, 1321 N. Columbia Center, #347. Ponderosa Garage Doors & Repair, 3736 NW 32nd Ave., Camas. Jason Barnett, 1514 W. 39th Ave. Cannon Construction Inc., 406 Porter Way, Milton.

Lemon Grass, 8901 W. Tucannon Ave. TCS General Construction LLC, 3311 W. Fourth Ave. Piddubnyi, Volodymyr, 636 W. Entiat Ave. Pablo Creative, 321 W. Canyon Lakes Drive. Engage Perfect Cleaning, 1900 S. Clodfelter Road. Houk Masonry Inc., 1343 Taumarson Road, Walla Walla. Impact_Columbia_Northwest LLC, 1548 N. Edison St.

The real innovation is the way we treat you. VA Loans • FHA Loans Conventional Loans Purchase or refinance – Locally owned 509.737.2000 • innovativemortgage.org 7015 W. Deschutes, Ste. B Kennewick

LARA FRICKE

NMLS MB 35988

Sr. Loan Originator/Designated Broker 509.366.9840 | NMLS #872839

Bare Skin Studio, 809 S. Auburn St. Sparky’s Quality Construction LLC, 5404 Coolidge Court, Pasco. Colorado Investment LLC, 2381 Robertson Drive, Richland. The Washington Outfit LLC, 214311 E. Highway 397. Certified Welding Inspection Services LLC, 7401 W. Grandridge Blvd. Scalp Barber Studio, 1321 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Suite 205A. Gale Electric LLC, 2641 Torrey Pines Way, Richland. R&R Window Maintenance LLC, 3121 W. Hood Ave. Diamond Trim and Finish LLC, 4956 Spirea Drive, West Richland. Maya’s Closet, 9202 W. Gage Blvd. King Granite LLC, 1915 W. Agate St., Pasco. Squared For Painting & Construction, 3201 S. Quincy Place. 47K Solutions LLC, 9423 Welsh Court, Pasco. T&L Construction, 617 N. Ione St. Universal Paint LLC, 1114 W. 10th Ave. JTR Contracting LLC, 10116 W. Argent Road, Pasco. Deniz General Construction, 913 E. 15th Ave. Campbell & Company Service Corporation, 2828 W. Irving St., Pasco. Tri-Cities Motor Sports LLC, 1201 W. Second Ave. Grce Co., 4421 W. Hood Ave. P&H Concrete, 501 S. Larch St. Alpha Construction and Design LLC, 6917 W. Arrowhead Ave. Freedom Builders LLC, 420 S. Quincy St. Blossom Beauty Studio LLC, 130 Vista Way. Yesy Blesses, 3180 W. Clearwater Ave. Cori Tattoome, 3311 W. Clearwater Ave. AC Pellets LLC, 1830 W. Seventh Ave. Puls Marine Surveying LLC, 712 N. Oklahoma St. Realty One Group Ignite, 10121 W. Clearwater Ave. ESG Medical Billing LLC, 3121 W. Kennewick Ave. Telemd Now PLLC, 3180 W. Clearwater

Ave. Dean Wattenburger Tattoo, 132A Vista Way. Contreras, Hosmara, 6713 W. Clearwater Ave. De Leon, Edhit, 7139 W. Hood Place. Mid-Columbia Transport Plus LLC, 232 Wright Ave., Richland. Casemart LLC, 1321 N. Columbia Center Blvd. Best Window Cleaning LLC, 6855 W. Clearwater Ave. Aldana Harvesting, 2307 W. 25th Place. Ken’s Northwest Towing, 222 E. Bruneau Ave. Healistic Therapeutic Massage, 1425 S. Garfield Place. Greentex General Contracting LLC, 66802 N. 82 PR NE, Benton City. Works For Me LLC, 8522 W. Sixth Ave. Aqua Escapes, 4211 W. 20th Ave. Elevate By KP, 1105 W. 10th Ave. Shepherd’s Crook Law, 1030 N. Center Pkwy. Shadowhawk Innovative Technologies LLC, 1548 N. Edison St. Brookhaven Rentals LLC, 5000 W. 14th Ave. Bacilio Requinto, 609 S. Washington St. Amber Pro Electric, 3715 Whimbrel Lane, Pasco. Paradise Home Construction, 1920 W. Seventh Ave. Quality Driving School, 7 S. Dayton St. Model Home Furnishings Lewiston Inc., 731 N. Columbia Center Blvd. Law Office of Timothy Dickerson, 7135 W. Hood Place. Wayne Financials LLC, 612 N. Georgia St. Singlelenz Photography, 28 S. Volland St. Forever 21, 1321 N. Columbia Center Blvd. JMAK Professional Cleaning LLC, 519 N. Kent St. JJR Construction LLC, 1501 W. Fifth Ave. North KPR Construction LLC, 2226 S. Zillah Place. MK Trusted Cars, 4611 W. Clearwater Ave. Badger Canyon Coffee Company, 12125 W. Clearwater Ave.

