FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
TABLE OF CONTENTS COMMUNITIES & LIFESTYLES City of Kennewick ............................................4 City of Pasco .....................................................5 City of Richland ................................................6 City of West Richland ......................................7 Benton County Commission ..........................8 Franklin County Commission .......................10 Boys and Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties......................10 United Way of Benton & Franklin Counties 11 Columbia Basin College .................................12 WSU Tri-Cities .................................................14 Kennewick School District.............................15 Richland School District ................................16 Pasco School District......................................17 Mid-Columbia Libraries.................................18 Kadlec Regional Medical Center ..................19 Lourdes Medical Center/Trios Health ........20 Tri-Cities Cancer Center ................................21 Mid-Columbia Ballet ......................................22 Mid-Columbia Mastersingers........................22
TRI-CITY HERALD
Richland Players .............................................23 The REACH Museum .....................................24 Camerata Musica ............................................24 AGRICULTURE & COMMERCE Port of Benton ................................................26 Port of Kennewick..........................................28 Port of Pasco ..................................................29 Kennewick Irrigation District ........................29 Washington Wine Commission....................30 Washington State Apple Commission.........32 Eastern Washington Family Farmers ...........32 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Bechtel National .............................................33 CH2M HILL Plateau Remediation Company .........................................................34 DOE Richland Operations Office and Office of River Protection .....................35 Framatome ......................................................35 Mission Support Alliance ..............................36 Pacific Northwest Site Office........................37 Pacific Northwest National Laboratory ......37 Washington Dept. of Ecology ......................38
3P
Washington River Protection Solutions......38 Veolia Nuclear Solutions ...............................41 HPMC Occupational Medical Services .......42 Hanford Advisory Board ...............................42 Washington State STEM Education Foundation...................................43 BUSINESS & ECONOMY Benton PUD ....................................................44 Energy Northwest ..........................................44 NV5 Global, Inc...............................................45 TRIDEC.............................................................47 Visit Tri-Cities..................................................47 Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce .48 Pasco Chamber of Commerce.....................49 Tri-City Local Business Association ............50 Tri-Cities Research District ............................51 Scout Clean Energy ........................................51 Washington State Employment Security Department .....................................52 Home Builders Association of Tri-Cities.....53 Benton-Franklin Council of Governments .54
4P
TRI-CITY HERALD
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
COMMUNITIES & LIFESTYLE CITY OF KENNEWICK
Continuing to lead the way! Courtesy City of Kennewick
Southridge Aerial — UGA area to the south BY MARIE MOSLEY
City Manager
W
e are very excited about our future! Kennewick continues to be a hot spot in the state, with new housing, new businesses and wonderful new amenities that contribute to our great way of life. We are now in to the second year of our 2019-20 biennial budget and well positioned to continue providing the over 300 services that directly impact our daily lives. Some major projects for 2020: A Final design is complete for the Ridgeline/395 Intersection in partnership with the Washington Department of Transportation and the project will go out for bid this year. This will provide significantly enhanced connectivity to our growing Southridge area. A We were recently approved to realign our Urban Growth Area south of Interstate 82 by 240 acres. Less than 4% of our land use has been available for industrial development and this area provides future light industrial and job creation opportunities. Next steps are to work in partnership with property owners and developers to further implement the vision for Southridge. A Due diligence work this year on our public/private partnership aims to expand the Tri-Cities Convention Center with a performing arts theater and bring a new convention hotel, retail space, residential towers, and
Courtesy City of Kennewick
The Public Private Partnership picture depicts the proposed new development to expand the Three Rivers Convention Center with a performing arts theater, new convention hotel, retail space, residential towers and public spaces.
exciting new public spaces that all align with the community’s transformational vision for Vista Field. A Our award-winning partnership with the Port of Kennewick at Vista Field and Columbia Gardens will continue as we work on projects and look for creative financial options — Rural County Capital Funds, legislative efforts and community partnerships. Our partnership with the Port of Kennewick allows us to leverage our individual resources and expertise to implement unique development opportunities that we would not have been able to do as easily alone. These projects are shaping the future of our region, both in the center of the TriCities and along our historic waterfront. A We continue to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with our neighboring jurisdictions, community stakeholders and federal legislators, on conveyance of Columbia Park. In addition to $500,000 spent annually on park
maintenance for land we do not own but lease from the Corps, additional recent investments include the new golf course clubhouse and the partnership with local businesses to rebuild the Toyota of Tri-Cities Playground of Dreams. A Substantial infrastructure investments this year with a 5.7-mile sewer interceptor project, a 10-million-gallon water reservoir replacement and new water transmission lines. A Continuing the commitments made to our community in fighting criminal gang and drug activity with the public safety sales tax Benton County voters approved in 2014. This funding has supported additional police officers, additional support positions, implementation of a cadet program and an additional mid-shift patrol unit. We will continue to work with Benton County and other partner jurisdictions on a unified strategy to implement our regional program commitments for the safety of our com-
Courtesy City of Kennewick
Toyota of Tri-Cities Playground of Dreams
munity. A Work has already begun in developing the 2021-22 budget. One of the tools includes using the results from a Citizen Budget Survey on the budget priorities identified by our businesses and residents. Our budget provides a sustainable strategy to achieve the goals in the five priority areas established by City Council: Responsible Government; Community Safety; Quality of Life; Economic Development; and Infrastructure and Growth. Preparation and strategic focus has minimized the challenges we face. Our biggest challenge continues to be identifying funding for critical infrastructure projects and closely monitoring proposed State legislation that could negatively affect the City. The bottom line is that our opportunities outweigh our challenges. These opportunities come from the contributions of hard-working individuals, thriving local businesses and strong community partnerships.
TRI-CITY HERALD
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
COMMUNITIES & LIFESTYLE CITY OF PASCO
A future of great promise for our residents, businesses, and investors BY DAVE ZABELL
City Manager
A
t the time of this writing, we are working together in responding to a global crisis, and doing our best to protect ourselves, our families and one another. With each day, it is becoming increasingly apparent that it will be some time before the nation and our community return to “normal.” Even then, there is a good chance it will be a “new normal.” The focus of local governments across the Tri-Cities right now is taking proactive measures that will allow us to continue providing the essential services on which the community relies. Under the current conditions, it is a bit of a challenge to focus on recent milestones being achieved or what the future holds; however, it is important we do so because there is a future. Our nation and our community will endure the current crisis, and we will enter into a future of great promise for our residents, businesses, investors, and future investors. With these thoughts in mind, below are some Pasco highlights that are representative of our progress and the direction the City Council is leading us: Outreach is a hallmark of the Pasco City Council, and in that vein, the city
recently concluded community forums, where the City Council and staff heard from a wide variety of Pasco residents, business/landowners, and other concerned community members on a range of issues. The City Council will use this critical feedback, along with the city’s biennial survey (and surveys from our agency partners), as they update their long-range goals that drive the city’s policies, budget, programming and capital investment. Goals make a difference, and the current City Council goals have most recently resulted in: A The Police Department achieving national accreditation in 2019 and recertification for state accreditation, making Pasco only one of two cities in the state to hold both levels of accreditation. A For the second year in a row, the city was a finalist for “All-America City;” only 20 cities in the nation are finalists. A The city moved to a biennial budget, which helped the city achieve the “Distinguished Budget Presentation Award” from the Government Finance Officers Association. A The city continues to be rated as one of the safest cities in the state and ranking favorably along with our area communities. A The establishment of an Arts and Culture Commission to harness our SEE CITY OF PASCO, 9P
5P
6P
TRI-CITY HERALD
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
COMMUNITIES & LIFESTYLE CITY OF RICHLAND
Population bump boosts Richland business growth
BY CINDY REENTS
City Manager
T
he City of Richland continues to see steady population and business growth. Since 2010, our population has increased by 18.29%. In 2019 we saw a 2.8% increase from 2018, the highest per capita change in the Tri-Cities. Our downtown core is buzzing with new and successful businesses, activities and events. Housing and new business developments are flourishing, and investors are working with community leaders to remodel and modernize area businesses and vacant buildings. Last year, we completed our new City Hall, demolished the old City Hall and Annex building and are now marketing the site for sale or lease. This corner is a key component of the City Council’s vision for our downtown and waterfront. We also completed significant improvements to Swift Boulevard, including widening sidewalks and adding bicycle lanes. Our Shared Streets Program encourages bicycle and pedestrian safety. The relationship between our law enforcement and the community is stronger than ever. The Richland Police Department grew its online presence in the past year to include Community and Police (CAP) Neighborhood Groups, a Crime Data Portal, a Voluntary Camera Partnership Program and a way to report tips anonymously. Richland Fire and Emergency Serv-
Courtesy City of Richland
Construction of the Duportail Bridge continues to progress.
ices Department launched “Heart Safe Richland” in June of 2019, with the goal of reducing cardiac-arrestrelated deaths in Richland and the greater Tri-City area. To date, nearly 9,000 individuals have received Hands-Only CPR and AED training. In 2020, we will see similar outreach efforts targeting improved outcomes for stroke patients. The City of Richland Fire and Emergency Services Department works closely with Kadlec Regional Medical Center. This partnership is invaluable and supports the health and safety of our community. In north Richland, our investment in infrastructure has resulted in approximately $494 million in new facilities and private investments such as Preferred Freezer, Packaging Corp. of America and Lamb Weston’s plant expansion, resulting in about 700 new jobs. In 2020, we will continue to extend key roads and infrastructure to open more land development opportunities in the Horn Rapids Industrial
Park. In 2020, we will begin construction of two public safety facilities in central and north Richland to address growth, including the Horn Rapids Industrial Park, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, WSU Tri-Cities, as well as continued residential expansion. In addition, we will begin to implement an Advanced Metering Infrastructure, and complete construction of the Duportail Bridge. City government utilizes short- and long-term planning processes to forecast and strategize the future. Our community members help drive both plans by participating in public meetings, surveys and communications with staff and City Council. The needs and suggestions from our citizens are researched and prioritized before moving to the planning stages. Currently, we are finalizing results of the Downtown Connectivity Study, which will advance the City Council’s vision for a pedestrian-friendly waterfront
and downtown while maintaining or enhancing vehicular travel flow. With great successes, we also face some challenges in the coming year. We are already seeing transportation implications because of the passing of Initiative 976. Initiative 976 has slowed construction of the Duportail Bridge and may eliminate the funds used to repair and preserve our current roadways. This will delay current and future road projects and require alternative funding sources. The threat of removal of the Lower Snake River Dams continues. The Lower Snake River Dams provide direct voltage support to our transmission network. Removal of the dam(s) would create more stress on other generation resources and wider voltage swings. Their removal would result in increased costs for wholesale power. This in turn would likely result in rate increases for our customers. Lastly, the recent threat of the novel coronavirus in our state has become top of mind. As a city, our primary role during the outbreak is to support the local, county, state and federal agencies directly tasked with managing and communicating information to the public. We will continue to seek the guidance of the Center for Disease Control, the Washington State Dept. of Health and the local health district in making decisions that will impact the safety of our community. We encourage our citizens to stay involved and informed. You can subscribe to a number of announcements at www.ci.richland.wa.us/enotify or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Charter Cable Channel 192. If you would like to learn more about our budget and capital improvement plan, visit www.ci.richland.wa.us/budget. We look forward to another exciting year.
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
TRI-CITY HERALD
7P
COMMUNITIES & LIFESTYLE CITY OF WEST RICHLAND
A safe place to call home BY BRENT GERRY
Mayor
Community Safety Community safety remains a top priority of the City of West Richland. The city was recognized by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs in the 2018 Crime Washington Annual Report that reported West Richland had a 6.1% decrease in overall crime. With a statistic like that, it is no wonder West Richland was ranked the fourth safest city in Washington state. Also, Wallethub named West Richland 2019’s Best City to Raise a Family in Washington state. It’s obvious our citizens appreciate the men and women of the West Richland Police Department as shown by passage of a bond measure for a new Police Station. Construction will begin late in 2020. The voter-approved public safety sales tax facilitated by Benton County provides additional police officers who give us the ability to participate with our regional partners in the Metro Drug Task Force and the Regional Swat Team. Enhanced school safety is also a priority. The Richland School District does not have a high school here and that is where you would normally see a School Resource Officer (SRO). However, we felt it was necessary to provide an SRO for our middle schools and elementary schools here in West Richland. Growth and Infrastructure Developers are now building townhouses, multi-family homes and condominiums along major intersections such as Bombing Range Road and Mt.
Courtesy City of West Richland
Officer Barrera helps young West Richland residents stay safe on their bikes.
Adams View Drive. There are also projects planned at the future intersection of West Van Giesen Street and Paradise Way. We are excited to see the increase in multi-family, which is a commodity our city has been lacking. All of this certainly contributes to our over 3% annual growth, bringing our population to 15,360 as of 2019. We expect to see our annual growth more than double after receiving and approving an application for a 165acre subdivision that will make up 563 residential lots to be developed in 10 phases. The balance of the site will be public right-of-way, open space tracts, parks, undeveloped commercial and multi-family residential tracts. The Heights at Red Mountain Ranch is an appropriate name given its location at the base of Red Mountain just north of Red Mountain Center. The Brotherhood Reservoir Project, which is the construction of a one-million-gallon reservoir to increase water pressure and fire flow to commercial properties along the Van
Courtesy City of West Richland
The West Richland Police Department.
Giesen corridor is complete and online. The completion of the Well No. 11 Project, expected to be online later this year, includes construction of a new potable groundwater well with 1,650 gallons per minute capacity. The final water project is the Well No. 10 Aquifer Storage & Recovery Project (ASR). This well currently meets drinking water standard but has a sulfur smell that makes it a prime candidate for an ASR in partnership with Department of Ecology which is providing grant funding. Economic Development The City of West Richland focuses on supporting our local businesses, and we are also excited to welcome construction of new businesses. These include Circle K at the corner of Bombing Range and Paradise Way, and Frank and Son Collision Repair and Sun Market with Firehouse Subs
in the Belmont Business District. Also two of the three former city hall buildings on Van Giesen have sold for commercial/retail business and the vacant properties behind those buildings have also been sold for commercial/retail development, with building permit submittals expected this summer. Fiscal Responsibility West Richland continues to remain in a solid financial position, thanks in part to our strong commitment to practicing sound financial management and prudent stewardship of our resources. This was reflected with our bond rating for the voter-approved bond for the new Police Station increasing from AA to AA+. Our future is bright in West Richland and we encourage our citizens to stay involved and informed through our web site at www.westrichland.org and like us on Facebook.
8P
TRI-CITY HERALD
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
COMMUNITIES & LIFESTYLE BENTON COUNTY COMMISSION
Growth and transition to ensure success for residents
BY JERROD MACPHERSON
Benton County Administrator
B
enton County, with its estimated population now exceeding 200,000, continues to see growth and transition throughout the county government that mirrors the community as a whole. As we embark on a new decade, the county organization is also experiencing growth and transition as we welcome a new administrative team and continue to grow our infrastructure to better serve our residents. In 2019, the county opened its new Public Services Building at 102206 E. Wiser Parkway, Kennewick, which created a “one-stop shop” in the TriCities for county residents’ building, planning, and public works needs. This facility adds a new location for the Building, Planning, and Public Works departments, while all three maintain their presence in Prosser, the county seat. We continue to build on this service model as we begin construction on a new Administration Building at the Justice Center campus in Kennewick, which will house the offices of the assessor, auditor, treasurer, commissioners, and various administration departments. This historic effort combines offices that often work in partnership and
COURTESY BENTON COUNTY COMMISSION
Benton County Administration Building exterior rendering.
COURTESY BENTON COUNTY COMMISSION
Benton County Administration Building interior atrium rendering.
creates yet another “one-stop shop” model for residents seeking services. This new building will also provide county employees with increased safety, efficiency and improved communication. In 2019, the county also continued
its collaborative effort with Franklin County to secure funding from the Washington State Legislature to assist in the design, and possibly the construction, of improved administration offices, court facilities and classrooms at the Juvenile Justice Center. Though
our request was not funded in full, the counties received $750,000 in state appropriations to fund design of this improved facility. The existing facilities, at 5606 W. Canal Drive in Kennewick, date to the 1970s and are undersized and outdated. As designed, this project would create space for modernized courtrooms, classrooms for GED and other educational programs, space for counseling and diversion programs, and additional office space. The upgrade would also increase security to improve the safety of employees, judges, and members of the public visiting the Juvenile Justice Center. In an effort to continue our collaboration with government and community partners, the county continues to invest its Rural County Capital Fund to support new capital infrastructure projects in the community that contribute to job growth and economic diversification. In the past three years, the county its partners at the cities and port districts have invested over $9 million into the community to fund projects varying from road improvements to public infrastructure and community gathering places. The county is committed to continued growth and development of community partnerships with our fellow public agencies as well as other businesses to provide robust amenities and services countywide. We encourage our residents and visitors to stay engaged and informed. Our website is an excellent resource for information about our departments, programs, and events. Visit us at www.co.benton.wa.us for up-todate information on County news and events and be sure to follow us on social media for additional information. We are excited for what 2020 holds and are prepared and eager to work with our community to ensure continued growth and success this year and for years to come.
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
TRI-CITY HERALD
FROM PAGE 5P
CITY OF PASCO diverse local talent for public art inipast three years. In the coming years, tiatives. Pasco will experience considerable A Completion of such significant residential and commercial growth, public works projects as phase 1 of the particularly in the Broadmoor area. Oregon Avenue improvements, the With a major sewer trunk line comColumbia Water Supply facility and pleted, a large Local Improvement the 20th Avenue Overlay project. District project underway, as well as A The completion of Chapel Hill plans for transBoulevard, a portation im. .............................................................................. long-missing provements, the multi-modal Broadmoor area Pasco continues to corridor link is primed for experience steady connecting Road significant com68 and Road 84, mercial, mixedgrowth, adding is now open. This use and resiapproximately 1,500 project connects dential develbooming resiopment. single-family homes in dential areas, Some notejust the past three allows for new worthy capital commercial opinitiatives that years. In the coming portunities and have been in the years, Pasco will improves safety works for years experience and options for are currently travelers in the considerable residential coming to fruisurrounding area. tion: and commercial growth, A Continuing A Funding for ............................................................................... work on a new the $32M Lewis animal shelter. Street Overpass A Streamlining has been secured, processes to keep and this longcity utility shutoffs at historically low awaited project will be under conlevels. struction by late spring. Once comA Stable property tax and utility pleted, the facility will provide a safe rates. With the population of Pasco and welcoming gateway to downtown. expected to increase to approximately A A $6.5M investment to remake 125,000 within the next 20 years, an Peanuts Park/Farmers Market into increase of roughly 50,000 new resithe image generated through considdents, the city has put a significant erable public input will be under conemphasis on planning and infrastrucstruction in late spring. ture investment. A Two new fire stations are coming The city’s Comprehensive Land Use soon with construction over the next Plan is underway and will be complet- 18 months; Station 83 is currently ed this fall. under construction at the corner of The update is a 20-year look forRoad 76 and Sandifur Parkway with ward to what Pasco will look like, Station 84, going out to bid, at Road including quality of life and infrastruc- 48 and Court Street in April. ture issues such as open space, parks, It is no simple task to describe all density, development standards, pubthat is happening in Pasco in a few lic safety, transportation, utility infrahundred words. structure, affordable housing, walkaWe encourage the public to access bility, employment and community our website (www.pasco-wa.gov) or amenities. follow us on social media to stay up to Pasco continues to experience date on city news, initiatives and steady growth, adding approximately other significant happenings in our 1,500 single-family homes in just the community.