uPUBLIC RECORD, Page B21

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | DECEMBER 2021 Artemis Guardianship Services LLC, 564 N. Harrison Place. Lumi Skin & Bodyworx, 1321 N. Columbia Center Blvd. Badger Canyon Dugout, 12125 W. Clearwater Ave. Canyonview Family Psychiatry PLLP, 1030 N. Center Parkway. Tukwila Panel of Consultants, 948 Industry Drive, Tukwila. Super Cheap Outlet LLC, 2625 W. Bruneau Place. Sub Zero, 321 N. Columbia Center Blvd. SSP Construction LLC, 1504 W. Seventh Ave. National Nuclear Energy Healthcare LLC, 1030 N. Center Parkway. Sawess Express LLC, 138 Rachel Road. Life Healing Solutions, 3607 W. 22nd Ave. Chavey Counseling, 2601 W. Deschutes Ave. Ethan’s Amazing Bakery, 4103 S. Morain Place. Reborn Styling Studio, 1321 N. Columbia Center Blvd.

House of Chrishael, 8708 W. Falls Ave. Jet Pilot Cars, 2321 S. Sharron St. Dollars N Sense Accounting, 3901 W. 46th Ave. Harper-Books LLC, 1617 W. Clearwater Ave. Cash Crypto ATM LLC, 6855 W. Clearwater Ave., Suite A-101130. The Dean S List Properties, 4023 W. Clearwater Ave. One Choice Junk Removal LLC, 6401 W. Arrowhead Ave. Northwest Barricade & Signs LLC, 3929 W. Clearwater Ave. Nisan Paint & Carpentry LLC, 6718 W. Ninth Ave. RRM, 2105 N. Steptoe St. El Chapala LLC, 107 E. Columbia Drive.

RICHLAND Woods Construction Inc., dba Michigan Woods Construction Inc., 6396 Product Drive, Sterling Heights, Michigan. Diversions LLC, 1988 E. Gunther Ave.,

1304 E. Hillsboro St., Pasco, WA (509) 545-8420 • skoneirrigation.com

Coeur D’Alene, Idaho. McCormack Construction Co., 422 SW Sixth St., Pendleton, Oregon. Michels Construction Inc., 817 Main St., Brownsville, Wisconsin. Valle Bilingual Services, 909 Downing St. Anderson-Perry & Associates Inc., 214 E. Birch St., Walla Walla. Wall To Wall Painting, 4413 Sumas Lane, Pasco. Cascade Closet Co., 6514 Turkey Shoot Road, Cashmere. Mast Builders LLC, 870 Country Haven Loop, Pasco. Fl Construction, 14390 Highway 9, Mount Vernon. Improved Construction LLC, 3407 W. Hood Ave., Kennewick. Starlink Wireless LLC, 2746 Kingsgate Way. Nahx Studios LLC, 327 Greentree Court. DLY General Construction LLC, 4105 W. Okanogan Ave., Kennewick. Mi Amor 4D Ultrasound Studio, 1325 Aaron Drive.

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Galea Consulting LLC, 81 Willis St. 47k Solutions LLC, 9423 Welsh Court, Pasco. Shaka Life Sup, 1417 Hains Ave. JTR Contracting LLC, 10116 W. Argent Road, Pasco. Luxe Pools LLC, 2453 Morency Drive. Burris Lawn Care and Services, 1920 Hoxie Ave. Audrie’s Vinyl Closet, 1525 Mahan Ave. Lee Feigum & Associates, 454 Cherry Blossom Loop. Pristine Carpet Cleaning, 10611 Oak Lane, Pasco. Squeaky Clean, 86316 E. Locust Grove Road, Kennewick. Best Window Cleaning LLC, 6855 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick. Amber Pro Electric, 3715 Whimbrel Lane, Pasco. Paradise Home Construction, 1920 W. Seventh Ave., Kennewick. Columbia River Inspections LLC, 140

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | DECEMBER 2021

Winter Classes January 15-29 9-10:30 a.m.