9P
10P
TRI-CITY HERALD
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
COMMUNITIES & LIFESTYLE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF BENTON AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES
FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSION
Diversifying economic Local kids base drives county growth thrive because of your support BY ROBERT E. KOCH
Franklin County Commissioner Chairman
F
ranklin County, named after Benjamin Franklin and with a current population nearing 100,000 people, is one of the fastest growing areas in the Pacific Northwest. Driven primarily by agricultural production and processing, the economic base of the county is rapidly diversifying as it grows. The Franklin County Historical Museum has a new entryway. The use of the Historic Preservation Funds provided the funding for the replacement of the stairs and handrail. In 2014, a class action lawsuit was filed against Franklin County over the conditions in the Franklin County Jail under the former Sheriff. In 2016, a settlement agreement was reached with the current sheriff’s administration. The agreement required a number of things to be done to remedy the conditions listed, including a jail remodel. Faced with an impossible price tag of over $20 million, the late Sheriff’s Lt. Reninger put together a plan to handle the remodel in house. He then supervised the project until his untimely passing. Cmdr. Sultemeier then took over the project, now renamed Project Reninger. Utilizing the skills of the jail maintenance crew, led by Tomas Navarrate and Joel Bond, along with talented inmate painters, Franklin County completed all remodel requirements without placing an undue burden on the taxpayers of Franklin County. The county would like to recognize and thank Mr. Navarrate and Mr. Bond, who took on this project in addition to their normal duties. The lawsuit was dismissed in December of 2019. Franklin County also is in the process of building and launching a Whistleblower Online Hotline. This tool will provide an open line of communication from both employees and citizens to a Franklin County Committee. It will be a source to report any type of issues in
Franklin County regarding an individual, structural issues such as road damage or fraud and waste in government. The committee will review the issues raised and find the potential remedies. The Franklin County Corrections Department has begun a new program called Redirection. Capt. Diaz sought information regarding similar programs run by institutions such as Coyote Ridge and brought together members of the community to assist in bringing the program to fruition. The purpose of Redirection is to educate and assist offenders in acquiring-skills that would be of benefit after their release. Lt. Harmon facilitates the 10week volunteer program, which assists in obtaining a GED, certificates such as food handler cards and includes assistance programs with AA and Work Source. The participants must complete weekly homework and work 20 hours per week. All six participants of the first class graduated in January 2020 with a ceremony to celebrate their accomplishment. 2020 is an election year for Commissioner Districts No. 1 and No. 2 positions currently held by Brad Peck and Robert Koch. The positions hold a four-year term for the Southwest and Eastern and Northern areas of Franklin County. Franklin County is in the midst of determining a redistricting plan due to its continued population growth and maintaining balance between the three districts. AV CaptureAll is a new system that allows the public to livestream the county commission’s weekly meetings. Now, in addition to audio, you may also watch the proceedings live. Click on “New” Board of Commissioner meetings at http://co.franklin.wa.us/commissioners/. The Franklin County 2020 budget is stable but the demands for services and capital outlays exceed revenues, requiring difficult choices. Franklin County will continue to strive to streamline processes and work to assist the needs of the communities.
BY BRIAN ACE
Executive Director
D
uring this time of uncertainty, we at Boys & Girls Clubs are grateful to be part of a community that has come Courtesy photo together to respond to COVID-19 as Staff organize food boxes for families in safely and as comneed. passionately as possible. Given the school closures mandated by Gov. Jay Inslee on March 16th, we have closed many of our sites to cooperate with legal requirements. However, as we are the licensed childcare partner for the Pasco and Richland school districts, and our schools have been asked to provide emergency childcare services, we at the Boys & Girls Clubs have been offering emergency childcare to support first responders, healthcare workers, essential community personnel, and those parents who must work to maintain employment. In upcoming weeks we expect this to continue, although it may change as needs change. It has always been a part of our mission to serve those kids who need us most. During this time of community emergency, we have been pulling together and supporting efforts to make sure our kids and family stay safe, well fed and their essential needs met, and engaged in virtual educational and fun activities from home. We continue to look for creative ways to meet the needs of youth in our community, especially those who need us most. We have been receiving donations from Second Harvest as well as individual supporters, putting together boxes with foods and other essential items, and delivering them to families who need them the most. SEE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS, 13P
TRI-CITY HERALD
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
11P
COMMUNITIES & LIFESTYLE UNITED WAY OF BENTON AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES
Shape our future. Answer the 2020 Census. BY DR. LOANN AYERS
President and CEO
M
ost people know United Way for bringing people together and raising funds to solve our community obtaining a complete count for the 2020 Census. Our region will shape the next 10 years. An under-counted population would lead to less federal money for important programs needed by our community. For every person not counted, we lose $2,300 per year for the next decade, affecting 130+ Federal programs. The census is more than just a population count. It will help determine our future. That why our local United Way is joining community leaders and organizations in the Benton Franklin Complete Count Committee to get an accurate count of everyone living in our bi-county region. Census data affects our community every day. If you drive to work, you should know that the census results influence highway planning and construction, as well as grants for Ben Franklin Transit. If your kids attend school, our census results help determine how much money is available for Head Start, school breakfast and lunch programs, college student loans and for grants that support teachers and special education. Our census data also helps businesses decide where to open or expand new stores, restaurants and offices, and where new housing is needed. It also helps determine federal funding for small business support and loans. Census results help us get resources to respond to natural disasters; to expand local health care and fire de-
partments, Medicaid, food and housing for low income families and seniors; and for programs to support rural areas, prevent child abuse, support foster kids and crime victims, and more. Knowing that the census guides this funding for our community is the most important reason to complete it. Responding is easy and takes only about 10 minutes. You can complete the census through a secure .gov website, by phone or by mail. If you are filling out the census for your home, count everyone who is living there as of April 1. Make sure you count any friends or family members who are living in your home most of the time, including roommates and young children (including foster children and grandchildren). Completing the census is safe and secure. The answers you provide are only used to produce statistics that help governments distribute tax dollars and plan for future services. The Census Bureau is bound by law to protect your answers and keep them strictly confidential. In fact, every employee takes an oath to protect your information for life. The Census Bureau cannot release any information about you, your home or your business, even to law enforcement agencies, the IRS or immigration services. The law ensures that your answers cannot be used against you by any government agency or court. Here are tips to avoid scams: The Census Bureau will not send unsolicited emails or phone calls. They will never ask for your Social Security number, bank account or credit card numbers, or money or donations. They will not contact you on behalf of a political party. If someone visits your home to collect a census response, check to
COURTESY MYKAELA FAULCONER
Marisela Garza and Adela Valencia are just two members of our business community who are helping share the importance of the 2020 Census. They were highlighted in one of several videos recently produced by United Way through a grant received to support the Benton and Franklin Counties Complete Count Committee's awareness campaign.
make sure that they have an ID badge with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark and an expiration date. You can even call to check that their ID number is legitimate. They will never ask to come inside your home. Remember, each person uncounted
equals $2,300 per year, for the next 10 years for our community. Help ensure a complete and accurate count. Visit https://www.census.gov/ today to complete your response and help shape our future in Benton and Franklin counties.
12P
TRI-CITY HERALD
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
COMMUNITIES & LIFESTYLE COLUMBIA BASIN COLLEGE
Soaring to new heights BY DR. REBEKAH WOODS
President
I
t has been another remarkable year at Columbia Basin College (CBC). We have served more than 11,000 students throughout the year, helping them learn English, complete a high school credential or study in one of our more than 100 degree and certificate programs. We are proud to be the Tri-Cities community college. Growing Programs In fall 2019, we began offering our seventh baccalaureate program in Teacher Education. It is a privilege to work together with our K-12 partners to prepare more teachers for the growing population in the Tri-Cities. In fall 2020, we will begin offering our eighth Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Health Physics to provide local education and professional enrichment opportunities to current and future Hanford workers. Both new baccalaureate degrees were created in response to the local community need for skilled professionals in these high demand fields. Our Running Start program continues to grow – with 1,457 students enrolling in fall 2019 compared to 1,326 in fall 2018. In a recent study, Running Start students were found to finish a college degree or certificate well above the U.S. average. Many are able to complete an associate’s degree and a high school diploma at the same time. A majority of these students also go on to receive a bachelor’s degree.
COURTESY PHOTO
A rendering of the new CBC Rec Center.
Continuing Guided Pathways Work We will continue focusing on Guided Pathways work, which has a positive impact on student success. Our priority is providing streamlined and accelerated pathways for students into and through CBC so they can achieve their educational goals and successfully enter the workforce or transfer to a university. We are expanding our commitment to advising by incorporating a caseload management model where advisers are assigned to a specific School: Arts, Humanities & Communication; Business; Career & Technical; Computer Science; Education; Health Sciences; Math, Science & Engineering, and Social & Behavioral Sciences. The advisers work with their assigned students to create educational plans that provide a path for them during their time at CBC and support them from their first day to their last day. We are also working with WSU Tri-Cities and Eastern Washington University to provide a seamless transition for students between our schools. These partnerships are necessary for students to have direct path-
ways between institutions. Breaking Ground on Student Recreation Center We are about to break ground on a new 80,000-square-foot student recreation center which will feature extensive gym space, classrooms, fitness center and eSports facilities. At CBC, we promote the wellbeing of everyone at our college. This will be a great resource for our students, faculty and staff. We expect to occupy the recreation center in the fall of 2021. Launching New Website and Intranet In April 2020, we will launch a new external website featuring an abundance of new features and content, as well as CBC’s first intranet. Developed with input from users ranging from employees, alumni, students and the Board of Trustees, these new websites will offer better and easier ways to explore, learn, work and connect with CBC while meeting accessibility requirements. Developing Strategic Plan We are embarking on a strategic planning process that will articulate CBC’s goals for the next three years. The new plan will be the outcome of an inclusive and consultative process
COURTESY PHOTO
CBC’s Running Start program continues to grow with more than 1,400 students currently enrolled.
involving students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees and community members. It will be guided by our mission, vision and values, and enable us to focus on key initiatives to build a stronger community and help more students succeed. We are excited for the year to come, and will continue working hard to meet the needs of the Tri-Cities. Please contact me if you have questions or comments. Go Hawks!
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
TRI-CITY HERALD
13P
FROM PAGE 10P
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS One seven year old boy who attends the Club regularly was known to be homeless, but our staff had been under the impression that he and his mother were living with friends. When they arranged to deliver a backpack full of activity books, slime, playdoh, and other items to keep him learning and engaged, they found that he was living at the Union Gospel Mission, and not allowed to leave home. Main Branch Director Andrea Locati said, “He’s just the sweetest and most polite child. It broke my heart to see him cooped up when he is always so thankful to be at the Club.” We have been so grateful and humbled to experience our community pulling together to support each other at this time. We have received donations of in kind materials, cash, even food for our program staff, who are rising to the occasion gracefully to
make sure our community is taken care of. As we look back on 2019, we are so grateful to have seen the completion of our Kennewick Clubhouse capital campaign, where so many amazing supporters made life changing investments in an underserved community. That Clubhouse saw its 1st anniversary this January. Last year we offered a safe, supportive environment to 4,450 local youth! That is a 33% increase from the previous year. It’s not possible to describe all the amazing services we offer to our families, but here are a few highlights: Our school-based programs go the extra mile to support refugee children with extra English language help. Our coordinator at New Horizons nursery for teen parents regularly goes above and beyond to provide families with
Courtesy photo
Staff sort food donations.
formula, diapers, clothes, and even furniture for their homes. In order to be strong for 2020, we need your support more than ever. For more than 20 years, we have been offering safe, healthy, and nurturing environments to local kids, encouraging them to fulfill their potential, and
thereby making Benton and Franklin counties much more resilient and productive. I encourage you to visit us at www.greatclubs.org to learn more about our work. Our community’s investment in local youth will continue to have a long lasting and powerful impact.
14P
TRI-CITY HERALD
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
COMMUNITIES & LIFESTYLE WSU TRI-CITIES
Expanding higher education opportunities for serving the regional Tri-Cities BY SANDRA HAYNES
WSU Tri-Cities Chancellor
M
eeting the needs of the regional Tri-Cities community is at the core of the mission of Washington State University Tri-Cities as a landgrant institution. That is why we are working diligently to grow opportunities in our local community for education, research and service. COURTESY WSU TRI-CITIES
New five-year strategic plan We spent the past year talking with campus and community constituents, identifying potential areas for growth and programs that will meet the needs of local industry and community. You will see these ideas in the first draft of a new five-year strategic plan for WSU Tri-Cities, debuting this spring. The plan will be updated and reassessed on a yearly basis to ensure we are on track for meeting the needs of our students and regional Tri-Cities area. Five goals are identified in the new WSU Tri-Cities strategic plan: regional and community engagement; institutional effectiveness; research and scholarship; student success; campus culture and environment; and access and equity. We now are identifying strategic implementation plans for every area on campus to make us even better educators, researchers and community partners in an effort to be a true asset to the Mid-Columbia and beyond. WSU Tri-Cities MOSAIC Center This year, WSU Tri-Cities opened its first center for student inclusion, aptly named MOSAIC, emblematic and of service to our diverse student
Students conduct research at the WSU Tri-Cities Bioproducts, Sciences and Engineering Laboratory 1. COURTESY WSU TRI-CITIES
Rendering of new WSU Tri-Cities academic building 4.
body. Through this center, students have access to classes and resources rooted in diverse cultures, ethnicities and discussions on civic and civil engagement. It is a place for students to belong, engage and have critical conversations, which are vital in becoming good citizens in our global world. New academic building This spring, we broke ground on a new $30 million academic building that will feature a variety of science laboratories, classrooms, interactive learning spaces, study spaces and an open auditorium-style seating area ideal for presentations. While this building has a large focus on hands-on science experiences, it will serve all students that attend WSU Tri-Cities. It is also a beautiful space that was designed as part of a collaborative process that welcomed the feedback of students, faculty, staff and community members. It debuts summer 2021.
Revamp of Veterans Center, gap funding This spring, we renovated the WSU Tri-Cities Veterans Center to make it welcoming and user friendly. Our veteran students come prepared with a range of skill sets, serve as great leaders and are an asset to their classes. By supporting them with additional resources, we hope to make their transition from military to civilian life a resounding success. We are also pursuing partnerships for gap funding and internships specific to veteran students. In September, we will unveil a library named in honor of former U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis. This library is dedicated to creating leaders using one of his proven techniques: READ, READ, READ. Identifying and creating new programs ideally suited for the region We are in the process of identifying
several new degree programs that will educate our residents, giving them paths to their dreams and needed professions in the Mid-Columbia. We are also in the process of creating a host of continuing education and professional development programs to fill the need for up-skilling and shortterm education. Leader in research In line with our R1 designation and land-grant mission, we are strategically focused on our current research strengths to build out our research enterprise. WSU Tri-Cities is a national leader in bioproducts research and development, wine science and holds particular strengths in engineering, the sciences and education. By investing in what we do best, we can build a sustainable research program that connects directly to other programs and attracts top talent.
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
TRI-CITY HERALD
15P
COMMUNITIES & LIFESTYLE KENNEWICK SCHOOL DISTRICT
Building and technology help shape the future BY DR. TRACI PIERCE
Superintendent
K
ennewick School District continues its trend of growth and advancement – in our facilities, in technology, in student success and in planning for the future. Our district – the largest in Southeastern Washington with nearly 19,000 students and more than 2,600 employees – started the 2019-20 school year by completing a capital project that helps position us for that future. A Season of Building We opened the first phase of a new Amistad Elementary in August 2019, with a state grant to reduce elementary class sizes covering the cost. The second phase of the new Amistad will open this August, completing the replacement and expansion of the school. When it’s done, Amistad’s total classroom count will be 42, making it our largest elementary. That second phase of the Amistad overhaul is funded through a $125 million bond approved by district voters in February 2019 – kicking off a slate of bond projects designed to ensure our facilities keep pace with growth and demand. The signature bond project is construction of a new Kennewick High School, replacing the Lions’ former home, which dated to the early 1950s. The new two-story school is taking shape. Track its progress at http:// bit.ly/2N7fPoj. Meanwhile, Kennewick High students continue taking classes while their new building is constructed. They’re using the school’s math and science wing and annex building, plus the nearby Fruitland building, portables and other space.
COURTESY KENNEWICK SCHOOL DISTRICT
Rendering of the front of the new Kennewick High School, which is under construction now and will open in August 2021.
The new Kennewick High will open in August 2021. Kamiakin and Southridge high schools also are being expanded and updated through the bond, including 12-classroom additions at each school, plus athletic facility upgrades. Those projects will finish in summer 2021. Ridge View Elementary also will be remodeled or replaced as part of the bond, and we’ll build our 18th elementary school in a high-growth area of the district. Apart from the bond, we’re adding 16,000 square feet at Tri-Tech Skills Center, providing new program space and a well-defined entrance with a focus on security. That project is funded from the state’s 2017-19 capital budget, and it’s scheduled to finish this summer. Preparing Students for the Future Along with those brick-and-mortar additions, our district is making
strides in digital learning through our one-to-one digital device initiative. All Kennewick students are expected to have one-to-one access to a computer device by 2021-22 through this initiative, which is paid for by a 2018 voter-approved technology levy. The rollout began in fall 2018, and so far thousands of our students are using Chromebooks and similar devices to enhance and support learning, to innovate and create and to prepare for their futures. Ensuring our students are ready for post-secondary education, work and life is our mission, and we’re proud of our robust Career and Technical Education offerings, as well as our college credit opportunities, including the College in the High School and Running Start programs. Both those programs allow students to earn college credit while still in high school. Our district also is home to Tri-Tech Skills Center, which gives high school-
ers hands-on training in a variety of fields, from law enforcement to health sciences. Shaping our Future Finally, we’re focusing on our own future by updating our strategic plan. The public process kicked off with staff and parent/community meetings in March. The plan will guide the academic and operational priorities of our district, setting benchmarks that we’ll use to measure our performance and progress toward goals. Thank You, Community In Kennewick, we’re committed to using taxpayer dollars wisely to build and maintain safe schools, and we strive to prepare our students for bright futures. We’re grateful for our community’s support and look forward to continued growth and success.
16P
TRI-CITY HERALD
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
COMMUNITIES & LIFESTYLE RICHLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT
Educating every student for success
BY DR. RICK SCHULTE
Superintendent
I
n the Richland School District, we fully believe in the transformational power of education. We also believe this involves more than keeping students behind a desk and getting them to graduation. It is inspiring them to reach goals and dreams, it is teaching them the skills and knowledge they need for their success, and it is engaging them so they are driven to learn and apply those skills. This work needs to take place throughout each student’s life, and no student has the same needs or challenges. Here are some of the ways we are working to ensure every student has the opportunity to become wellrounded members of our community: PROMISE KINDERGARTEN Early learning is one of the best ways to help students be prepared for their education and life. We welcomed 32 students this winter to our new Promise Kindergarten (Promise K) program, an early-entry kindergarten for children who have not participated in a structured early learning environment. The curriculum revolves around providing the skills needed to be successful in school. The program has received a lot of interest this first year, and we are already looking at ways we can expand it.
Courtesy Richland School District
Promise K students learn skills needed to be successful in school.
ACADEMY OF HEALTH & SCIENCES Health care is one of the fastestgrowing career fields in our nation and especially in the Tri-Cities. Hundreds of our high school students have indicated an interest in pursuing careers in health care and our new Academy of Health & Sciences brings expanded course offerings and community partnerships to bear to give those students a variety of opportunities to pursue their vision. AP DISTRICT HONOR ROLL Students who test themselves through rigorous education are more likely to see what they are capable of achieving now and in the future. We have expanded our Advanced Placement (AP) course offerings and en-
courage all students to enroll in them, especially those who may not initially consider them. This has led to more of our students, specifically those not traditionally pursuing AP courses, taking and passing AP Exams for college credit, leading The College Board to recently name the district to its 10th Annual AP District Honor Roll. SCIENCE CURRICULUM Updating our curriculum to meet changing standards and individual student needs is crucial. As we prepare to move to a new science curriculum that meets the state’s Next Generation Science Standards, we are also ensuring every science course offers a lab component, expanding the options
for students to meet state graduation requirements while having the flexibility to pursue specific interests. These efforts are not possible without the partnership of our families and community members. Their involvement in our schools, from serving as volunteers and coaches to support of our levies and bonds at the ballot box, ensure we have the resources our students need. And it’s not just teachers impacting student lives — every bus driver, paraeducator, kitchen worker, groundskeeper and others have a role in making our schools safe and nurturing places. Together, we educate every student for success. We are excited to see our schools continue to grow and thrive in meeting this goal.
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
TRI-CITY HERALD
17P
COMMUNITIES & LIFESTYLE PASCO SCHOOL DISTRICT
Building the Future for our students and families BY MICHELLE WHITNEY
Superintendent
I
n the Pasco School District, we are working shoulder-to-shoulder with our community and staff as we continue moving forward and #BuildingtheFuture for our students, families and staff members. I would like to highlight some of the major milestones we have reached and share some additional information about projects on the horizon. In January, the district updated its Strategic Improvement Plan based on input from staff and community stakeholders. This refreshed five-year plan will be focused on five key initiatives to support our “Outrageous Outcomes.” Through their input, staff and community members overwhelmingly told us that social/emotional support for students was a high priority. So, we have reframed “Outrageous Outcome” goal No. 5 to highlight this priority. It now states that “100% of students will experience meaningful connections and hope for the future.” Progress toward this goal will be measured through data in the Healthy Youth Survey and our Student Perception Survey. We will prepare to launch this new Strategic Improvement Plan in the 2020-21 school year. The district has also completed work on a Long-term Facilities Management Plan. This guiding document provides a framework for the district to follow over the next 10-15 years as we continue to address enrollment growth. We want to sincerely thank the members of our Community Builders group for the time and effort they put into completing this important work. Thanks to a mild winter, our construction teams are making great progress on the District’s fourth middle school, Ray Reynolds Middle
School, and our 17th elementary school, Columbia River Elementary. The projects are next to each other on Burns Road and are moving along swiftly. Both schools will be ready to greet students this fall. We want to thank our design and construction partners, MMEC Architecture and Fowler Construction, which are leading the work on Reynolds Middle School, as well as Design West Architects and Chervenell Construction, which are leading the work on Columbia River Elementary. Construction on a new, expanded Stevens Middle School is also progressing nicely. Stevens students will move into their new building in January 2021, right after the winter break. We want to thank our design and construction partners MMEC Architecture and Fowler Construction, which are leading the work on the new Stevens building. With the addition of Reynolds Middle School, and a new, expanded Stevens Middle School, our middle schools can now accommodate more students. Therefore, the district is moving forward with plans to move our 6th graders back to our middle schools this fall. The move will open up needed classroom space at many of our elementary schools. Finally, in August 2019, we invited parents, community members and District staffers to get involved with our Comprehensive High School No. 3 Planning Task Force. The group has been meeting regularly for the last nine months as they work to create a conceptual design for Pasco’s third high school. Members of the group traveled to the Yakima Valley and to the Seattle Metro area last fall to tour several recently built high schools. The group returned with plenty of insights into how school districts are designing their new buildings to pro-
Courtesy Pasco School District
Work continues on Columbia River Elementary.
Courtesy Pasco School District
Construction on a new, expanded Stevens Middle School is progressing nicely.
vide optimal learning experiences for students. We want to thank MMEC Architecture and DLR Group for their work with this project. The Task Force is scheduled to provide our school board with some conceptual design plans for a third comprehensive high
school later this spring. Together, we are #BuildingtheFuture for our students and families, creating a solid foundation for our children, who will become our next generation of leaders. With gratitude, I am proud to say, “We are Pasco.”
18P
TRI-CITY HERALD
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
COMMUNITIES & LIFESTYLE MID-COLUMBIA LIBRARIES
Ease and access are key at Mid-Columbia Libraries COURTESY MID-COLUMBIA LIBRARIES
Library Supervisor Christina Hart demonstrates curbside pickup service at Mid-Columbia Libraries' Basin City Branch in this promotional image. BY KYLE COX
Executive Director and Chief Librarian
L
ibraries play an essential role in our communities; they are not just places to find quality books, but they are gathering places where ideas are exchanged and where the love of learning takes root in our children. Libraries are places where everyone can enjoy different genres, topics, and authors, all without judgment; we’re excited you want to read, learn and engage your mind! At Mid-Columbia Libraries (MCL), we believe access and ease are cornerstones to fulfilling our mission to enrich the lives of our residents and communities. In fall 2019, the MCL Board of Trustees took a key step in increasing access for all by eliminating late fines on overdue books and materials and waiving outstanding overdue fines. Nearly 3,000 customer accounts were restored as a result. With this fresh start, which took effect Jan. 1, more people have returned to the library and, we hope, will continue to do so. We recognize overdue fines create barriers to using the library for many in the community, especially children and families, therefore reducing access to learning opportunities during periods of critical learning and development. Eliminating overdue fines helps ensure all customers — regard-
MID-COLUMBIA LIBRARIES
Customer Service Specialist Dawn Brooks provides weekly baby and family storytimes at West Richland library. The branch was remodeled in April 2019 and includes custom artwork, an expanded collection, and curbside pickup service.
less of age, background, or socioeconomic status — have equitable access to MCL’s collections, programs and services. Staff from across our 12 branches have reported a positive response to the policy change in their communities. “I’ve had interactions with families that came in expecting to have to pay large fines and expressing gratitude for the zero balances they found. ‘We love our library’ is a sentiment I hear frequently, and this new policy has helped families in my community,” said Basin City Library Supervisor Christina Hart.
In Pasco, Library Supervisor Mona Gonzalez reported, “One customer hadn’t visited the library since 2013, but was now eager to check out items.” Visit the library in person, or access our collection online 24/7. We have one of the most robust digital collections in the state, and it’s growing! We offer thousands of downloadable eBooks and eAudiobooks, in both English and Spanish, plus premium streaming film and video via Kanopy, for free. And, remember, you don’t need an internet connection to read or listen on your phone or device. Don’t have a library card? No problem!
Readers living in our service area can quickly gain access to our digital collection using their mobile phone number. Another way we are improving customer access is with curbside pickup service at various branches. We make it easier than ever to pick up and return your books, movies and other materials without leaving your car. We now offer curbside pickup at our branches in Basin City, Benton City, Kahlotus, Merrill’s Corner, Pasco, Prosser, and West Richland. For information about all our drive-up services, visit midcolumbialibraries.org/curbside-pickup. Our community is growing, and MCL will continue to respond to our customer’s needs, seeking ways to expand access to library collections, programs, and services. Customer satisfaction survey results show our overall average satisfaction rating at 9.18 out of 10. Ninety-four percent of MCL customers believe the help they receive from staff is excellent. Ninety-six percent of MCL customers asserted their life is enhanced by use of their library. We are an outstanding institution making significant and exceptional contributions to the quality of life of our residents and communities. I invite you to visit your local library today!
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
TRI-CITY HERALD
19P
COMMUNITIES & LIFESTYLE KADLEC
Adapting to rapidly changing health care landscape
BY REZA KALEEL
Chief Executive
O
ur region has been through tremendous change the past three years, and the health care industry is no exception. In Eastern Washington alone, two hospitals have closed their doors (Yakima and Walla Walla), and in the Tri-Cities, Kadlec remains the lone not-for-profit health system. From regulatory uncertainty brought on by a presidential election year, to contagions like the recent COVID-19 virus, the challenges ahead remind us of the importance of maintaining a sustainable healthcare delivery system that will serve the TriCities well into the future. At Kadlec, I’m pleased to share we’ve worked extremely hard to stay prepared for whatever challenges may lie ahead, and are committed to our leadership role continuously helping to improve the health of the citizens of the Tri-Cities. Outstanding patient care is our top priority. We are proud of the work of our caregivers, reflected by our recent 5-star rating for quality from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Kadlec is the only hospital in the Tri-Cities, and one of only three in Eastern Washington, to earn this designation, awarded to only the top 10%
of hospitals nationwide. Beyond the best-in-class clinical services we’ve become known for over the years, Kadlec is uniquely qualified to execute on our vision of “health for a better world,” as our focus grows to reflect concern for the overall health of the community in ways that go beyond traditional “sick care.” Kadlec is currently developing a number of strategies and partnerships to help address important problems such as homelessness, mental health and the opioid crisis. We look forward to joining with our community to address these important issues and together finding lasting solutions. Kadlec is a proud partner of Providence, a not-for-profit health system serving the western United States. This partnership provides us a valuable combination of expertise and support, essential in these rapidly evolving times. With the help of Providence, we’ve invested in our future workforce, through initiatives like a $15 million endowment through Kadlec Foundation to partner with Washington State University to allow nurses to earn advanced degrees in the TriCities. This investment, along with an added $3 million gift to Columbia Basin College, has helped Kadlec and our community face the pressures of a health care workforce shortage that has been impacting the rest of the country much more severely than here. Our Providence partnership allows us to collaborate across the larger organization to share best practices and innovation as well. One example is our ALS Clinic that, in partnership with Swedish (another Providence
Cardiologist Iyad Jamali, MD is part of Kadlec's team of experts to provide interventional heart care to Tri-Cities patients.
Kim Fetrow Photography
affiliate), brings expert care to patients in the Tri-Cities area, allowing them to stay close to home for care. The thriving Tri-Cities community is fueled by a healthy Kadlec. As the community’s second largest employer, Kadlec is a key economic driver that contributes to the area’s overall quality of life. Notably, Kiplinger’s Magazine recently listed Richland as one of the top 10 healthiest places to retire
for your health. In the face of many important challenges ahead, Kadlec is well-positioned to lead our community into a new decade of serving our patients and helping all of us live healthier lives. I want to thank Kadlec caregivers and the amazing community that we serve for 76 years of steadfast partnership and support, as we focus on writing the next chapter together.
TRI-CITY HERALD
20P
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
COMMUNITIES & LIFESTYLE LOURDES HEALTH AND TRIOS HEALTH
Working together to serve the community
BY ROB MONICAL
Lourdes Health, Chief Executive Officer
Courtesy photo
Lourdes Health and Trios Health work together during a recent parade.
BY JOHN SOLHEIM
Trios Health, Chief Executive Officer
M
any people are curious to know how Lourdes and Trios are doing. It is a question both of us get asked often when we’re out in the community. It has been almost two years since Trios Health and Lourdes Health were acquired by RCCH Healthcare Partners in Tennessee, which set our organizations on our path toward collaboration and meeting healthcare needs in and around the Tri-Cities. Not long after we became RCCH hospitals, RCCH merged with LifePoint Health, also in Tennessee. We are pleased to have now been LifePoint hospitals for more than a year and to be able to work with them. Their team members have visited our facilities several times and are excited about what they see here: devoted and committed teams working hard for the betterment of this community, the potential for growth in services and competent and skilled healthcare providers.
We are grateful to be able to work together to serve this community. Every day we are working to fulfill our mission of Making Communities Healthier. Our collaboration allows us to leverage our strengths and work hard every day to meet the needs our growing community. We believe we are stronger together and that the community with benefit greatly as we grow our services together and work cooperatively to provide healthcare. In 2019, we were fortunate to be able to add seven providers to Trios Health. These providers are in gastroenterology, hospital medicine, family medicine, neurosurgery and pediatrics. On the Lourdes side, we added four providers in general surgery, pediatrics, urgent care and family practice/women’s health. All of them are talented providers who are already making a difference at Lourdes and Trios and in our community. And we continue to add new providers. We have several more new providers under contract or in the process of coming on board. These providers will be able to help us provide new services and help even more people. We are continuing to recruit and hope
to be able to add more talented providers in the months and years to come. Just as we’ve added more providers, we’ve also looked at services we can add or bring back. We’re pleased to be bringing back outpatient therapy services later this year at Trios, including physical, occupational and speech therapy. These services will be provided at our Care Center at Southridge. At both Lourdes and Trios, we recently acquired new technology in the field of robotic guidance and navigation for spinal surgery. This platform technology is designed to improve safety and accuracy within the operating room, provide improved visualization of patient anatomy to help optimize patient treatment and streamline the surgical workflow and reduce radiation exposure to surgeons and staff. This revolutionary robotic navigation platform is the world’s first technology to combine a rigid robotic arm and full navigation capabilities into one adaptable platform for accurate trajectory alignment in spine surgery. At Lourdes, we were thrilled to be Washington’s most recognized hospital for orthopedics, to be named
among America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgery and to have received the Orthopedic Surgery Excellence Award by Healthgrades. Additionally, we received awards for back surgery, hip fracture treatment, total hip replacement, spinal fusion and appendectomy. We’re grateful for our surgical team and orthopedic partners who made this possible! At Trios, our Southridge hospital was named LifeNet Health’s Operating Room of the Year for tissue recoveries and donations. We also received the Get With the Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus/Target Stroke Award for our timely identification and treatment of stroke patients. And Trios Women’s and Children’s Hospital earned a Patient Safety Excellence Award from Healthgrades for providing excellence in patient safety by preventing infections, medical errors and other preventable complications based on 14 serious, potentially preventable adverse events. We remain committed to serving this community together. Lourdes will continue to lead the community in provision of behavioral health services. Our Mobile Outreach grant has been extended, and we are adding a night shift to the outreach program. We will continue to reduce stigma around caring for mental health through integration into annual wellness checks with primary care providers. Trios will continue to provide Camp Trios in the summer for children with Type 1 Diabetes. This camp has been an amazing resource for families and children, and we remain committed to providing this service. Together, we plan to offer what was formerly Trios’ annual sports physicals in May for students in grades 7-12, and we are SEE HEALTH, 25P
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
TRI-CITY HERALD
21P
COMMUNITIES & LIFESTYLE TRI-CITIES CANCER CENTER
First-Class team. World-Class treatment you deserve
BY CHUCK DEGOOYER
CEO
2
019 was a year of celebrating 25 years of service in our community and continuing our focus to ensure cancer patients receive the world-class treatment they deserve, right here at home. As I reflect on 2019 and look at
2020 and beyond, there are a number of important updates that I would like to share about your Tri-Cities Cancer Center. We continue to provide services throughout our community and focus on the prevention and early detection of cancer. We completed over 1,500 patient screenings in 2019 and will continue to emphasize that effort in 2020. The early detection of breast, colorectal, lung and prostate cancers continues to be our primary focus because these diseases impact the greatest number of people. Lung and colorectal cancer are often diagnosed in late stage, so we especially urge you to see your
physician and get screened. Our goal is to detect cancer at an early stage to improve patient outcomes and save lives. On the prevention front, we introduced two new offerings to the community in our 25th Anniversary year as part of our Cancer Crushing Cuisine program. First, we offered cooking classes at Red Mountain Kitchen in downtown Kennewick and partnered with local chef Kyle Thornhill to bring delicious and healthy, cancer-fighting dishes to the plates of over 90 participants. In September, our Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation held an amazing culinary experience called DINE OUT
at the Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center in Prosser. Over 250 participants tasted and voted on their favorite cancer-fighting dish prepared by amazing chefs from 10 local participating restaurants. Both of these successful programs will continue in 2020. Working with the Benton Franklin Health District, we began focusing on increasing HPV vaccination rates in 2019 throughout Benton and Franklin counties and will continue well into the future. We are emphasizing the increase of HPV vaccination of 9 to 14 year olds so that we can prevent HPVSEE CANCER CENTER, 25P
22P
TRI-CITY HERALD
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
COMMUNITIES & LIFESTYLE MID-COLUMBIA MASTERSINGERS
MID-COLUMBIA BALLET
An exciting but uncertain year for MCB Together in
Harmony: Mastersingers Youth Choir educates a new generation of singers
BY RENÉE ADAMS
Outreach Specialist
S
ometimes running a nonprofit arts organization is hard. Sometimes running a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance the art of ballet is even harder. But you know what? It’s all worth it. Each year, approximately 180 cast members fill the stage to perform in a Tri-Cities tradition, Mid-Columbia Ballet’s “The Nutcracker.” For 2020, however, this iconic Mid-Columbia performance is going to look different than it ever has before because of the venue. As many community members are aware, the auditorium at Richland High School will be closing for renovation. The Board of Directors of MidColumbia Ballet were determined not to let this setback in venue space pause an event that so many in the community look forward to and plan their year around. In December 2020, Mid-Columbia Ballet will produce “The Nutcracker” at the Toyota Center in Kennewick. There won’t be a great backstage or dressing room with mirrors. The performers will have to do costume changes in tents, and the company will have to rent backdrops because the iconic Mid-Columbia Ballet set was designed by Greg Elder specifically for the RHS auditorium stage. We also aren’t sure if we are actually going to be able to “make it snow” onstage, and because the dates are so close to Christmas, we may have low ticket turnout. But if there is an upside for anyone, it will be for our Tri-Cities 5th graders. We have been providing “The Nutcracker” school performances since the early 1990s. In the early years we could accommodate every 5th grader, but with the growth
BY EMILY JAMES
Mid-Columbia Mastersingers MY Choir Administrator
D COURTESY CHARLENE HARDY
Local area 5th graders get a behind the scenes look at “The Nutcracker” props.
of the Tri-Cities, that is not possible anymore. We can accommodate 3,000 students, and each year we turn away many schools. Many schools tell us how disappointed their students are that they didn’t make the cut. At the Toyota Center, the 2020 school performances will have room for all Tri-Cities 5th grade students! When we go “home” to the newly renovated RHS auditorium in 2021, only 2,500 students will be able to attend school performances due to the renovation reducing the number of seats. All these concerns aside, MCB will still continue to provide our holiday tradition to Tri-Cities well into the future. While there will be challenges ahead, the experience that our company members grow up with provides a stability and comfort, in addition to the life skills learned in ballet class. For generations, our alumni have
“come home” to watch classes at Tri-Cities Academy of Ballet or help backstage at Mid-Columbia Ballet’s annual repertory performances. Coming home is what the arts feel like to so many people in our community. The performing arts tell a story of community, respect, identity and empathy. But don’t get us wrong – venues are important! Mid-Columbia Ballet is a partner organization of the Arts Center Task Force. With that partnership, we advocate every day for a dedicated performing arts space to be built in our community. But the opportunity for us to gather, and share, is all around us. We hope that you will join us, our Board of Directors, staff, volunteers and dancers of Mid-Columbia Ballet for the 2020-2021 season as we explore venues new to us and continue our important work of advancing the art of ballet through performance and education opportunities.
eep breathing. Creative expression. Team building, problem solving, and conceptual learning with a side of laughter, camaraderie and creating something beautiful. There are few activities that offer humans so many benefits, bring people together so vividly, and enrich lives so completely as singing in choir. Studies of brain activity have shown that when people sing, they experience cranial activity in several areas simultaneously, connecting the left and right hemispheres. Singing together creates community and bridges cultures and generations. Anyone who sings knows that it decreases stress, anxiety and depression. For youth, it also statistically increases SAT scores and the likelihood of graduating from high school. That’s why the Mid-Columbia Mastersingers created its newest and most educational program, the Mastersingers Youth Choir. Affectionately nicknamed “MY Choir,” this program exists to support the future of music in the Tri-Cities. Designed to work side-by-side with school choir programs, MY Choir SEE CHOIR, 23P
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
TRI-CITY HERALD
23P
COMMUNITIES & LIFESTYLE “Noche de Paz: A Concert of Lessons and Carols” included MY Choir, Mid-Columbia Mastersingers, Associate Conductor Reginald Unterseher, Local Poet Jordan Chaney, and Washington State Poet Laureate Claudia Castro Luna.
RICHLAND PLAYERS
Local theater launches grand renovation as it turns 75 COURTESY WENDY VEYSEY
FROM PAGE 22P
CHOIR trains young singers in an educational, creative, social and fun environment. The first notes of this program were sung in 2014, when a single youth ensemble called the Mid-Columbia Boys’ Choir opened to boys age 9-13 on the recommendation of local school music teachers. Four years later, the program expanded to four choirs: the Girls’ Choir and Boys’ Choir for grades 4-7, and the Treble Choir and Bass Choir for grades 8-12. Young singers now join these ensembles for Fall Session from September to December, Spring Session from January to May, and Summer Camp in August. Choir Summer Camp is an introductory program, designed for singers to explore the joys and challenges of choral singing. Campers attend each morning for a week, learning proper vocal technique and how to craft artistry in concert. Camp concludes with two concerts: one for family and friends, showcasing the songs learned that week, and one performing the national anthem at a Dust Devils baseball game. Fall and Spring Sessions are the staples of the MY Choir program. Singers meet weekly, learning songs while expanding their understanding of music theory, vocal technique, balance, artistry, professional concert etiquette and more. Each choir performs several times per session, often in collaboration with other local performing groups,
including the four “Mid-Columbia” groups — the Symphony, Ballet, Musical Theater, and the three adult ensembles of Mid-Columbia Mastersingers. These collaborations provide the young singers with invaluable experiences, role models, relationships and confidence. As often as possible, MY Choirs give back to the community by singing in programs like the Martin Luther King Jr. Children’s Celebration at Richland Library, the Benton-Franklin Domestic Violence Services Vigil, and at local retirement homes. It is not an easy feat for a community choir to double as an educational and performing group, especially with only one rehearsal per week. MY Choir’s secret? Four distinct ensembles, each with its own director focused on the challenges unique to that group. For example, when voices change during adolescence, the larynx and vocal cords lengthen and thicken. This is a time when many boys struggle with their love of singing. Kurtis McFadden, who is director of MY Bass Choir and also of the McLoughlin Middle School Choir, is well-trained in coaching boys through this transition, helping them to maintain vocal health and quality, develop their passion for singing, and express themselves during a crucial time in their cognitive and emotional development. Mastersingers Youth is always accepting new singers age 9-18. No auditions are required, everyone is welcome, and scholarships are available for those in need. Join us in our mission to transform lives through the power of choral music.