Elephant, Piggie, Pigeons and Mole Rats! Pre-K

Come join Elephant, Piggie, the Pigeon, Knufflebunny and more as we explore the imaginative worlds of Mo Willems.

January 15-29 9-11 a.m.

Alice’s Adventures Grades 1-3

Down the rabbit hole and through the looking glass we go! You own Adventures in Wonderland await as we use our bodies, voices, and imaginations to create new stories with Alice, The White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter and all their friends!

January 15-29 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Ready, Set, Pokémon Go! Grades 4-6

Get up! Get Out! And Go! In this class we’ll to set off of a epic journey! In this class we’ll take a look at what it means to create a character, tell a story and build a scene all while helping Ash and his friends catch ‘em all!

January 15-29 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Musicals: Pasek & Paul Grades 7-12

From The Greatest Showman to Dear Evan Hansen, James and The Giant Peach and beyond, Pasek & Paul have made a giant impact on contemporary musical theatre! Join us this month as we learn songs from the canon of Paske & Paul!

Register for classes online at academyofchildrenstheatre.org 213 Wellsian Way, Richland | (509) 943-6027 | info@actstaff.org

Larkspur Road, Pasco. The Wolf Business Solutions LLC, 329 George Washington Way. North KPR Construction LLC, 2226 S. Zillah Place, Kennewick.

PASCO Angel Auto Glass & Window Tinting LLC, 3201 Travel Plaza Way. Road 68 Nails LLC, 7505 Sandifur Parkway, #101. Aventura Event Space, 2799 W. Lewis St. Diamond Shine Auto Detailing, 3912 St. Paul Lane. JHD Trucking, 720 N. 20th Ave. Genuine Homes LLC, 5205 Black Belle Court. Ciao Trattoria, 108 N. Fourth Ave., #10. Renovation 360 LLC, 632 S. Owen Ave., A. Mid-Columbia Insurance Agency, 1925 N. 20th Ave., B. Blue Dog RV, 1120 N. 28th Ave. Zuleyka Medina, 1424 N. 14th Ave. Devken Development LLC, 3217 Sorento Court. Y&L Logistic LLC, 910 W. Nixon St. Mova Decoraciones, 1816 W. Shoshone St. Healthfirst Urgent Care, 4605 Road 68. H & J Transport LLC, 1927 N. 19th Ave. NMC Group, 2010 N. Commercial Ave. 509 Foot Care, 70 Sierra Gold Road. Natural Stone Fabricating LLC, 202252 E. Highway 397, Kennewick. Coatings Unlimited, 18420 68th Ave. South, Suite 106, Kent. Renova, 723 The Parkway, #15, Richland. DLY General Construction LLC, 4105 W. Okanogan Ave., Kennewick. Sappling’s Graceful Tree Care LLC, 6750 Desert View Drive, West Richland. Universal Paint LLC, 1114 W. 10th Ave., #M204, Kennewick. Ridge Line Roofing and Wayer Proofing LLC, 712 Winslow Ave., Richland. Paws & Claws by Kaylie LLC, 2420 W. Court St. Evolution Transport LLC, 5401 Raleigh Drive.

Kevin Bergin Roofing, 66110 N. Harrison Loop, Benton City. John Keller Photography, 8711 Cord Drive. Caicedos Trucking LLC, 1107 W. Fifth Ave., #L6. Two Brothers Excavation LLC, 205502 E. Schuster Road, Kennewick. Elite Auto Details LLC, 114 N. Oregon Ave. Servicemaster Restoration & Cleaning Services, 1240 Industrial Way, Union Gap. Atlas Installation, 709 197th Ave. Court East, Lake Tapps. Mindful Counseling and Consultation PLLC, 7824 Rush Creek Drive. Reynolds Mental Health Services, 9825 Sandifur Parkway, Suite D. Yakima Clean Team LLC, 3104 W. Nob Hill Blvd, Yakima. R&R Window Maintenance LLC, 3121 W. Hood Ave., Apt. D201, Kennewick. Beeline, 5111 Cleveland Lane. DLM Transport LLC, 5210 Jackson Lane. Maid Dispatch Service, 835 W. Ainsworth Ave. Kano’s Pet Grooming, 7903 Sunset Lane. The Exterior Connection LLC, 8701 W. Skagit Ave., Kennewick. Asset Insure LLC, 9212 Falls of Neuse Road, Suite 221, Raleigh, North Carolina. Luxe Pools LLC, 2453 Morency Drive, Richland. Sloan-Leavitt Insurance Agency Inc., 6115-A Burden Blvd., Suite E. Jacob Boston Anesthesia PLLC, 2120 W. A St., #A319. Beverly Stone - Via, 10 Dunes Road, Burbank. PNW Custom Foam LLC, 1800 E. Seventh Ave., Kennewick. Liquid Environmental Solutions of California LLC, 16207 Meridian East, Puyallup. Squeaky Clean, 86316 E. Locust Grove Road, Kennewick. 47K Solutions LLC, 9423 Welsh Court. Professional Tree Care, 1505 S. Road 40 East, #501.