BY CHRISTY VALLE
President
A
place to be entertained. A place to be creative. A place many have called their second home. A theater for the community, by the community. 2019 and 2020 marked 75 years of the live theater at the Richland Players. It has been a time of celebration and reflection for the theater and the thousands whom have walked through as volunteers and patrons over the decades. With the advent of our 75th season came the beginning of a grand renovation project with aims to rejuvenate our historical theater. Our reflections on our building’s and organization’s history helped to inspire visions of our future. At the halfway point of the 75th season, we had already replaced the main HVAC unit, installed a new roof and improved ventilation. By the time the renovation is complete, every space in the theater will be impacted. The renovation will not just improve and beautify the building, but also allow the Richland Players to better showcase the thriving and ever-evolving arts of our community. We have partnered with designers and leaders who specialize in connecting art and social impact initiatives, with goals of expanding and diversifying our programs and connecting the performance arts with more Eastern Washington residents. Since the beginning, the Richland
Courtesy Bret Parker
Richland Players celebrate 75 years.
Players sought to bring laughter and the arts to a then isolated community, allowing for local citizens to directly connect with each other through the shared experience of live theater. As the area evolved in its demographics and culture, so too did the Players evolve in their repertoire and vision to reflect a changing community. At the Richland Players, it has been the personal experiences that we have been the most proud of. Connecting the life-enriching power of art with the community has forged friendships, built memories and sparked creativity. With the renovation, we look to expand accessibility to the performing arts to a wider and everevolving Mid-Columbia Region. This 75th season we honored our past by doing a retrospective look back, showcasing plays done in each era of our theater history from its inception in 1944. With the final production, “These Shining Lives,” by Melanie Marnich (opening in May), the theater looks forward by producing a play never performed at the theater and written within the past decade. As the Richland Players closes its 75th Diamond Anniversary Season in June, another chapter is already unfolding. Visit the theater now and help shape its evolving story as we kick off another 75 years at one of our fiveplus main-stage productions or events.
24P
TRI-CITY HERALD
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
COMMUNITIES & LIFESTYLE THE REACH MUSEUM
CAMERATA MUSICA
An educational resource and cultural destination for all ages
Venue change is opportunity to explore
important themes like irrigated agriculture, local inhabitants, and land formation. Executive Director We received a Benton County Historical Preservation grant to replace faded historical markers, and we will conhe REACH celebrated its fifth anniversary in July tinue to seek resources to help fulfill our educational mis2019 after adopting a strategic plan to guide us into sion while improving the visitor experience. the next five years of operations. Our new mission In 2020, membership has grown to over 1,285 particistatement is to inspire learning by sharing the stopants who enjoy free or reduced admission to over 900 ries of the Mid-Columbia River Region, its people and its museums nationwide through NARM (North American impact and contributions to the world. Reciprocal Museum) and ASTC (Association of Science and Our vision is to position the Technology Centers). REACH as an indispensable educaAttendance at the REACH continues tional resource and premier cultural to grow as we raise our brand regionaldestination that serves as a gateway ly. In 2019, we welcomed 13,912 generfor the understanding of the natural al admissions including river cruisers; and cultural significance of the re7,006 guests through our event rental gion, for present and future generprogram and 10,740 students who ations. attend programs like Screech at the Lastly, we adopted core values REACH, Little Explorers, and STEAM like being responsible fiscal stewFamily Workshops. ards, and identified five areas of We also are partnering with the Chilfocus: Financial Independence, dren’s Reading Foundation to bolster Sustainability, Program Developoutreach at schools, family nights, and ment, Facility Use, and Organizascience fairs. Exhibition themes in COURTESY THE REACH tional & Community Engagement. 2019 included Recycling, Rocks and Details can be found by downBats. The 2020 program includes a Visitors get hands-on learning at The loading the document from our photography show entitled Immigrants Reach. website: www.visitthereach.org/ of the Manhattan Project, organized by strategic-plan-2019-2022. the National Park Service; watercolors One program objective is to refresh exhibitions that have from the Mid-Columbia Watercolor Society; a celebration started to show signs of wear and tear. Our first project was of the Hanford Reach National Monument’s 20th Annito replace the Geologic Clock in Gallery I. With financial versary; MCBONES Revisited, followed by Cold War Propsupport from a former Reach Foundation board member aganda Posters. and Kennewick Man & Woman of the Year, we can now tell Thanks to the City of Richland, we have more marketing the story of the Ice Age Floods with new technology. dollars to advertise and promote the REACH’s brand We also received a grant from the Benton Public Facilthrough its tour program centered on agriculture, geology, ities District to upgrade our Land Irrigated exhibition, and local history. We will offer the following 2020 tours: which tells the story of industry leaders in the agricultural May 2 Wallula Gap Hike community of Greater Franklin County. May 15 Southern Cheney-Palouse Scablands & Palouse Upgrading our outdoor learning area was also identified Falls as a priority. It consists of a farming garden used to teach June 5 Ice Age Floods & Lavender Farm children about topics like pollination; a ripple trail featuring Aug. 8 Kayak the Hanford Reach National Monument native plants; and a switchback trail with sculptural disSept. 5 Hops & Beer of the Mid-Columbia plays of local animals. Our 18-acre landscape provides a The REACH is poised for the next five years and strives sampling of the shrub steppe and riparian ecosystems of to be a source of civic pride. We encourage our community the Hanford Reach National Monument and provides to come take a peek inside their museum, while also enjoyhands-on, interactive activities that are fun while teaching ing our outdoor learning area! BY ROSANNA SHARPE
T
BY NANCY DORAN
Chair
O
ne year down, many more to come. Those familiar with Camerata Musica just might understand what I am referring to. After five decades of presenting concerts at Battelle’s auditorium, changing business needs at the lab meant that we had to find a new venue for our programs. Columbia Basin College and Kennewick First Presbyterian Church came to our rescue and offered us spaces that allow us to continue presenting chamber music concerts to the public supported primarily by donations. Having successfully completed a season and a half under these new arrangements, we can say that things are looking good. Both audiences and artists have expressed satisfaction with our new homes. They are different from each other, with specific characteristics for our selection committee to take into consideration when planning each season. This past October, CBC hosted our presentation of the Park Brothers Duo guitarists. Since the college’s theater department uses that month to get SEE CAMERATA MUSICA, 27P
TRI-CITY HERALD
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
FROM PAGE 20P
FROM PAGE 21P
HEALTH
CANCER CENTER
jointly planning a women’s healthcare event for this spring as well. You’ll see Trios and Lourdes together at several events. We plan to remain committed partners and use our relationship and resources to better meet the healthcare needs of this community. In working together, we hope to provide expanded services and accessibility and a continued investment in our community through the recruitment and development of new providers, implementation of new technology and creation of new community outreach opportunities. So if you’re wondering how Lourdes and Trios are doing, we’re doing great! It’s a new day for us, and we are grateful to be able to serve you and are looking forward to all that’s to come for us and this great community!
related cancers later in their life. Our partnership continues with large employers with our Cancer Crushing Executives program, which promotes evidence-based practices to keep employees healthy by targeting the leading causes of cancer. We continue to work hand-in-hand with the University of Washington, the Washington State Department of Health and the most senior leaders from the region’s largest employers to improve the health and wellness of their employees, who collectively represent 30,000 employees and 100,000 lives when you consider their families. For the third time, the Tri-Cities Cancer Center was selected by Modern Healthcare as one of the 2019
25P
Courtesy Brittney Kluse
Tri-Cities Cancer Center Team
Best Places to Work in Healthcare. This award is based upon our employees’ responses to national survey questions about their satisfaction working at the Cancer Center. The award means so much to our team, who take great pride in the care and service they offer our patients and their families. To better serve our patients throughout the region, we opened a
new satellite office in Hermiston in 2019 to care for patients in Oregon and to work in partnership with physicians at Good Shepherd Medical Center. We are also establishing strong partnerships with physicians at Prosser Memorial Health, Astria Sunnyside Hospital, and St. Mary’s Cancer Center in Walla Walla, in addition to our local Tri-City area hospitals, to better serve their patients and their families. The Tri-Cities Cancer Center has served our community for over 25 years and we look forward to expanding our partnerships and services throughout the region in 2020 and beyond. We thank our many volunteers and generous donors every day for your support of our efforts to improve the health and wellbeing of our residents. Together, we commit to ensuring that you receive the world-class treatment you deserve, right here at home, from our compassionate first-class team. We are your Tri-Cities Cancer Center.
26P
TRI-CITY HERALD
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
AGRICULTURE & COMMERCE PORT OF BENTON
Our number one job is jobs
COURTESY PORT OF BENTON
A $1.5 million grant and a $250,000 loan through the state of Washington will enable us to make much-needed fixes along our 16 miles of rail, specifically to railway bridges.
BY DIAHANN HOWARD
Executive Director
T
he Port of Benton is inaugurating 2020 with a robust focus on developing opportunities to help businesses grow. Our number one job is jobs! To help prioritize our efforts, we are developing a revamped port strategic and capital plan.This process allows us to listen and receive vital input from the public and our partners about future economic development initiatives. We also kicked off master plan updates for the Richland Airport and Crow Butte Park. There are more than 70 activeservice aircraft based at our Richland general aviation airport, along with Lifeflight operations. The master plan update will direct our development efforts to support current and future users and aviation-related businesses. Visit rldmasterplan.com to learn how you can provide input. At Crow Butte, the port is making significant investments to repair facilities and prepare the park for this year’s camping and recreation season. The update to Crow Butte’s master plan allows us to hear from park users and plan for future improvements through our ongoing partnership with the state’s recreation grant program. To attract new advanced manufacturing industries to our region, we are coordinating strategic marketing efforts with the City of Richland and
COURTESY PORT OF BENTON
Our newest Vintner’s Village building in Prosser is full and now occupied with Domanico Cellars and Wautoma Springs wineries.
TRIDEC. We have also been meeting with local companies, participating in Mid-Columbia Energy Initiative’s small modular reactor committee, MyTri2030, and working with the Tri-Cities Research District board. A $1.5 million grant and a $250,000 loan through the state of Washington will enable us to make much-needed fixes along our 16 miles of rail, specifically to railway bridges. We want to ensure this asset remains safe, reliable and supports the companies in north Richland that rely on this rail system. In north Richland, the City of Richland and port have invested $11.9 million since 2009 for roads and broadband. This investment has already delivered over $494 million in private investment and more than 600 jobs.
Thanks to our partnership with Benton County, we are planning improvements in the 72-acre Richland Innovation Center to create private investment opportunities for agribusiness, clean energy, education and research. Summerlin Investments will begin construction of two distinct 20,000-square-foot light industrial spaces and Croskrey Investments has its office and light industrial space underway nearby the Richland Innovation Center. The bottom line – north Richland is ready for business with land available for commercial, light and heavy industrial. To support the Tri-Cities’ entrepreneurial community, the port awarded funds to FUSE SPC and State of Motion from our 2018 U.S. Economic Development Administration i6 Chal-
lenge grant. This award has resulted in the creation of a $1.2 million FUSE Fund to assist local startups and develop educational and mentoring programs for small businesses. This is a major step forward to support future job makers. Our collaboration with the Tri-Cities Research District and TriCities Tech Summit will help build and expand on this momentum. The USS Triton Sail Park is a key port asset that helps support regional tourism. We are coordinating efforts with Visit Tri-Cities, B Reactor Tours, Manhattan National Park, The Reach, LIGO and WSU Tri-Cities to attract visitors who are interested in STEM tourism to our exceptional communities. Our newest Vintner’s Village building in Prosser is full. Domanico Cellars and Wautoma Springs wineries, Sister to Sister gift and clothing store, and our partner Prosser Economic Development Association are open for business. Performing efficiently and effectively with the resources entrusted to us is a responsibility that we take seriously. In the years ahead, we will continue to work with our economic development partners to create an environment ideal for business and workforce growth.
TRI-CITY HERALD
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
27P
FROM PAGE 24P
CAMERATA MUSICA ready for November’s play, we knew there might be set pieces on the stage. What we found was a raised circular platform – we have no idea what its function was in the play, but for us it was a perfect small stage for the guitarists. In November, the church provided wonderful space for the powerful cello and piano sound produced by the Kouzov Duo. Wandering backstage at CBC, it’s impossible not to notice some of the amazing props available, e.g., a gorgeous elaborate chandelier that once graced the ceiling for a period production. I can’t help but wonder how it would look during a Baroque ensemble performance! In each of the past two seasons, we have been very fortunate in having performers with experience presenting programs for young audiences. As a result, we were able to offer family concerts with Ensemble Caprice (2018-19 season) and Carpe Diem String Quartet (2019-2020). These offerings are an ideal way to introduce children to classical music. The pieces are shorter, there is direct interaction between musicians and audience, the program
length doesn’t exceed their attention span, and no one cares if there is chatter or movement among the audience. Although there is no guarantee that we will be able to have a family concert every year, we have made it a goal to do so when we can. Wrapping up our current season, we scheduled Byron Schenkman & Friends on April 25 at Kennewick First Presbyterian Church. As always, the concerts are open to the public at no charge, although patrons (i.e. those who support the series with financial donations) receive priority seating before 7:15 p.m. More information about these concerts, and about Camerata Musica in general, can be found at our website (www.cameratamusica.com) or by calling 509-946-1175. Our biggest challenge is growing our audience in our new locations. Both venues are easily accessible from anywhere in the Tri-Cities, and for many people are actually more convenient than the Battelle Auditorium in north Richland. The difficulty is in spreading the news to people who don’t know about us, somehow getting their attention when they are wondering what to do on
COURTESY GARY PAYNE
The Baltimore Consort opened Camerata’s 2019-20 series in September.
Saturday night. Articles in the Herald help, as do listings on various website calendars such as those maintained by the Herald, Northwest Public Broadcasting (NWPB) and Visit Tri-Cities. For the last two years, Camerata has joined with other arts organizations in the Mid-Columbia to produce a booklet listing all our events in one convenient place. Look for your copy when the 2020-21 version comes out next fall. You will never again say there’s nothing to do here.
28P
TRI-CITY HERALD
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
AGRICULTURE & COMMERCE PORT OF KENNEWICK
Strong partnerships to transform and renew in February—brings tasting rooms for Cave B Estate and Gordon Estate Wineries to the wine village. The port now has six, shovel-ready parcels available for private-sector investment at that waterfront complex. Development at Columbia Gardens will continue this year as we add a shade structure to the plaza that will be hung with Edison-style lights to create a festive evening environment and install a public restroom.
BY TIM ARNTZEN
CEO
T
he Port of Kennewick has developed strong partnerships to transform neighborhoods and bring renewed economic vibrancy to challenged areas throughout our district. We’ve made waterfront investments, we’ve fostered new industries, we’ve championed art as a tool for economic development, and we’ve worked to engage stakeholders and our citizenry in transparent urban planning. Together, the port and its partners are completing significant projects for our region. Vista Field At Vista Field, the port is following a community-driven master plan to create a vibrant, pedestrian-focused town-center that features mixed-use neighborhoods and urban lifestyle amenities. Last April, with support from City of Kennewick and Benton County, the port began constructing the first phase of infrastructure, including streets, sidewalks, landscaping, a linear park, water features and a plaza. This year, the port will complete Vista Field’s initial infrastructure, finalize parcels, create a property owner association, set pricing and begin marketing available lots in the central 20 acres for commercial, retail and residential development opportunities. The port will use the proceeds from those land sales to help fund future phases of infrastructure until the site plan is complete. We will also
West Richland In West Richland, the port sold land to Benton County Fire District No. 4 to build a new fire station. With 20,000 more residents anticipated within the next 20 years, the sale of that property was critical to help the fire district reduce response times and ensure continued public safety. We also sold 93 acres to City of West Richland to accommodate a new police station and create opportunities for additional development. Courtesy Port of Kennewick
At Vista Field, the port is following a community-driven master plan to create a vibrant, pedestrian-focused town-center that features mixed-use neighborhoods and urban lifestyle amenities.
undertake planning to remodel the former hangar buildings as commercial business space to continue the momentum at Vista Field. At full build-out of the 103 acres, Vista Field is expected to generate more than $500 million in privatesector investment with more than 1,000 residential units and 740,000 square feet of commercial space. Columbia Gardens In east Kennewick, we’ve partnered with City of Kennewick, Benton County, and the Hanford Area Economic Investment Fund Advisory Committee to transform Kennewick’s historic waterfront into a destination
gathering place known as Columbia Gardens Wine & Artisan Village. Bartholomew Winery and Monarcha/Palencia Wine Co. recently celebrated their second successful year at Columbia Gardens. Since those initial wineries opened, we’ve also completed a loop road, parking, lighting, landscaping, signage and a Food Truck Plaza. We also installed artwork titled “Aspirations” at the east end of the wine village and Ben Franklin Transit, Kennewick Arts Commission and Columbia Center Rotary helped us commission and install an artistic transit shelter, “Rolling Mass.” The newest building—just finished
City of Richland This year, we’re investing with the City of Richland as they upgrade the Island View neighborhood by making road, utility, pedestrian and recreational-access improvements to Columbia Park Trail. Clover Island And on Clover Island, with project support from the port, City of Kennewick, Benton County and Washington state, the Army Corps of Engineers is preparing engineering design and construction documents to restore the north shoreline and extend the island’s Riverwalk. As always, the Port of Kennewick will continue to serve as a catalyst for economic development throughout our 485-square-mile district—and create partnerships and work plans to meet evolving community needs.
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
TRI-CITY HERALD
29P
AGRICULTURE & COMMERCE KENNEWICK IRRIGATION DISTRICT
PORT OF PASCO
Creating for the future: Let’s do it again Making
BY RANDY HAYDEN
Port of Pasco Executive Director
P
ort Commissioner Ron Reimann was a pioneer and leader in irrigated agriculture in the state of Washington. Prior to his passing in 2017, he was serving as president of the Port of Pasco and urging continued investment in Franklin County to spur economic development. It is fitting that the Port’s newly acquired industrial property has been named the Reimann Industrial Center in his honor. The Port began looking for property for future industrial development several years ago. The new site had to be large enough to handle development well into the future, have access to Highway 395 and the BNSF rail network, proximity to utilities and avoid residential areas. After several years of searching, the Port identified 300 acres just north of the Pasco Processing Center. In late October of 2019, the Port finalized the purchase from Balcom and Moe, Inc. Jared Balcom understood the impact for the community and his civicminded approach helped us put the land purchase together. The property was purchased for $6.5 million. Funding came from the Port’s Economic Development Opportunity Fund and a $2.25-million loan from the Hanford Area Economic Investment Fund Board. The purchase includes water rights
that can be used for agricultural and industrial purposes. The new property checks all the boxes with excellent road and rail, Courtesy Kimberly Teske Fetrow natural gas Port Commissioner Ron on-site, and Reimann was a pioneer electrical and leader in irrigated transmisagriculture in the state of sion alWashington. ready in place. It’s a perfect fit for heavy industrial development. Food processing and more With the Reimann Industrial Center property now in the Port’s portfolio, work has begun toward its development. Steps include creating a master plan, permitting, collaborating with utility providers, meeting with other stakeholders including TRIDEC, neighboring landowners and existing businesses, and identifying potential businesses. What kind of industry could be attracted to the site? We believe it has great potential and can be the home to a diverse consortium of businesses. We are creating a plan with built-in flexibility. We want to be ready to meet the needs of businesses and industries looking for opportunities for development and growth. Our goals for the site are our goals for the Port: create access to opportunities and foster private sector investment. These goals create a vibrant community to attract and retain tal-
ented individuals and their families. Building on past success These are lofty goals, but we know from experience what we can achieve when we work together. In the late 1980s, the economy of this region was reeling from the shutdown of the nuclear plant construction and a slowdown in the agricultural industry. The looming question for community leaders was how to turn it all around. It took a big idea: leverage and support that agricultural base with the creation of a food processing center. And it took some courage because the investment would need to be made with no guarantees. It took a “build it and they will come” mentality. Through important partnerships between the Port, the City of Pasco, Franklin PUD, Tridec and others, the 250-acre Pasco Processing Center was born and opened in 1995. Fast forward 20-plus years, and the Port sold the final piece of property at the site. Since its opening, the Processing Center has provided an important tax base, employment and support to the region’s economy. It houses a number of companies, including food processors, warehousing, logistics and service providers to the food processing and agricultural industries. The Processing Center generates $1.9 million in property tax for schools and local governments annually and provides jobs to an estimated 1,400 people. These numbers are a salute to the collaboration and work of those visionaries. Now, once again, we have taken first steps and look forward to seeing how the Reimann Industrial Center unfolds with our vision, persistence and collaborative efforts.
the desert bloom
BY SETH DEFOE
Land and Water Resources Manager
T
he past year has been a momentous one for the Kennewick Irrigation District (KID). It has continued to make significant strides forward to protect and secure our water supply, which our community depends on to make the desert bloom. The 2019 water year was one of shortage, with below-average precipitation and snowpack in the mountains. Below-average reservoir storage lead to pro-ratable water rights being reduced to 72% of supply for KID and other Yakima River districts. This situation led KID to call on storage water from the reservoirs to meet our supply needs for the first time in our 62-year history. To manage our demands with short supplies, KID implemented a voluntary watering schedule that was highly successful in smoothing out the demands and ensuring that adequate water was available for our customers. While the 2020 water year is, at the time of writing this, shaping up to be better than 2019, KID is always lookSEE KID, 31P
TRI-CITY HERALD
30P
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
AGRICULTURE & COMMERCE WASHINGTON STATE WINE COMMISSION
Washington hits 1,000 winery licenses with room to grow BY EMMA REINHART
Washington State Wine Commission
T
he Washington wine industry has surged in recent years. As one of the state’s top agricultural products, which draws tourists and local enthusiasts alike, an industry that started as a small part of the state’s economy has propelled itself into the second largest producer of wine in the United States. With the explosive growth of the industry in recent years, Washington has consistently and steadily pushed forward in numerous categories: licensed wineries, acres under vine, tons of grapes crushed, diversity of grapes grown and economic impact. As the Washington wine industry launches into this new decade with the momentum of the past two, the opportunity for innovation and growth is greater than ever. In the past year, Washington surpassed 1,000 active winery licenses. According to the most recent report from the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board, there are 1,014 active winery licenses in the state. What makes this more impressive is that this growth has largely occurred in the past 20 years: in 2000, there were 74 wineries, equating a 1,370% increase to today. Between 2005 and 2018 one new winery on average opened per week. The grape-growing side of the industry has expanded as well. The number of acres under vine more than doubled from approximately 28,000 in 2002 to over 59,000 acres in 2019, and the tons of grapes crushed saw a 7% compound annual growth rate between 1996 and 2018. Furthermore,
Blocks of vines in the Red Mountain AVA, which produces some of the most coveted grapes in the state. Courtesy Washington State Wine Commission
this boom only represents a fraction of what could be planted in the state. A handful of new applications for American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) in Washington have being perpared, further segmenting the winegrowing regions of the state into more specific geographic and climatic areas. To add to 14 existing AVAs, seven new regions are in the process of perfection, a significant step in the approval process overseen by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). The creation of the new AVA’s will open the door for additional plantings, as well as create more specific designations within current AVAs. Washington has proved itself as an ideal region for grape growing, with substantial room for expansion in acreage planted. Experts in Washington’s
agriculture industry estimate a total of 200,000 potential acres could be planted in wine grapes in our state, meaning that even with the doubling of acreage under vine in the past 20 years, the state is only about a quarter of the way planted. This agricultural elbow room creates an environment that fosters experimentalism and a trailblazing spirit — traits that have marked the Washington wine industry from its inception. With over 70 grape varieties planted in the state, wineries are not hemmed into one making one variety or style of wine. The Washington wine industry is in the unique position of being established enough in the wine world to be recognized for producing high-quality wines at a significant scale, and young
enough to be free to branch out and experiment with new varieties and winemaking techniques. Many of the founders and pioneers of the industry are also still active in the industry, continuing to make wine or consulting with the next generation of producers. Winemakers here employ experimentalism and a maverick mentality that pushes boundaries and constantly asks the question, ‘What wines can we make here?’ while building on the foundation of a shared history and tradition of world-class wines. As new vineyards come online and new players enter the stage, Washington’s sense of what it does well will only continue to expand. Wine in Washington is gaining steam—and we’re just getting started.
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
TRI-CITY HERALD
FROM PAGE 29P
KID ing ahead at measures that will protect and reinforce our supply. One concept being actively pursued by KID is central storage, or a large reservoir within KID that can be used not only to manage our peak demands and water deliveries more efficiently, but also to store water for supplemental use in a drought situation. The central storage reservoir would be gravity fed in and out of the KID main canal, taking both operational spill water and excess flows from the river during times when the river ecology wont be negatively impacted and storing them for delivery during times of shortage. The conceptual reservoir (actually designed as a series of cells that hold and exchange water) could be as large as 14,000 acre-feet, or nearly half of the capacity of Bumping Lake reservoir near Chinook Pass. KID engineers have identified a site in Badger Coulee that is ideal for locating the central storage reservoir; of the nearly 400 acres needed, KID has already acquired 123 acres, and is in the process of acquiring the rest.
COURTESY KENNEWICK IRRIGATION DISTRICT
Future reservoir concept.
Another project that is still being pursued by KID is Chandler Electrification, which was authorized by Congress in 1994 to help mitigate for KID water supplies lost to federally funded water conservation projects up basin in the Yakima River, including those projects implemented pursuant to the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan (YBIP). To move this project along or identify equivalent projects that would mitigate KIDs lost water supply,
31P
KID is working closely with our partners as part of a Lower River Leadership Team. This team includes the Yakama Nation, Department of Ecology and the Bureau of Reclamation, whose mission is to address lower river issues, including the KID water supply that could not be resolved through the YBIP process. KID continues to participate in YBIP and is highly supportive of components of the plan that benefit the entire Yakima Basin and do not cause unmitigated harm to others, including the Bateman Island Causeway breach (now known as the Yakima Delta Ecosystem Restoration.) That is moving forward through a recently funded feasibility study led by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Army Corps of Engineers. While the past year saw KID move on from previous longstanding partnerships such as the Yakima Basin Joint Board, changing times and circumstances have provided KID with the opportunity to form new partnerships such as the Lower River Leadership Team and the Amon Basin Partners that better highlight and enhance KIDs values and commitment to serving our community and ensuring a healthy lower Yakima River for generations to come.
32P
TRI-CITY HERALD
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
AGRICULTURE & COMMERCE WASHINGTON APPLE COMMISSION
EASTERN WASHINGTON FAMILY FARMERS
Apples for the New Age BY TONI LYNN ADAMS
Communications Outreach Coordinator
A
s the saying goes, when one door closes, another open — or sometimes a limited window of opportunity. Such is the case of the Washington apple industry with the recent negative market impacts from retaliatory tariffs in export markets, and the availability of additional marketing funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Washington state is the leading producer of apples in the U.S. and is responsible for 95% of total U.S. apple exports. Exports play an important role in the health of the industry, as approximately one-third of the total Washington apple crop is shipped outside the U.S. The Washington Apple Commission (WAC), representing the roughly 1,260 growers in the state, conducts promotions in 25 foreign markets to drive consumer demand for Washington apples. In December 2018, the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service announced $200 million in Agricultural Trade Promotion (ATP) funds designated to assist commodities impacted by retaliatory tariffs in foreign markets. This was later augmented by an additional $19 million in July 2019. By leveraging $1 million in grower-assessment dollars, the Washington apple industry received almost $10 million through ATP to conduct promotions in specific markets as a result of the retaliatory tariffs implemented in China, Mexico and India, all important export market destinations for Washington apples. One of the hallmarks of the new ATP program was the requirement that activities funded by the program be “new and different” marketing strategies, and not simply increasing the level of then-current promotional efforts (which focus on point of purchase consumer activities). Cue the window of opportunity for the Washington Apple Commission to expand the digital marketing presence for Washington apples, among other creative consumer marketing activities. The commission is launching into the digital world to bolster brand recognition among the key target demographic: millennials. To elevate brand awareness in an extremely competitive global marketplace, the WAC is incorporating social media influencers, video platform advertising, new digital campaigns, and shareable video content with ongoing marketing activities. Currently, there are 3.8 million active social media users worldwide. Tapping into the new age of marketing, Washington Apples are connecting with potential, and repeat,
Much More than Milk: Cows today are producing a very valuable by-product
COURTESY WASHINGTON APPLE COMMISSION
Washington apples in Thailand.
consumers via online platforms. India is Washington’s No. 3 export market and has 310 million active digital users with the most activity spent on YouTube and Facebook. 64% of the entire Vietnam population are scrolling through newsfeeds each day and Thai people spend 9 hours and 11 minutes online daily. To capture this online audience, the commission is partnering with brand ambassadors who are trusted and respected individuals in major export markets to endorse Washington apples, introducing fresh social media campaigns and integrating video advertising on digital platforms. With new apple variety offerings and advanced technology and horticulture systems, the apple industry is making way for the future. A progressive industry requires creative and innovative marketing. Keeping with the core values of providing quality fruit, grown with care and providing extensive health benefits, WAC is using social media and other digital platforms to drive consumer interest and build awareness. With high costs related to tariffs, prices and increased labor expenses, added value is necessary to motivate purchase of Washington apples over lower priced apples from alternative countries. The commission is currently implementing the first season of ATP activities, including the digital media programs, which will continue to evolve as results from the efforts are analyzed and adjusted for the most effective outcomes. While free and open markets are always the best route to maintaining and growing export sales, the Washington Apple Commission is using this window of opportunity to help mitigate the impacts and educate new consumers regarding the high-quality Washington apples.
BY RUSS DAVIS
CEO of Organix
E
astern Washington’s 150,000 dairy cows are well known for producing high-quality milk, cheese, yogurt and ice cream. But increasing attention is being paid to a very different product produced by these amazing animals. Cow manure is helping drive the growth and profitability of organic and conventional farms of all kinds. It is even gaining the attention of many backyard and community gardeners. The value of cow manure as a means of improving soil and even as helping address climate change is beginning to open the eyes of many in the environmental community and government. Commercial fertilizer remains a very important material for efficiently growing food, but organic-manure fertilizer has several very significant advantages, including improving soil conditions. High-quality locally produced organic fertilizer is becoming critically SEE COWS, 33P
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
TRI-CITY HERALD
33P
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
FROM PAGE 32P
COWS BECHTEL NATIONAL important as farmers face the challenge of growing food for an expanding population with limited land and water. Commercial farms, organic farms and backCOURTESY RUSS DAVIS yard gardeners are turning Turning compost windrows at an Eastern to manure compost as an excellent source of fertilizer. Washington dairy. But, an exciting new development in the treatment of cow maAgriculture Natural Resources Connure will likely bring much more atservation Service has to say about tention to cows and their valuable worm castings: byproduct. Worms increase the nutrients availCows are partnering with worms to able in the soil for plants. As worms not only produce clean water and digest plant material, their castings or pathogen-free fertilizer and compost, excrement concentrate nutrients. but also huge quantities of worm castCastings are several times higher in ings. nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and BioFiltro is a new worm-based sysmagnesium than topsoil. tem for treating liquid cow manure. It This nutrient-rich material is mixed is in operation at two Washington into the soil where plant roots can use state dairy farms with a third farm’s the nutrients. Also, by incorporating system under construction. litter into the soil, worms reduce the Literally millions of worms are fed number of fungus spores on the soil the cow manure on a continual basis surface and that can help prevent and they convert the manure into plant diseases such as apple scab. clean water, nutrient-rich and pathoCows appear to be a popular target gen-free compost tea and worm castfor many these days. ings. Environmental lawyers win big legal Millions of worms create a lot of fees by accusing farmers of pollution worm castings. from cows. Environmental groups use One farm alone with about 6,000 disparaging terms like “factory farms” cows is producing about 12,000 yards and CAFOs (Concentrated Animal of worm castings every year. This has Feeding Operations) as a basis for the promise of making worm castings fundraising by making many false a much more available and affordable statements about today’s farms. natural soil amendment for both backClimate change activists repeat yard gardens and commercial farmclaims about cows as a major cause of ers. global warming, despite studies that Go to almost any gardening website show many such claims are false. and you will read of the near miracIn the meantime, many are coming ulous benefits of worm castings. to understand that dairy cows are a Think of worm castings as doublevery valuable resource. distilled grass. Not just for producing milk, cheese, Cows eat grass and excrete waste, ice cream, yogurt and beef, but also then worms eat the cow waste and for producing a product that is helping excrete more waste. Except, worm other farmers grow great food. waste is not waste at all; it is the most Russ Davis is the CEO of Organix, a highly sought-after soil amendment, Walla Walla-based provider of compost selling for about $10 per pound or products and the regional distributor of more. BioFiltro. Here’s what the U.S. Department of
Transformational year prepares Vit Plant for hot commissioning
BY VALERIE MCCAIN
Bechtel National Inc. Principal Vice President and Project Director
T
he Vit Plant has entered this new decade looking different than ever before because of significant progress made in 2019 toward commissioning facilities and systems that will start to vitrify waste in the next three years. Last year, our team of 3,000 workers built incredible momentum toward treating Hanford’s tank waste as part of the Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste program when they: A Finished engineering design, closing out the design phase of the project; A Completed all startup and testing activities in the 14 structures that are the utility backbone of the plant; A Moved scientific instrumentation and chemists into the Analytical Laboratory to develop the methods required to ensure waste that is vitrified — immobilized in glass — meets disposal requirements; A Opened the control room and annex in the Low-Activity Waste (LAW) Facility that will vitrify the waste and welcomed technicians who are bringing systems online to start treating waste by the end of 2023; A Completed startup and testing of
more than 90 percent of the systems inside the LAW Facility; A Constructed major portions of the Effluent Management Facility (EMF) that will treat secondary waste from vitrification and began testing systems; and A Closed all legacy quality issues through a collaborative approach with the Department of Energy (DOE). For the first time ever, major facilities are in the final stage of the project — commissioning. Since this time last year, more of the Vit Plant, or Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant, job site looks like a facility that is ready to operate. We are grading the site and paving roads. New team members who will operate the facility for the long term work 24/7 shifts, and the skyline has changed with the new roofline of the EMF. Our team, led by Bechtel National Inc., collaborates closely with DOE, the Washington State Department of Ecology and other Hanford contractors to ensure we deliver significant progress safely and with quality. We draw on the expertise of the local business community to drive progress, and in fiscal year 2019, some $67 million of the $145 million spent on goods and services was spent in Washington and Oregon, with $39 million spent in the Tri-Cities. We are well positioned for another transformation year in 2020, with all of our activities driving toward spring 2021 when we will heat up the first SEE BECHTEL, 34P
TRI-CITY HERALD
34P
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CH2M HILL PLATEAU REMEDIATION COMPANY
Hanford Cleanup: Proud of our Progress
contaminated groundwater by building state-of-the-art treatment facilities. We demolished hundreds of buildings, including buildings at the Plutonium Finishing Plant, and we are doing some of the final work to finish that critical risk-reduction project. We removed hundreds of waste sites, retrieved waste from burial grounds, and treated and disposed of thousands of cubic meters of waste. We recovered spent nuclear fuel and placed it safely into storage. We truly changed the landscape and the site, for the better. During our time at Hanford, it has been a privilege to protect the Columbia River, shrink the area of active cleanup and reduce risk on behalf of the workers, the public and the beauti-
ful Columbia Basin region. CHPRC’s progress sets a stage for continued risk reduction well into the future. Our progress today allows future workers to remove highly radioactive soil from beneath the 324 Building, place the last reactor along the Columbia River into interim safe storage and bring the canyon facilities even closer to demolition. We are also preparing the facility that will provide permanent, environmentally safe disposal of containers of vitrified tank waste from the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant as part of the Direct-Feed LowActivity Waste (DFLAW) program. Our work off-Site is as just as important, and this investment will continue to pay dividends in the coming years. Through CHPRC’s Highway to Han-
ford initiative, we promoted opportunities to bring the next generation of workers to Hanford and enhance a quality of life and diversity in our community. We partnered with educational institutions, labor and the Washington State STEM Education Foundation to prepare students for careers in science, technology, engineering and math. Today’s students will advance Hanford cleanup tomorrow. This progress would not have been possible without our tremendous workforce. I hope they are as proud of their work as I am, as they continue solving complex environmental cleanup challenges by their commitment to safety and ethical work practices. The challenge is what makes this work fun and rewarding — if it were easy, we wouldn’t want to do it. So, thank you, workers, and thank you, DOE, our elected leaders and the community for entrusting us to advance progress at Hanford. It’s a place with a rich, complicated, challenging and successful history, and I’m proud to have led the CHPRC team that made significant contributions to the site’s cleanup success. I look forward to seeing what this workforce will accomplish, under a new contractor, into the future. I know it will be incredible.
LAW systems required for melter heat-up A Receive the first containers that will hold the vitrified waste A Complete all remaining construction in the LAW and in the Effluent Management Facility A Complete all remaining startup
testing of the 14 support facilities A Continue to prepare our workforce for commissioning and eventual sustained operations. It is an exciting time to work at the Vit Plant and at Hanford. Our outstanding team of skilled craft and professionals are making
history — completing the plant that will clean up Hanford’s legacy waste. We, along with DOE and our fellow Hanford contractors, are committed to the mission and protecting the area we call home. I look forward to celebrating our accomplishments in the coming year.
BY TY BLACKFORD
President and CEO
T
his will be a year of prideful transition for CH2M HILL Plateau Remediation Co. (CHPRC). As our contract ends, I invite readers, stakeholders and all Hanford employees past and present to share our pride in the incredible cleanup progress we made during the past 11-plus years on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The Hanford Site was created in a time of great need for our nation to accomplish a technical challenge the world had never seen. Just as the generations that worked here before us, we continue accomplishing technical challenges that deliver significant cleanup progress. Pride and engagement in our cleanup mission by the people getting it done every day is the One Hanford initiative. Since this contract began in 2008, we removed highly radioactive sludge away from the Columbia River and treated more than 20 billion gallons of
FROM PAGE 33P
BECHTEL melter inside the LAW Facility: In 2020, we will: A Complete startup testing of all
COURTESY CHPRC
The 100-K Area along the Columbia River looks dramatically different today than it did in 2008, as work progresses to put the 105-K East Reactor into interim safe storage and deactivate the 105-K West Reactor.