uPUBLIC RECORD, Page B23

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | DECEMBER 2021 Michael Martineau - Via, 3935 Old Olympic Hwy., Port Angeles. Dusty Cleaning Services LLC, 4819 W. Canal Drive Apt C, Kennewick. Mid-Columbia Transport Plus LLC, 232 Wright Ave., Richland. Clarence Brown - Via, 2612 W. Marie St. Wambeke Window Washing, 4312 Laredo Drive. Improved Construction LLC, 3407 W. Hood Ave., #28, Kennewick. Best Window Cleaning LLC, 6855 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick. Spaer Contractors, 701 Catskill St., Richland. Olivar Hoof Trimming, 6150 Sheller Road, Sunnyside. Quality Driving School, 7 S. Dayton St., Dayton. Starlink Wireless LLC, 2746 Kingsgate Way, Building 1, Richland. ZH Concrete, 825 S. Ninth Ave., #831. Aha!, 3601 N. 20th Ave. Michels Construction Inc., 817 Main St., Brownsville, Wisconsin. Golder Associates USA Inc., 5170 Peachtree Road, Suite 300, Atlanta, Georgia. All Pro Pressure Washing LLC, 600 S. Arthur Place, Kennewick. Hermiston General Construction LLC, 1550 W. Sundland Ave., Hermiston Oregon. Credo Mobile, 931 Village Blvd., Suite 905, West Palm Beach, Florida.

The Brothers Roofing & Construction, 301 N. 22nd Ave., Pasco. Custom Design Homes Construction LLC, 4917 Athens Drive, Pasco.

WEST RICHLAND

El Chapala, 107 E. Columbia Drive, Kennewick. License type: spirits/beer/ wine restaurant lounge+. Application type: assumption. La Bella Vita Kitchen & Bar, 1515 George Washington Way, Suite B, Richland. License type: spirits/beer/wine restaurant lounge-, catering. Application type: new. Finley Shopper, 222608 E. Game Farm Road, Kennewick. License type: grocery store – beer/wine. Application type: assumption. Chipotle Mexican Grill #3988, 3631 Plaza Way, Kennewick. License type: snack bar. Application type: new.

Four Point Construction LLC, 811 Babs Ave., Benton City. Homeplate, 233 W. 52nd Ave., Kennewick. Deduction Productions Co., 409 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, California. Trudeaus Northwest Roofing & Construction Co. LLC, 1351 Upland Drive, Sunnyside. Enlow’s Construction LLC, 314 Rossell Ave., Richland. New Generation LLC, 628 N. Waldemar Ave., Pasco. Superior Concrete, 5620 W. Wernett Road, Pasco. Monarch C.S LLC, 7803 Estevan Drive, Pasco. Northwest Construction Services Inc., 28004 S. 887 PR SE, Kennewick. GCD Construction LLC, 6205 Turf Paradise Drive, Pasco. Tina’s Beauty, 2601 N. Harrington Road. Causeway Anesthesia PLLC, 3600 Orchard St. Lvl Up City LLC, 2601 N. Harrington Road. Cachanillas Painting and Drywall LLC, 331 S. Owen Ave., Pasco.

uJUDGMENTS The state can file lawsuits against people or businesses that do not pay taxes and then get a judgment against property that person or business owns. Judgments are filed in Benton-Franklin Superior Court. The following is from the Franklin County Superior Court Clerk’s Office.

Ramon R. Mendoza et al, unpaid Department of Revenue, taxes, filed Nov. 2. Perez Tires & Auto Service LLC, unpaid Department of Revenue taxes, filed Nov. 5. P J R Construction Inc. (A corporation), unpaid Department of Revenue taxes, filed Nov. 15. JS Diesel Repair Shop LLC, unpaid Department of Revenue taxes, filed Nov. 24. Cruz Refinishing LLC, unpaid Department of Revenue taxes, filed Nov. 24. Alfredo Estrada Garcia et al, unpaid Department of Licensing taxes, filed Nov. 24.

Hooked Seafood Boil & Bar, 8108 W. Gage Blvd., Kennewick. License type: spirits/beer/ wine restaurant lounge +. Application type: new. Divots Golf, 2450 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Richland. License type: direct shipment receiver-in WA only. Application type: new. Baltic Porter Works, 844 Tulip Lane, Suite 1, Richland. License type: domestic winery <250,000 liters. Application type: new. El Chapala, 107 E. Columbia Drive, Kennewick. License type: spirits/beer/ wine restaurant lounge +. Application type: assumption. Pit Stop Food Mart, 6193A W. Van Giesen St., West Richland. License type: grocery store – beer/wine. Application type: assumption.

– beer/wine. Application type: new.

DISCONTINUED

KLICKITAT COUNTY

BENTON COUNTY

Carmine’s, 525 W. First Ave., Kennewick. License type: direct shipment receiver-in WA only. Application type: discontinued. Yummie Pho, 7520 W. Clearwater Ave., Suite B, Kennewick. License type: beer/wine restaurant – beer/wine. Application type: discontinued. Bamboo Garden, 8021 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick. License type: beer/wine restaurant – beer/wine. Application type: discontinued.

NEW

FRANKLIN COUNTY

uLIQUOR LICENSES

APPROVED

NEW Metro Mart 5, 1 Eagle Crest Drive, Connell. License type: grocery store – beer/wine. Application type: new. Fiesta Foods, 115 S. 10th Ave., Pasco. License type: direct shipment receiver-in WA only; grocery store – beer/win; spirits retailer; beer and wine tasting. Application type: added/change of class/in lieu. A Street Station, 2805 E. A St., Pasco. License type: grocery store – beer/wine. Application type: new. Uncle Jay’s Grocery and Deli, 305 N. Spokane Ave., Kahlotus. License type: direct shipment receiver-in WA only; grocery store

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APPROVED Sun Willows Golf Course, 1825 Sun Willows Blvd., Pasco. License type: spirits/ beer/wine restaurant service bar. Application type: new.

DISCONTINUED Lewis St. Economart, 1211 E. Lewis St., Pasco. License type: grocery store – beer/ wine. Application type: discontinued. Paleteria La Palma & Grocery, 2020 E. Lewis St., Pasco. License type: grocery store – beer/wine. Application type: discontinued.

NEW Andrews Family Vineyards, 182 McKinley Springs Road, Prosser. License type: domestic winery <250,000 liters. Application type: new.

uMARIJUANA LICENSES BENTON COUNTY APPROVED Sapphire Meadows, 15505 Webber Canyon Road, Suite F, Benton City. License type: marijuana producer tier 2. Application type: added fees. Sunnyside Northwest, 41306 N. Griffin Road, Grandview. License type: marijuana producer tier 3. Application type: added fees. Nugs, 234805 E. Straightbank Road, Suite D, Kennewick. License type: License type: marijuana producer tier 3. Application type: added fees. The Washington Outfit LLC, 214311 E. Highway 397, Kennewick. License type: marijuana transportation. Application type: new.

Vegas Mexican Grill & Market, 190504 Highway 221, Paterson. License type: beer/ wine restaurant – beer. Application type: new. Greek Islands Cuisine, 600 Gage Blvd., Richland. License type: direct shipment receiver-in WA only. Application type: new. Rocket Mart 8, 5151 Trowbridge Blvd., Richland. License type: grocery store – beer/ wine. Application type: assumption.

Newly remodeled event space for people looking to host meetings and banquets. • The dining room can accommodate 130 people. • The newly remodeled 19th Hole Event Center has 130 person capacity. • Heritage room can host up to 25 guests. • Legends room can accommodate 12 people.

509-783-6131 • zintelcreek.com 314 N. Underwood, Kennewick

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | DECEMBER 2021