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
TRI-CITY HERALD
35P
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DOE RICHLAND OPERATIONS OFFICE AND OFFICE OF RIVER PROTECTION
FRAMATOME
Hanford project of the century and a team effort
Framatome remains committed to helping states reach carbon emission goals
BY BRIAN VANCE
Department of Energy Richland Operations Office and Office of River Protection Manager
H
anford is one of this country’s greatest public works projects, both during a national security mission that lasted for more than four decades in the last century and during its current cleanup mission. Just as our Hanford workforce overcame challenges to deliver for our nation in the past, we are proudly delivering safe, efficient and effective cleanup progress and risk reduction today through teamwork, dedication and innovation. Our overall cleanup strategy has consistently focused on reducing risks to the Columbia River as we work to establish the capability to treat tank waste on the site’s Central Plateau. In parallel, we have established a strong tank integrity program to ensure the safe stewardship of the waste until treated and a robust infrastructure program to ensure that the utilities and services required to fulfill our mission are ready and reliable, tailored to our needs as the site evolves. Preparing for the treatment of tank waste is a high priority for the Department of Energy and contractor team as we approach the start of treatment through the Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste initiative. The program represents a sitewide effort made up of not
only the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant, but also interdependent systems and supporting infrastructure that must operate together to treat the waste at an operational pace not required on the site since the time of the national security mission. Our sitewide transition to tank waste treatment involves the entire Hanford team, and it’s our goal that every person working on the site proudly recognizes their many contributions to an effort that is so important to the TriCities and the Pacific Northwest. Our recent One Hanford initiative is at the center of the site cultural transformation and is intended to foster a unity of purpose that is crucial to sustaining the important progress being delivered. Looking back at the past year, our progress has created the conditions that support our transition to round-theclock operations. Our team finished transferring 35 cubic yards of highly radioactive sludge from a nuclear reactor basin near the Columbia River to safe interim storage on the Central Plateau. We stabilized an aging waste storage tunnel by filling it with engineered grout, eliminating the risk of a future collapse and the potential to spread contamination. We also treated more than 2.4 billion gallons of groundwater, removing nearly 90 tons of contaminants. We resumed retrievals to transfer tank waste to newer double-shell tanks, and we continued the progress at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant, completing startup testing of the laboratory facility and welcoming more than two-thirds of the commissioning technicians who are busy testing plant systems that will support vitrification. Looking forward, we will complete several major projects to prepare the
site to start treating tank waste. In the next two years, we will advance toward treatment operations as we complete the bulk of the construction projects in our Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste initiative and focus on starting up and commissioning facilities. We will stabilize aging plutoniumproduction structures, eliminating the potential to spread contamination from those structures. We will also continue treating groundwater across the Hanford Site to remove contamination and protect the Columbia River. We are making several shifts and transitions at the site, but perhaps the biggest change is the transition to three major new contracts that encompass most of the cleanup work. During these contract transitions, we will continue our strong focus on safety. Everything we do at the site is underpinned by our commitment to safety—for our workers, the public and the environment. Our mission is enabled by a wide and diverse team that includes more than the department, its contractors and workforce. The Hanford team is comprised of collaborative and constructive relationships with our community, stakeholders and regulators. The work is challenging, and when faced with adversity, the team looks to innovation and collaboration to get the job done safely. Like most close relationships, we won’t always agree on everything, but we recognize that safe progress in cleanup is a win for everyone. We want you all to be proud of the revitalization that has happened and continues to happen on the Hanford Site. Just as we have delivered on environmental cleanup in the past, we will continue to deliver solid results for you in the future.
BY RON LAND
Richland Site Manager
T
he topic of climate change continues to boil to the top in the midst of presidential election debates, with all candidates having their own ideas about the national energy portfolio needed to reduce carbon footprints. Meanwhile, as the debate goes on, several states and utilities have committed to being carbon free by 2050. With the lowest carbon footprint of any state thanks to an energy portfolio consisting primarily of hydroelectric, nuclear and wind, Washington has a head start and thinks we can reach carbon free by 2040. As a leading global energy company, Framatome supports state goals to reduce carbon emissions, and thus to recognize nuclear energy as part of the solution. Today, 5 percent of all electricity in the U.S. is generated by Framatome-produced fuel used in U.S. nuclear power plants. This is why we continue to invest in advancing our technologies and products. We are committed to supporting utilities and nuclear plant operators in extending the operating life of their plants. 2019 – A milestone year In addition to celebrating 50 years in the Tri-Cities community manufacturing nuclear fuel for commercial SEE FRAMATOME, 39P
36P
TRI-CITY HERALD
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY MISSION SUPPORT ALLIANCE
Focused on the future BY BOB WILKINSON
President
W
hen construction began at the Hanford Site in 1943, few could have imagined the evolution from plutonium production for the Manhattan Project, to the Cold War, to environmental cleanup and a new National Park. Today, supporting the Department of Energy’s (DOE) One Hanford mission, the site begins a new decade and continues to be one of the great public works projects of the century. As the site services provider, Mission Support Alliance (MSA) is privileged to support DOE’s priorities to expand Hanford integration and innovate sitewide solutions. Focusing on the future, MSA remains ready to continue enabling Hanford cleanup. We will do so through the pursuit of innovation and by maintaining our focus on the safety of employees, the public and the environment. HANFORD INTEGRATION Enabling the One Hanford mission requires a trusted partnership with DOE and all Hanford contractors. MSA is proud to integrate services and needs and promote transparency as part of our mission to ensure the success of everyone at Hanford. We will continue to foster collaboration and integrated approaches to cleanup using a variety of best practices. Best practices include a number of integration solutions recognized over the years, such as our service delivery model that offers more than 150 distinct and essential services across the Hanford Site. The Hanford Site Governance Model institutionalizes a structured
framework to meet the challenges of the future while ensuring sound decision-making and risk reduction across all contractors. The Infrastructure and Services Alignment Plan forecasts DOE and contractor needs for services to ensure capabilities to support the many cleanup priorities will be in place to meet demands for water, electricity, transportation and other essential services. Integration initiatives currently underway include the business management system upgrade. This will consolidate more than 50 business system applications, some more than 20 years old, into just eight. These standardized applications will improve functionality for finance, supply chain, human resources, and reporting — used across all Hanford contractors. SITEWIDE SOLUTIONS As the footprint of the Hanford Site shrinks and we transition to a 24/7 pace of operations to support treating Hanford tank waste as part of the direct-feed low-activity waste (DFLAW) program, cleanup becomes more complex and requires innovative solutions to meet increased service demands. Whether it’s transforming electrical systems as usage goes from today’s 133,000-megawatt hours to over 350,000-megawatt hours when tank waste treatment systems come on line, or preparing for annual water needs to increase from 922 million gallons per year to the 1.4 billion gallons Hanford will need in 2022 – innovation matters. MSA is actively researching and partnering with industry giants such as Microsoft to bring innovative solutions forward. An example is the Microsoft HoloLens/mixed reality technology. This integrates and streamlines collaboration between Hanford’s electrical,
COURTESY MISSION SUPPORT ALLIANCE
Leadership from the Department of Energy and all Hanford contractors came together to celebrate the first new ladder fire truck at the Hanford Site in more than 20 years. The truck is equipped with the latest firefighting technologies to help the Emergency Services program with Mission Support Alliance provide efficient and necessary response to emergencies to better protect Hanford workers, the public and the environment.
water and sewer utilities — in some cases, on an infrastructure system that is 60 years old. HoloLens provides a mixed reality platform that will enhance operational efficiency, improve maintenance planning, modernize training and improve the reliability and availability of key infrastructure systems. Of significance, this technology will allow MSA to implement design media and place work-planning improvements directly into the hands of operations and maintenance personnel – never before done on the Hanford Site. ONE HANFORD For the last 11 years, our team has successfully created and continuously improved our service delivery model – one that focuses on providing the right solution at the right time and for the right value. As we look toward the future, we will continue to collaborate with stakeholders and integrate their needs to evolve our approach and meet the changing needs of our One Hanford mission and prosperity for our community.
COURTESY MISSION SUPPORT ALLIANCE
The Volpentest Hazardous Materials Management and Emergency Response Federal Training Center (HAMMER), operated by Mission Support Alliance, is a critical Hanford resource. The campus allows students to safely train in a realistic but controlled environment using a variety of scenarios. A well-trained workforce is the most cost-effective solution to ensuring work is completed safely, on time, and on budget.
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
TRI-CITY HERALD
37P
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY PACIFIC NORTHWEST SITE OFFICE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST NATIONAL LABORATORY
Federal projects set to expand PNNL capabilities
PNNL’s science and technology: progress, partnerships and pride
ing the project to support accelerated development of grid energy storage technology, modernizing the grid and unlocking its economic and societal potential. GSL will likely begin its construction phase in 2021. The GSL BY TED PIETROK is another multi-year project, Acting Manager estimated at $75 million dollars, that will be sited at COURTESY PNSO the north end of the Richland campus. he Richland A early rendering of PNNL’s future facility the GSL is designed to facilcampus of Grid Storage Launchpad. This state of the art itate multidisciplinary collabthe Pacific facility will support research that spans the entire oration between researchers Northwest energy storage R&D development cycle — from and industry as well as valiNational Laboratory basic materials synthesis to advanced date testing of next gener(PNNL) is getting prototyping. ation grid storage materials set for several significant facility additions and actions, including an and technology. The facility will serve to accelerate these new technologies, from bench-top sized estimated $90-million-dollar facility currently to full-scale systems, helping mitigate potential referred to as the Energy Sciences Capability risks and speed up development and deployment. (ESC). From basic materials to advanced prototyping and Sited on the northwest corner of the campus, with construction already underway, this facility is operational validation, the GSL is set to guide grid and energy technology from cradle to grave. anticipated to begin operating in the summer of Due to the unique origins of PNNL, with its 2021. ESC will be the latest facility to join the roots in the Manhattan Project and Atomic Energy suite of scientific capabilities at PNNL — capabilities that are often beyond the scope of academ- Commission, much of the campus has historically been a complex mix of contractor-owned, third ic and industrial institutions and in place to beneparty-owned and federally owned land and facilfit national strategic priorities. ities. To preserve the Lab as a national asset, the The facility is expected to bring in over 250 conDepartment of Energy’s Office of Science has struction jobs during the project and, when finished, house over 50 labs, 200 work stations, and space for moved forward with strategic acquisitions and has already acquired several facilities as well as admore than 50 visiting researchers. The ESC will joining parcels of land. consolidate many of PNNL’s chemistry, material These actions are reducing the complexity and sciences and computational capabilities, allowing risks associated with disparate ownership, while researchers to communicate and collaborate more also allowing for cohesive and integrated systems, efficiently. Additionally, the space is designed to and supporting the continued growth outlined in facilitate collaborations with academic partners and PNNL’s Campus Master Plan. joint institute collaborators such as the University of By thoughtfully federalizing the ownership of Washington and Washington State University as the PNNL campuses and continuing to build well as other regional partners. Following shortly behind the ESC project will be world-class research facilities, we are ensuring this national asset will be around and thriving for the Grid Storage Launchpad (GSL). The Departyears to come. ment of Energy’s Office of Electricity is sponsor-
T
BY STEVEN ASHBY
Director
T
he Tri-Cities is an amazing place, and it is exciting to see it moving forward. At the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, we are proud of our contributions to our community and the world. From basic scientific research to practical solutions to vexing problems, PNNL is doing its part to make a difference. PNNL’s many accomplishANDREA STARR | ments are a PACIFIC NORTHWEST NATIONAL LABORATORY tribute to the Electrical engineer Qiuhua Huang expertise and and his colleagues at PNNL are experience of our nearly 4,800 conducting research and developing technologies to scientists, engienhance the resilience of the neers and supnation’s electric grid. port professionals. Each bright mind and innovative spirit plays a role in advancing the frontiers of knowledge, enhancing energy resiliency and strengthening national security. Our researchers and operations staff members work sideby-side to ensure that work is performed safely and sustainably. Last year, PNNL conducted $1 billion in scientific research, drawing upon signature capabilities in chemistry, Earth sciences and data analytics. Our researchers made new discoveries and deepened our understanding of our planet and the universe. They SEE PNNL, 40P
TRI-CITY HERALD
38P
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY WASHINGTON RIVER PROTECTION SOLUTIONS
WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY
Ecology’s Nuclear Waste Program encourages young people to give science a try BY GINGER WIREMAN
Nuclear Waste Program Outreach Specialist
O
ver the last few decades, the Tri-Cities has made considerable investment in creating opportunities for children to explore science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with Delta High School and a number of STEM-focused schools opening. The Department of Ecology’s Nuclear Waste Program has long supported STEM with our outreach team teaching at STEMcon, visiting classrooms and presenting at Salmon Summit. Local leaders in STEM point out “kids can’t be what they can’t see,” so it is critical to reach out to all communities. Introducing students to environmental scientists, engineers, electricians, etc., helps them build goals. The importance of educating students about Hanford cleanup and what skill sets are needed for regulators is an investment in the long game for our agency. Very low unemployment rates nationally mean skilled workers are in high demand. To get the best talent we can, it is important to share the benefits of working in civil service with teens and young adults. Career counselors may overlook civil service, and we must compete with big corporations and big recruiting budgets, not to mention cooler freebies at career fairs! To that end, our Nuclear Waste Program is ramping up its workforce development efforts. We are attending more college career fairs and
COURTESY DEPT. OF ECOLOGY
Ginger Wireman, outreach specialist for state Ecology’s Nuclear Waste Program in Richland, shows Tri-Cities-area students how contaminants — such as those leaking from Hanford’s underground waste tanks — migrate through soil into groundwater.
school science fairs. “We have a number of talented staff who have supported STEM and career fairs in the area,” said Nuclear Waste Program manager Alex Smith. “My team is eager to encourage young people and help them understand the important work we do as world-class regulators. Because Hanford is a multi-generational cleanup effort, it is important we have the best talent available in the next generation of workers.” In addition, we are hoping to offer regular internship opportunities in the future. While at career fairs, we also share information about work performed by other Ecology programs, such as spills, air quality, water resources and
toxic reductions. Ecology offers two remarkable programs that, though not related to Hanford, are vital to our state. Our Ecology Youth Corps puts kids aged 14-17 to work cleaning up our roadways. These jobs teach teamwork and communications, and they pay $13.50 an hour. The program has gathered more than a million pounds of litter and employs 300 kids across the state each year. The Washington Conservation Corps employs 18-25 year olds and veterans in meaningful jobs that benefit our environment, such as habitat restoration and recreational upgrades on our public lands. They even help after natural disasters. These team and individual placements are part of AmeriCorps, and provide a living allowance and scholarships, as well as health care. GED benefits, regulatory training and, in some cases, college credit may also be available. Crew leader positions start around $35,000 a year, with benefits. Supervisors receive management training (and experience) and may earn certifications in environmental programs such as Hazwoper (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response), Pesticide Applicator and Wilderness First Responder. Ecology works at Hanford and across the state to protect human health and the environment. The Nuclear Waste Program’s main role is to ensure the safe and compliant cleanup of Hanford. Dedicating a small portion of our staff time to educating area students, demonstrating potential careers in environmental science and regulatory work, or providing a first job or internship, is a worthwhile investment in meeting cleanup goals and supporting a healthy community and region. Visit the ecology.wa.gov and search Hanford to learn more about Nuclear Waste Program efforts at Hanford. Like us on Facebook at EcologyWAHanford, or follow us on Twitter @ecyHanford.
WRPS ‘Finishing Proud’ at Hanford’s Tank Farms
BY JOHN ESCHENBERG
President & Chief Executive Officer
H
onored and proud. Those are my feelings each year when the invitation to contribute to the Tri-City Herald Progress Edition crosses my desk. The annual publication gives me an ideal platform to showcase the progress Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS) and the Department of Energy (DOE) have made in advancing the largest and most complex environmental cleanup mission in the nation. As DOE’s Tank Operations contractor, WRPS has protected the environment and the public by safely managing 56 million gallons of highly radioactive nuclear waste in 177 underground tanks. Today, we are One Hanford, marching in lockstep with DOE and other Hanford contractors in paving the “path to glass” toward waste treatment and disposal in glass form. SEE WRPS, 40P
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
TRI-CITY HERALD
We are also proud to announce the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) recently completed its licensee performance review (LPR) of our site and found no areas needing improvement. This is the 14th consecutive year we have earned this distinction, setting us apart from our competition, and ensuring we deliver a secure supply of fuel to our customers.
FROM PAGE 35P
FRAMATOME reactors, Framatome in Richland celebrated several other milestones throughout the year and continued to make progress advancing our product offerings. Just as we flipped the calendar to 2020, we wrapped up delivery of our first reload of ATRIUM 11 fuel, our most advanced boiling water reactor fuel design, to a customer. This year, we will manufacture our second reload, approximately 250 fuel assemblies, for another U.S. reactor. The result of more than 10 years of development by our global team of experts, this fuel design provides nuclear plant operators several improvements over the previous generation of design. In January 2019, Framatome introduced its PROtect enhanced accident tolerant fuel (EATF) technologies to the U.S. market. These two new technologies are part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Accident Tolerant Fuel program that originated after the Fukushima incident in 2011, challenging companies like Framatome to develop products that can withstand the loss of cooling for an extended period of time in the reactor. These two accomplishments are testament to the
39P
COURTESY FRAMATOME
Framatome’s Richland nuclear fuel manufacturing facility manufactured more than 90 million uranium oxide (UO2) pellets in 2019. The pellets are then inserted in zirconium rods to make nuclear fuel assemblies.
perseverance of our workforce and the acceptance of new technologies by our customers, and further show our determination to improve the nuclear fuel industry.
What’s next? In just a few short months our new uranium recovery facility will begin commercial operation. This new facility continues our mission of reducing waste on our site and further demonstrates our commitment to employee safety and the environment. We look forward to celebrating another milestone late this year and early next year by manufacturing our first reload of our latest pressurized water reactor design, GAIA. We will continue to advance our PROtect program and will investigate additional technologies that could change the status quo for fuel design. Nuclear energy is part of the solution for carbon reduction now and for future generations. Framatome will continue to invest in new technologies and products to ensure the continued operation of the country’s existing fleet and next generation of reactors.
40P
TRI-CITY HERALD
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FROM PAGE 37P
FROM PAGE 38P
PNNL
WRPS
also applied their knowledge to address some of society’s greatest challenges, helping to ensure a more prosperous and secure future. For example, PNNL is renowned for its catalysis research. This research has led to longer-lasting, more efficient and safer batteries. Our researchers also contributed to the first biofuel approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, performed in collaboration with industry partners. Closer to home, our capabilities in actinide science, subsurface flow and transport, and glass science support Hanford cleanup. PNNL mathematicians and computer scientists are advancing machine learning and artificial intelligence, as well as demonstrating their potential in real-world applications. They are using machine learning to improve climate models, identify novel molecules for energy storage and support national security needs. In the future, we hope to imbue critical infrastructure, such as the power grid, with artificial intelligence to keep it safe and sound. To enhance our capabilities, we just began construction of the Energy Sciences Capability project. This facility will house 200 staff members and state-of-the-art instruments for fundamental research in chemistry, materials science and computational science. Another planned facility will translate these discoveries into energy storage solutions for the grid. We know that achieving bold outcomes requires collaboration. Our joint institutes with Washington State University, the University of Washington, the Oregon Health & Science University and the University of Maryland demonstrate how we apply our collective strengths toward shared objectives. Graduate student programs help train tomorrow’s scientific leaders and provide them with opportunities to work with our researchers on our campus. And our growing industrial partnerships are key to moving research results into the marketplace. We also recognize the importance of diversity and inclusion at PNNL, and we strive to set an example within the community and across the DOE complex. We need people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to fuel the creativity and innovation required to meet the challenges before us. This is a personal passion of mine, and I am proud of what we are doing to make PNNL and the Tri-Cities a welcoming workplace and community. Speaking of community, we deeply appreciate the support of our neighbors and enjoy opportunities to give back. Our staff volunteered more than 30,000 hours to local organizations in 2019. Over the years, Battelle has invested nearly $30 million in science, education and the quality of life in the TriCities area. At PNNL, your friends, relatives and neighbors are striving to make the world cleaner, safer and more prosperous. This is a daunting challenge, but we’re committed to delivering the scientific leadership and impact needed to do it. We appreciate your support and are proud to contribute to the progress of the TriCities.
Notable Cleanup Progress For most of our contract, the tank farms team has focused on removing and transferring waste from older single-shell tanks to more robust double-shell tanks. To date, we’ve completed waste removal from 18 underground tanks, and we are on Courtesy WRPS the cusp of completing reWRPS workers install a pump needed to retrieve radioactive trieval in the 19th tank, and chemical waste from single-shell tank AX-102. Moving AX-102. Then, we start rewaste from older single-shell tanks to newer, more robust moving waste from Tank double-shell tanks is a key step toward eventual waste AX-104 to complete a progress milestone by June 2021, treatment. with plans to retrieve six How do we accomplish so much in an additional tanks in A Farm in the years that extremely hazardous and challenging envifollow. With tank waste retrieval as a cornerstone ronment? Our people. WRPS’ nearly 3,000 employees work hard, work smart and work of our mission, our heightened focus is on safely. They plan each job thoroughly, adbuilding a waste delivery system to help dress potential hazards and use the most achieve DOE’s goal of beginning waste effective tools to get the job done right. It’s treatment by the end of 2023. Today, we why WRPS ranks as the safest cleanup conare constructing a system that will separate tractor in the DOE Environmental Managecesium and undissolved solids from radioment complex. active tank waste, providing a low-activity Teamwork is also essential to our success. waste stream to the Waste Treatment and It means partnering with our DOE client, Immobilization Plant (WTP) for making regulators, other Hanford contractors and a glass. wide range of stakeholders to move the For waste feed delivery and other tank cleanup mission forward. Our success is a farms projects to run smoothly, upgrading function of the hundreds of businesses in critical infrastructure is paramount. One of our community with which we have subour major successes this past year was improvements made at the Effluent Treatment contracted. Since 2008, we’ve spent $900 million in Facility (ETF), where we processed 3.4 local business subcontracts and more than million gallons of wastewater. ETF will $1.3 billion total with small businesses. In support WTP operations for years to come. addition, the $6.5 million we’ve donated to area programs and initiatives has improved A Formula for Success quality of life in one of the best communiWRPS prides itself on looking ahead, ties in the nation. thinking creatively and delivering solutions. WRPS’ corporate heritage combines three We continue to be recognized for our inof the world’s strongest engineering, connovative tools and approaches that improve struction and remediation companies: worker safety and project efficiency. One Amentum, Atkins and Orano. We are proud example is the development of dynamic inspection capabilities and technologies that to carry their names and grateful for their allow us to better evaluate structural integri- support. As we continue in our 12th year, WRPS is ty of our carbon steel tanks. For the first committed to building on our historic legacy time, WRPS successfully performed underof “Success Delivered” and “Finishing tank inspections using robotic tools that Proud.” resemble miniature transformers.
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
TRI-CITY HERALD
41P
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY VEOLIA NUCLEAR SOLUTIONS
Veolia is invested in Hanford and the future of the region BY AMANDA GILMORE
Communications Lead, Business Development
V
eolia Nuclear Solutions — Federal Services (VNSFS) is the U.S. nuclear operations company of Veolia, delivering Veolia’s global capabilities to the U.S. government and across North America. VNSFS has a long and successful history at the Hanford Site, where it currently operates two critical elements of the cleanup — the 222-S Laboratory under a direct contract to the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility (ERDF), under a subcontract to CH2M Hill Plateau Remediation Company (CHPRC). Our Engineering Services group is also based in Richland. 222-S Lab works to further Hanford mission The 70,000-square-foot 222-S Laboratory handles highly radioactive samples for purposes of organic, inorganic and radiochemistry analyses. It contains 11 hot cells, which gives the lab the capability to remotely handle these tank waste samples while minimizing radiation dose to workers. The 222-S complex contains more than 100 pieces of analytical equipment, 156 fume hoods and 46 manipulators to perform work. In 2019, our lab staff performed 32,000 analyses on up to 10,000 tank waste samples, up from about 25,000 the year before. Working with these highly radioactive samples is something VNSFS does with safety always as its top priority, a fact that is evident in the lab’s stellar safety record. In 2017, DOE designated the lab as a Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Legacy of Stars Site — an award that distinguishes a company that has excelled in outreach and mentoring and has demonstrated sustained excellence in worker safety and health. In 2018, the lab attained an independent and successful VPP Star of Excellence. In addition to tank waste sampling for the DOE Office of River Protection, the 222-S Lab also supports other Hanford contractors and projects such as the Spent Fuel Nuclear Project and the Central
Plateau Closure Project. VNSFS personnel are offering their expertise to further the Hanford mission by working with the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant and the Direct Feed Low-Activity Waste initiative to facilitate successful integration of analytical operations. Together with other Hanford contractors on the Vit Plant project, VNSFS 222-S Lab employees are working to protect the environment and millions of people who live in the Pacific Northwest. ERDF is a key player in Hanford cleanup Not far from the lab, VNSFS is responsible for the full spectrum of landfill management and operations at ERDF, commonly referred to as the hub of the Hanford Site cleanup. The 107-acre facility is DOE’s largest landfill, authorized to accept, stage, treat and dispose of low-level radioactive, hazardous and mixed wastes generated by Hanford environmental restoration activities. VNSFS has managed the Hanford landfill since 2013 and works closely with all Hanford waste generators to ensure waste acceptance criteria and regulatory compliance are met during all phases of waste generation, containerization, transport and disposal activities. VNSFS’ efforts over the past few years to safety package and dispose of large, contaminated items (instead of shipping them off site) has resulted in significant savings for DOE. In early 2020, ERDF and sitewide cleanup contractor CH2MHill Plateau Remediation Company are helping DOE achieve an important milestone at Hanford — completing cleanup of the Plutonium Finishing Plant, where two-thirds of the U.S. Cold War-era plutonium was produced. More than 900 containers of finishing plant waste were disposed of at ERDF from December 2018 through February 2020. “This is a great example of teamwork in a highhazard environment, with the customer, prime contractor and subcontractor all being on the same page to achieve this milestone. I’m very proud of our team,” said Billy Morrison, VNSFS CEO and president.
COURTESY VEOLIA
Samples of Hanford tank waste are gathered for analysis in the hot cell in the 222-S Lab.
Engineering Services: from inception through completion Twenty years of DOE engineering experience means that VNSFS can deliver nuclear, environmental, infrastructure, waste, robotics, process and international engineering services. We are NQA-1 Certified with all relevant disciplines and have reach back to more than 1,000 engineers. We provide engineered robotic and remote-handling solutions for high-hazard environments, thus reducing or eliminating human exposure. We have more than three decades of know-how, delivering more than 200 systems worldwide. Our engineering capabilities cover the full spectrum of project needs from inception through completion. These include strategic planning, code evaluation, feasibility study, specification development, field engineering, condition assessments, life extension analysis and system troubleshooting. Our staff of professional engineers have advanced degrees in all primary disciplines, including chemical/process, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and controls, civil/structural, nuclear, materials and environmental. With its many services and capabilities, VNSFS is proud to be a part of One Hanford — a team of highly skilled and dedicated workers. As one, we are committed to safe and ethical work practices throughout our project sites.
TRI-CITY HERALD
42P
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY HPMC OCCUPATIONAL MEDICAL SERVICES
HANFORD ADVISORY BOARD
Ensuring worker health and well-being at Hanford
Dedicated to a better Hanford future
In this last year, we made a concerted effort to engage our stakeholders in our joint mission to safely clean up the Hanford Site. We did this through three focus areas: patient satisfaction, integrated work with contractors and efficient delivery of services. BY HIRAM WHITMER
President and Program Manager
I
n late 2018, HPM Corp. was competitively re-awarded the Hanford Occupational Medical Services contract. HPM Corporation Occupational Medical Services (HPMC OMS) is one of the largest occupational medicine programs among all U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) sites. As a prime contractor to DOE, HPMC OMS provides comprehensive occupational medicine and health-related services to over 9,000 Hanford workers in professional, technical, administrative and craft occupations. We just completed the first year of our new seven-year contract with DOE, and I could not be more proud to be a part of this organization. Our dedicated team of healthcare professionals and support staff have the privilege of ensuring an effective, healthy workforce for DOE and other Hanford contractors. This unique role on the One Hanford Team provides us with ability to interact with nearly every worker on the site. Led by Dr. Karen Phillips, our clinical staff supports the cleanup mission by ensuring the Hanford workforce is able and ready to perform work in a safe manner.
Patient Satisfaction In 2019, we implemented a new point-of-service patient satisfaction survey. This replaced the mail-in one we previously used. The new survey is offered to patients at the end of their visits before they leave our clinic. The results have been remarkable. In January, we had 423 surveys completed with an overall favorable patient satisfaction of 99.9%. The immediate feedback has been valuable for all of our staff. This is over 20 percentage points higher than other healthcare providers in the region, illustrating our exceptional level of service to our patients. Integrated Work with Contractors Building our relationships with other Hanford contractors is key to providing the high quality services we aim for. Recent examples include our Exposure Response Team that activates to gather information from the worker, the manager, industrial hygiene and others to help make fully informed decisions on patient care. Another example is our Behavioral Health Services (BHS) work with DOE and other Hanford contractors in providing training and education in stress and change management, opioid awareness
COURTESY HPMC
Dr. Denise Algood, Clinic Director, examines a patient as part of our medical surveillance program. BY SUSAN LECKBAND
and teambuilding. Integrated BHS helps ensure a stable and functional workforce. We also actively work with safety and health professionals from each contractor. Their focus is providing a safe work environment while our focus is on the safety and health of the worker. This teamwork demonstrates our commitment to the integrity of our mission and to the worker. Efficient Delivery of Services In 2019, we conducted over 22,000 exams, testing, and injury and illness visits. We provided 253 worksite services, which include educational presentations, classes, health fairs and consultations at various work sites at Hanford. Our (relatively) small staff of 90 volunteered hundreds of hours in 39 community outreach activities. I look forward to leading our exceptional team through the next year of change at Hanford. We will continue to make the safety and health of the worker our number one priority.
Chair
I
n 2019, the Hanford Advisory Board (HAB) celebrated 25 years of volunteer service to the citizens of the Pacific Northwest. Over 300 well-researched consensus advice letters, technical white papers and flow charts were developed and issued to leaders of the Tri-Party Agreement agencies. Those agencies include the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, and the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology). Current TPA leaders — DOE’s Brian Vance, Ecology’s Alex Smith, and EPA’s Dave Einan — congratulated the HAB on its accomplishments and dedication to a better Hanford future at the HAB’s 25th Anniversary celebration in December. As with every year, 2019 had its set of challenges for the HAB, but board members always look forward while learning from the past and remain committed to a better, safer Hanford cleanup. Members continue to encourage the TPA agencies to provide opportunities for the public to learn about and comment on cleanup issues. SEE HANFORD, 43P
TRI-CITY HERALD
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
43P
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY WASHINGTON STATE STEM EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Connecting students to rewarding careers — building our future workforce
BY THOMAS YOUNT
President, TLY Services and Board Past-President
G
iven this opportunity to share with Tri-City Herald readers, I’ve created a few headlines of my own to highlight the progress experienced by our foundation, its affiliated Mid-Columbia STEM Network and our many community partners in 2019.
STEM Like ME! Innovation Fund has supported pioneering educators to create career connected learning projects for more than 9,000 local students.
Local STEM group selected as regional lead for new statewide program Last fall, our organization was chosen to serve as a Career Connect
Washington (CCW) Regional Network. CCW aims to combine classroom learning with practical career experiences. Its goal: Put more stu-
COURTESY OF HAWTHORNE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
FROM PAGE 42P
HANFORD The Direct Feed Low Activity Waste (DFLAW) vitrification (mixing waste with glass) process is a primary focus of the DOE Office of River Protection, and the HAB continues to support emptying the underground tanks of low-activity waste and processing it into a safer form for disposal. Four pieces of consensus advice to DOE, EPA and Ecology were issued in 2019, including the HAB’s yearly cleanup priorities/budget advice. All HAB advice is available on our website www.hanford.gov/page.cfm/hab and I urge you to check it out. Additionally, the website contains all the pre-
dents on meaningful career pathways and help meet employers’ critical workforce needs. It’s an obvious fit with our foundation’s mission of introducing local students to career possibilities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. As one of nine CCW networks, we will be expanding our current service offerings beyond the greater Tri-Cities to include 23 school districts in Southeastern Washington. About 740,000 job openings are expected in the state over the next five years. Almost three quarters of these jobs will require a credential of some type beyond high school. As the regional network, we will coordinate with local Educational Service District 123 to serve as the hub for labor, business groups, employers and educators in expanding careerconnected learning opportunities.
sentations provided by the TPA agencies to the HAB at full board and subcommittee meetings. Hanford Advisory Board meetings are open to the public and the meeting calendar and locations are on the website as well. The HAB’s well-informed consensus advice is the result of the members’ dedication to the best, safest Hanford cleanup possible, willingness to learn while working with the Tri-Party Agencies to become educated on issues, challenges, successes and upcoming decisions on Hanford Site cleanup actions. The HAB members look forward to overcoming the challenges that 2020 has presented – the COVID-19 virus has already resulted in canceled and postponed meetings. However, HAB members continue to become educated on current and emerging Hanford issues and actions, work many volunteer
STEM Like ME! continues rapid expansion STEM Like ME! (SLM) was created by the Foundation to answer a local need to empower students to pursue rewarding careers, while providing turn-key solutions for employers to engage with students and educators. Based on our success, we have been asked to share our programs with other regions. It is now conducted across the state and has served more than 16,500 students and teachers. The original STEM Like ME! Explore program brings volunteers into the classroom to conduct small-group, hands-on demonstrations. STEM Like ME! Innovation Fund, conducted in partnership with the Dream Builders Education Foundation, supports pioneering educators with grants to fund innovative career-connected learning projects with local volunteers. SEE STEM, 45P
COURTESY DOE
The Hanford Advisory Board.
hours, work to be flexible and be ready to resume the development of informed, thoughtful advice and recommendations.
44P
TRI-CITY HERALD
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
BUSINESS & ECONOMY ENERGY NORTHWEST
BENTON PUD
Delivering more than expected Paving the way for Washington’s now and into the future
BY RICK DUNN
General Manager
T
his year will be my first as the general manager of the Benton PUD. After more than 33 years as an engineer and manager in the power business, I am excited for the opportunity to lead an organization like Benton PUD with such a long tradition of excellence and high standing in our communities. While we have some big challenges ahead, our incredible team of highly skilled and dedicated employees together with strategic investments in advanced technology and infrastructure are reasons for optimism. 2019 was another milestone filled year for Benton PUD as our customers now have access to several self-service payment options and online tools that enable convenient account management and payment along with the ability to monitor electricity usage on a 24/7 basis. Thanks to prior investments in advanced metering and billing technologies, we also launched Pay As You Go, a prepaid electricity program. Like filling your gas tank or buying minutes on a prepaid cellular plan, our customers can now pay for their electricity in advance. There are no monthly bills and no deposits or fees. All customers must do is work with our staff to configure their automatic notification settings and then keep a minimum balance in their account to avoid being disconnected. Benton PUD continues to make significant investments to ensure we can “keep the lights on” as our communities experience steady growth and economic development. In response to the planned development of Kennewick’s Vista Field, we significantly increased the capacity of our Orchard View
Substation. We also upgraded our Benton City substation with new equipment and advanced technologies to ensure we continue to provide reliable service to our Benton City customers while also allowing for economic development in town and in the Red Mountain area. We also have plans to complete construction of a new substation in the Southridge area by the end of 2020 to meet the rapid rate of residential and commercial development and to provide for future development of light industrial properties, which can have more extensive electricity demands. In the end, the backbone of our ability to provide reliable electrical service is our highly dedicated staff of employees who often work in difficult and dangerous environments with an inherently dangerous product – electricity. We are proud of our employees who maintain a strong safety culture that was on full display in 2019, during which we experienced no serious safety incidents. In addition to electric service, Benton PUD continues our strategic partnership with NoaNet to provide world-class fiber-optic broadband services to schools, libraries, hospitals, government agencies and private businesses. Our fiber-optic system is already a major carrier of cellular telephone services throughout Benton County, and we are beginning to prepare for the expansion of cellular networks and the introduction of 5G technology. As we look to the future, it is critically important to recognize the need to preserve the long-standing benefits of the Pacific Northwest’s hydroelectric energy. Low-cost and reliable hydropower continues to be the economic engine of our region and has positioned us well for the clean energy era ahead. Thanks to hydro and nuclear energy, Benton PUD’s power supply portfolio is already more than 95% clean. While wind and solar get a lot of press coverage, the clean base-load energy provided by hydro and nuclear power are the dependable and reliable technologies that provide around the clock electricity necessary for the health, safety and wellbeing of us all. Thank you for allowing us to be your trusted energy partner.
clean energy future
BY BRAD SAWATZKE
CEO
W
ashington state took steps down a path to become a greener, cleaner state last May when Gov. Jay Inslee signed the Clean Energy Transformation Act into law. CETA requires a phase-out of coal generation by 2025; greenhouse gas neutral generation by 2030; and 100% carbon-free electricity generation by 2045. These are aggressive but achievable goals due to the fortunate fact that we live and work in a state with one of the cleanest, low-cost energy portfolios in the country. As a not-for-profit joint operating agency, Energy Northwest is uniquely positioned to play a major role in helping our state meet these goals. Our mission remains the same: Provide our public power members and regional customers with safe, reliable, cost-effective, responsible power generation and energy solutions. We commissioned a study last fall to identify the optimal clean-energy solutions to meet our region’s future electricity and capacity needs. Energy + Environmental Economics (E3), a San Francisco-based consulting group, conducted the study and found the best energy picture for the future is a combination of current and new renewable and clean resources. E3’s study examined the value of creating addiSEE ENERGY, 46P
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
FROM PAGE 43P
STEM Three additional SLM programs also have launched or are under development. STEM Like ME! School-Based Internship is a hybrid of the traditional internship model, allowing more students to gain relevant workplace experience. Students collaborate in small teams with local employers and the classroom instructor to create and present solutions to real workplace challenges. STEM Like ME! Navigator ties closely with students’ High School and Beyond Plan, and STEM Like ME! Teacher Experiences are being designed to help local educators teach about career opportunities in our region. Outstanding community support must continue, grow, STEM leaders say While strong community support and engagement has enabled the foundation’s achievements to this point, more will be needed as we fulfill our responsibility to build the workforce of the future. We can add to an impressive resumé of
TRI-CITY HERALD
major accomplishments in advancing education opportunities for our region. Delta High, our region’s STEM high school, was designed and built thanks to a community partnership. The myTRI2030 regional vision effort is identifying additional educational advancement opportunities. We must continue this spirit of collaboration to expand career connected learning opportunities for our youth. I specifically would ask business, industry and labor leaders to examine how you are investing in building the bridge from education to great careers. Does a portion of your employee development strategy address the skill building and knowledge transfer that comes from engaging with your future workforce? Research shows these efforts help to attract top talent; develop and retain current employees; boost public image, and drive your bottom line. As we progress in 2020, we look forward to continued and new partnerships to ensure every young person is fully prepared to benefit from our vibrant southeastern Washington economy. For more information, go to WashingtonSTEMlearning.org or contact us at info@stemlearning.org or 509-420-9316.
45P
BUSINESS & ECONOMY NV5
Pacific Northwest acquisitions bring increased capabilities to the Tri-Cities BY SUSAN WINSLOW
Senior Vice President
N
V5, through its Richland-based wholly owned subsidiary Dade Moeller, is committed to continuing Dade Moeller’s 26-year reputation for providing the Tri-Cities with excellence in occupational and environmental health and safety consulting. In last year’s Progress Edition, we commitSEE NV5, 46P
TRI-CITY HERALD
46P
FROM PAGE 45P
NV5 ted to expanding the solutions we deliver and increasing our focus on objectives that are important to our community. We are excited to share in this year’s Progress Edition that acquisitions made by NV5 in 2019 have added a number of staff and capabilities specific to NV5’s Pacific Northwest footprint that will benefit the Tri-Cities. As an example of the increased capabilities now available to the Tri-Cities, NV5 recently was approved by the Port of Benton to provide planning and engineering services for Richland and Prosser airports through its new acquisition WHPacific. Environmental support on this work will be provided by NV5’s Richlandbased Dade Moeller, and geotechnical support will be available via NV5’s Portland-based acquisition GeoDesign. Engineering & Surveying Solutions In July of 2019, NV5 acquired WHPacific, Inc., a leading provider of design engineering and surveying services throughout the western United States, including in Seattle, Portland, Salem and Boise. NV5/WHPacific brings an impressive client portfolio in
COURTESY LARRY ANDERSON
In February, the Port of Benton commissioners approved NV5/WHPacific to provide airport planning and engineering services for Richland and Prosser airports.
key market sectors, including power utilities, departments of transportation and public entities. NV5/WHPacific is a full service, multidisciplinary engineering, surveying and architecture firm helping both public and private clients achieve success with their most challenging projects across its core service lines, including Transportation, Survey and Mapping, Facilities and Land Development Services, Water Resources, Environmental Services, Aviation, Construction Services and Industrial Facilities Engineering. Geotechnical Solutions Also in July 2019, NV5 acquired GeoDesign, a geotechnical, geologic, environmental, pavement, and mining
FROM PAGE 44P
ENERGY tional solar and wind facilities, battery storage, as well as extending operation of Columbia Generating Station nuclear facility beyond its current license date of 2043. The study also explored whether Washington’s expanding population and growing energy needs can be met in part by new innovations, such as small modular nuclear reactors, a technology that provides an ideal mix of reliability, capacity and seamless integration with renewables. Completing the study was the first step in a comprehensive, multi-year process to evaluate all carbon-free options that maintain reliability and ensure the region has adequate power to meet future electric demand. We’re working this year to gather data and evaluate the feasibility of new nuclear in our region to meet CETA’s targets. Decisions to invest in new resources will take time and will only be done in the best interest of our member utilities, the people of Washington and, of course, the environ-
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
consulting firm headquartered in the Portland Metro area. Since 1997, NV5/ GeoDesign has supported the design and construction of healthcare, educational and institutional facilities; commercial and industrial developments; housing and mixed-use (mid- and highrise) buildings; and transportation and water infrastructure. The firm offers QA/QC specialty testing of drilled shafts (Cross-Hole Sonic Logging) and driven piles (PDA testing), as well as vibration monitoring during construction. NV5/GeoDesign also has engineers versed in Performance-Based Seismic Design for very critical or high-rise structures being constructed in seismic areas, and its Oregon geotechnical lab has Electromechanical Dynamic Cyclic Simple Shear (EMDCSS) testing capabilities. NV5/GeoDesign works on all phases of development, including preliminary studies for due diligence, siting of new structures and utility and road alignments, comprehensive investigations for final geotechnical design, oversight of environmental clean-up activities, and construction observation. Geospatial Solutions In December 2019, NV5 acquired Quantum Spatial, Inc., the nation’s largest independent geospatial data firm, with offices around the country.
ment. As we look forward to a greater role for our agency in the region’s future, we continue to operate our portfolio of carbon-free energy generating facilities: Packwood Lake Hydroelectric Project, Columbia Generating Station, Nine Canyon Wind Project and White Bluffs Solar Station. Construction is underway on our newest generation project – the Horn Rapids Solar Storage & Training facility, which will be Washington state’s first utility-scale solar and battery storage facility. The project is on schedule to be complete this summer and will comprise a 4-megawatt direct current, 20-acre solar generating array of photovoltaic panels that will provide energy to power 600 Richland homes, combined with a 1-megawatt battery storage system that can provide energy to 150 homes for four hours. Solar and battery storage, when paired together, offer flexibility and more reliability. Once it’s complete, the City of Richland will purchase the power and utilize the storage for their customers. Adjacent to the project, a training program will be held for solar and battery storage technicians.
Quantum Spatial provides geographic insights to the largest government and corporate organizations that need geospatial intelligence to mitigate risk, plan for growth, better manage resources and advance scientific understanding. A pioneer in advanced mapping technology, NV5/Quantum Spatial’s end-to-end solutions and services deliver the industry’s highest data quality and accuracy, while leveraging the widest array of technologies for analyzing all types of terrains. Customers use the company’s acquisition, processing, analytics, and visualization solutions in a range of technical and scientific disciplines – from geology and biology, to hydrology, forestry, and civil engineering. Utilities, oil and gas producers, engineering, and construction firms, as well as the military and major government agencies, are NV5/Quantum Spatial customers. There is significant growth potential for the Tri-Cities community through transportation projects, growth and development of agriculture, city expansion projects and within the Department of Energy’s Hanford Site. With the new services that NV5 now offers in the Pacific Northwest, we look forward to delivering solutions and improving lives in our growing Tri-Cities community.
COURTESY ENERGY NORTHWEST
Energy Northwest's Columbia Generating Station sent more than 8.8 million megawatt-hours of carbon-free electricity to the grid in 2019. As the third-largest provider of electricity in Washington, Columbia’s 1,207 gross megawatts can power a city the size of Seattle.
From our early beginnings in public power to our role in the future, our goal is simple: provide carbon-free electricity to make life better for the community.
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
TRI-CITY HERALD
47P
BUSINESS & ECONOMY TRIDEC
VISIT TRI-CITIES
A unifying voice for vibrant economy Innovation highly skilled workforce at PNNL and Hanford.
BY KARL DYE
President/CEO
T
he Tri-City Development Council (TRIDEC) is a unifying voice that stimulates and sustains a vibrant regional economy by fostering economic growth and prosperity. Our non-profit corporation focuses on fulfilling this mission by working in three strategic objective areas: Economic Diversification A Attracting companies that provide family-wage jobs and generate new wealth in the community. A Championing a business climate and quality of place that removes barriers and enables the success of existing businesses and helps them create new jobs. A Supporting a Tri-City economy that stimulates new ideas, attracts and retains talent and supports a thriving entrepreneurial community. Federal Advocacy A Aggressively advocating for programs and funding that lead to continued growth of world-class research and development activities at the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). A Aggressively advocating for the policies and funding needed to accelerate cleanup and reduce risks at the Hanford Site. A Actively pursuing new federal and non-federal missions that leverage the
Creative Leadership A Providing creative leadership for the community on issues of economic importance to the Tri-Cities. A Working closely with our regional economic development partners, including cities, counties, ports, utilities, area chambers of commerce, Visit Tri-Cities and higher education institutions to facilitate the greater mission of economic development. TRIDEC has been focused on economic development and diversification since 1963 and has a 42-member Board of Directors, including elected officials from all of the cities, counties and ports in the Tri-Cities, as well as representatives from industry, health care and higher education. TRIDEC is designated by Benton and Franklin counties as their Associate Development Organization (ADO), meaning it is the primary organization responsible for economic development in both counties. In 2019, our metropolitan statistical area (MSA) labor force grew by 4.9% over the previous year, while Washington grew at 3.5% during the same period. The leading industries that created jobs last year included public education, healthcare, agriculture, construction and manufacturing. In 2020, TRIDEC’s key initiatives include: A Workforce To ensure continued economic growth in the Tri-Cities, it will be critical to maintain and grow the availability of our skilled workforce. This issue will only accelerate as a large percentage of the current workforce is nearing retirement age. TRIDEC is working with our part-
ners in government, education and other non-profits to increase the size of our skilled workforce. The goal is to connect local citizens, beginning in high school, with the training and/or education they need to qualify for good paying careers that align with local employer needs. A Federal Advocacy As described above, TRIDEC will continue to work closely with our congressional delegation to ensure that both critical research at PNNL and Hanford cleanup are funded appropriately in the federal budget. We will also continue to advocate for keeping the Lower Snake River Dams intact and operating. These dams are critical to our region’s economy, providing essential infrastructure for agricultural irrigation and transportation as well as reliable, affordable and carbon-free electrical generation. A TRIDEC’s National Marketing TRIDEC is the lead organization for our region’s response to economic development opportunities, whether received by TRIDEC directly or through the Washington State Department of Commerce. Our proactive marketing is focused on target industries, including agriculture and food processing, advanced manufacturing and energy-related companies. In 2020, we will actively work to attract businesses in these key industry sectors to our community. In addition, we will attend trade shows and networking events with leaders in these target industries while also supporting home-grown entrepreneurial startup companies. Now beginning our 57th year, TRIDEC looks forward to collaborating with all of our partners to continue moving the Tri-Cities forward.
through collaboration improves our community BY MICHAEL NOVAKOVICH
President & CEO
2
019 marked the 50th anniversary of Visit Tri-Cities. It was a year filled with innovation, collaboration and significant achievements — further expanding the visitor economy, driving economic impact and ultimately enhancing quality of life in the Tri-Cities. Last year visitor spending infused $560 million into the Tri-Cities, supporting over 6,300 jobs, helping local businesses flourish while building a thriving business climate where others may choose to invest. Visitor spending generated $57 million in state and local taxes, lowering Tri-Citians’ taxes and helping fund police and fire, teachers and schools and more. In short, visitor spending helps create a safe, educated, and employed community filled with many amenities. In 2019 we achieved Destination Management Accreditation Program (DMAP) Accreditation demonstrating we are operating under best practices with our commitment to ethics, transparency and fiscal responsibility. Our entire team contributed to the 112 standards we submitted. Truly teamwork at its finest. We are big believers in innovation, which we achieve through collaboration. With our partners, we engage in several endeavors for the betterSEE VISIT, 48P
48P
TRI-CITY HERALD
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
BUSINESS & ECONOMY TRI-CITY REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
FROM PAGE 47P
VISIT ment of our community. The Tri-Cities Rivershore Enhancement Council (TREC) is multi-jurisdictional program coordinated by Visit Tri-Cities. TREC focuses on projects that allow the community to rediscover its shorelines; emphasize restoration and development through ecologically sound practices; and enhance recreational activities along the river. Participants include the cities of Kennewick, Pasco, Richland; Benton and Franklin counties; the ports of Benton, Kennewick and Pasco; and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Tri-Cities National Park Committee, another Visit Tri-Cities program, focuses on the support, growth and advocacy for the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, including the historic B-Reactor. Our committee is led by the area’s four mayors and includes Benton and Franklin counties, Port of Benton, Sen. Maria Cantwell , Sen. Patty Murray and Congressman Dan Newhouse’s offices, National Park Service, Department of Energy, TRIDEC and the B-Reactor Museum, with participation from WSU Tri-Cities, The Reach Museum and Richland Public Library. Through our Tri-Cities Sports Council, we enjoy great relationships with area sports professionals allowing us to attract and promote sports, creating positive economic growth for the region. In partnership with the cities, we commissioned a Sports Facilities Market Analysis & Feasibility Study to determine opportunities to expand our current sports infrastructure and attract new tournaments while improving current facilities for residents to enjoy. Our Tri-Cities Wine Tourism Council works to enhance our agri-tourism profile, creating increased visitation to our world-class wineries. Also leading to increased visitation is our Media Outreach, which garners a significant
Building the teams that make things happen
BY LORI MATTSON
President/CEO
amount of domestic and international exposure via travel writers we bring to our region. CNN Travel naming the Tri-Cities the “New West Coast Wine Region” is one such endeavor. We have over 700 member businesses that support tourism and understand the important role it plays in driving our community's economic future. Finally, our science tourism assets provide unique experiences that visitors cannot find in other destinations, blending our rich history with engineering marvels and the wonderment that mother nature provides. Our focus on STEM tourism can help build the workforce of tomorrow as we plant seeds in the minds of young people that careers in STEM fields are worth pursing while introducing their families to STEM educational and career opportunities in our community. Our goal is to broaden the appeal of STEM tourism making it accessible to all — as in, you don’t have to be a brainiac to enjoy it. “Come On Get Your Geek On!” isn’t just the song title of our recently created music video highlighting many of the wonderful STEM assets in our communit it’s a call to action: Be More Cool and join us by getting your Geek On!
T
he Tri-City Regional Chamber is a convener for leaders and influencers, a catalyst for business growth and a champion for a strong community. We are excited to share the work being done and where our focus will be, and to play our part in driving growth and success in the Tri-Cities. As our member businesses and employers are our primary customer and driving force, their needs are paramount. Therefore, we must operate at a level of excellence, efficiently and effectively, to provide a place businesses and professionals can belong, engage and thrive. We believe that we have a distinctive role to play in the community that requires continued evolution in our events, programs, services, effective partnerships and bold leadership on issues of regional importance. As the lead accountability organization for myTRI 2030, the Regional Chamber is relentless in our efforts to mobilize citizens, business, nonprofits and government around this transformative project. Thus myTRI 2030 seeks to build a collaborative community and economic development system for the region. It creates a unified focus so that all entities can do what they do best in better coordination with other
partners in the system. Throughout the next decade, myTRI 2030 will change the way we work with partners, coordinate efforts and leverage resources for the greatest possible impact for the companies and people that call the Tri-Cities home. With our responsibility of being the voice of business, we aim to establish ourselves as credible thought leaders within the community. This license to lead is also the license to convene business and other interests to work together. The Chamber is committed to providing opportunities to access our elected officials and engage in the public policy process to ensure our business climate remains strong and prosperous. The Tri-City Regional Chamber has received a four-star accreditation with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The only program of its kind in the country, U.S. Chamber accreditation recognizes excellence in chamber planning and performance. To achieve accreditation, a chamber must demonstrate quality programs, clear organizational procedures and effective communications by meeting operational and program standards in the areas of governance, program development, government affairs and technology. Accreditation designation tells chamber members, as well as the greater business community, that this organization delivers effective programs, has sound finances and is a strong advocate for their interests. We just completed our 10th year as a Procurement Technical Assistance Center, serving seven counties in Central/Eastern Washington (Benton, SEE CHAMBER, 49P
TRI-CITY HERALD
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
49P
BUSINESS & ECONOMY PASCO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Standing up for our way of life
BY COLIN HASTINGS
Executive Director
O
ver the past years, the Progress Edition article from the Pasco Chamber of Commerce has always featured an element of the importance of the Lower Snake River Dams to our region and the Northwest. Once again, this year is no different. Since our last Progress Report submission, Gov. Jay Inslee’s Orca task force concluded its $750,000 study of removal of the dams in response to the dire state of the southern resident orca population and the pod’s loss of a calf. This turned out to be a waste of our taxpayer dollars, since the study concluded that “residents remain deeply divided” on this topic. In addition, the Army Corp of Engineers just concluded its multi-million dollar and multi-year draft environmental impact study on our hydropower system and found that keeping the Lower Snake River Dams is the preferential option. The findings from Inslee’s study has no bearing on the fate of the dams — the fate of the dams is in the U.S. House of Representatives’ hands. We have taken the position that resources are better served to focus on speedy environmental rehab of Puget
FROM PAGE 48P
CHAMBER Franklin, Grant, Yakima, Klickitat, Walla Walla and Columbia). The eight locations across Washington state ensure that businesses can find, bid and win federal, state and local gov-
Sound and the salmon-bearing rivers to have the greatest positive impact on the Southern Resident Orca. To be proactive on this topic, we launched “RiverFest, Our Rivers Our Way of Life” community event in September 2018. Over the years, we partnered with over 150 organizations from around the Northwest to tell their stories of how the river system is important to them. With a lot of support and help from the community, we had over 7,000 people attend this familyfriendly event that featured hands-on activities for children and educational facts for the community highlighting the importance of our river system. RiverFest even inspired Congress to host a con-
ernment contracts. During the past 12 months, our PTAC center helped 80 businesses earn over $12 million in government contracts. Each year, the Regional Chamber presents more than 70 events and programs that draw approximately 8,000 attendees for learning and connecting.
gressional field hearing for the House Natural Resources Committee to discuss the Lower Snake River Dams. We will continue this tradition again on Oct. 10 at Columbia Park, and we hope that it’s even bigger this year so we can demonstrate how important these carbon-free energy treasures are to our livelihood and the Northwest. This year we are proud to have the leadership of Joe Roach of Akins Engineering, as the 2019-20 Board President. Joe is a strong leader with great vision for the good of the chamber and our community. The Pasco Chamber of commerce remains a friendly and personable group of businesses and professionals that have not lost sight of person-toperson contact and the comfort that comes with attending monthly luncheons where everyone gets to know your name. Over 100 years ago, the Pasco Chamber was created to promote and advocate for economic development and free enterprise. Pasco Chamber membership provides smallbusiness-affordable entry to our region’s growing economy and business community. Network and increase your company’s visibility to demonstrate your commitment to the residents and businesses of Pasco. Not only is the Pasco Chamber the champion of agri-business, we provide a conduit to the growth potential for your business because Pasco’s population is expected to grow by 50,000 people in the next 20 years. The application takes two minutes to fill out and is available at pascochamber.org/online-application.html.
As the region’s most prestigious event, the Women in Business Conference and ATHENA Awards Luncheon continues to break attendance records while serving as a resource for professional and personal development. The Chamber recently added another exceptional event, the Tri-Cities Diversity Summit, designed to help employers develop strategies to hire
and retain a diverse workforce. The Regional Chamber is making strong and steady progress toward our goals — validating that we are indeed positioning our organization for an incredible 2020. We are looking ahead to the future and evolving to meet the most pressing needs of members and our community.
TRI-CITY HERALD
50P
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
BUSINESS & ECONOMY TRI-CITIES LOCAL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
Collaboration benefits TCLBA members and community interests
BY DAVE MCCORMACK
Executive Director
M
embers of the Tri-Cities Local Business Association are local businesses and labor organizations that support the Department of Energy’s Hanford cleanup mission. They are essential to the Hanford workforce, providing high-value scientific, engineering, technical and skilled labor services. Many members have leveraged their Hanford experience to grow and diversify and now serve clients nationally and internationally. With expanded capabilities and market reach, they have magnified their contributions to our vibrant local economy with goodpaying jobs. TCLBA advocates for local business opportunities to support site cleanup. In 2019, we initiated discussions with DOE and its prime contractors to address small business subcontracting and meaningful Hanford work for local businesses. Interacting at this strategic level has given us a “seat at the table,” allowing the business community to better anticipate and address site needs. The collaboration outcomes have been notable. DOE has gained a broader context for evaluating its small business goals and building sustainable local businesses. Meaningful work is now more strongly reflected in prime contracts
Courtesy Environmental Assessment Services
TCLBA member Environmental Assessment Services (https://www.easbio.com), restoring riparian and upland habitat along the Snake River for the US Army Corps of Engineers.
awarded in 2020, allowing small businesses to develop by contributing more directly to cleanup accomplishments. In another 2019 initiative, TCLBA partnered with TRIDEC, the Energy Communities Alliance and Hanford Communities to back DOE’s proposed change to how it interprets the definition of high-level waste (HLW). The change would allow treatment and disposal of waste as either HLW or non-HLW based on its actual radiological characteristics rather than its origin. This science-based approach offers practical options for treating and disposing of non-HLW, which at Hanford could make cleanup safer and sooner, while saving $40 billion in cleanup
costs. TCLBA conducted a public outreach campaign for the initiative. We sent letters and guest opinions to local and Northwest newspapers. TCLBA member Pixel Soft Films produced a video for the campaign, https://vimeo.com/371766493. We encouraged local, state and federal officials to support our nuclear waste position and posted information on our website and Facebook. In 2020, TCLBA will continue to advocate for issues important to our members and our community. Our monthly meetings will give members access to DOE, prime contractor and community decision makers. Discussions will provide insights into Hanford and community programs
and priorities. We will work to influence the effectiveness of Hanford procurement programs and local business participation. We will provide forums for members to network, partner, and pursue work that drives business success and community development. Our community strategy will be to increase our involvement and impact on collaborative efforts already underway. The Tri-Cities is a dynamic region for renewable and other carbonfree energy production. We support local efforts to develop clean energy production and storage technologies and to advance energy conservation and grid modernization. We are participants in TRIDEC’s Mid-Columbia Energy Initiative, and we back Washington state’s Clean Energy Transformation Act. Along with wind, solar and hydropower, the emerging Small Modular Reactor is a promising nuclear technology for clean baseload energy. Our community's technical resources and workforce are ideal for SMR development, and TCLBA is eager to help members offer their expertise for design, fabrication, construction, and operation of SMRs. We are members of the Regional Chamber of Commerce’s myTRI2030 community visioning initiative, supporting community development with emphasis on education, energy and prosperity. We are involved with the Mid-Columbia STEM Network and the advancement of career-connected learning. The Tri-Cities’ prosperous economy has grown from the region’s strengths in energy, agriculture and environmental cleanup. However, community-wide collaboration has been another contributing force for growth. Through our strong relationships with businesses, government and local leaders, TCLBA is proud to participate in progress-focused activities that benefit local businesses and advance the future of our community.
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
TRI-CITY HERALD
51P
BUSINESS & ECONOMY SCOUT CLEAN ENERGY
TRI-CITIES RESEARCH DISTRICT
Creating a sense of place, growing Renewable technological and industrial innovation energy on the horizon BY MILES S. THOMAS
Port of Benton Director of Economic Development and Governmental Affairs
T
he Tri-Cities Research District (TCRD) is kicking off 2020 with its newly redesignated Washington State Innovation Partnership Zone (IPZ). The Tri-Cities IPZ is the catalyst for collaboration between public and private industries to prioritize technological and industrial innovation on the TCRD campus. The success of the TCRD and IPZ is rooted in the involvement of our local and regional partners, including Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), which continue to commercialize ideas and bring intuitive products to market. Through our 20202021 Strategic Plan, we’ve reaffirmed our efforts in execution of our priority actions; developing facilities that support technological growth and attracting enterprise expansion in the Tri-Cities. Our 11th annual Action Plan is focused on self-sustaining and effective growth of TCRD, with primary economic development activities devised through recent opportunities within our ecosystem. The Port of Benton in its related functions as a property owner and lessor within the district will assess the lease and sale of properties in furtherance of recruiting qualified companies and organizations. A priority is being placed on gathering the diverse technical qualifications and
As the TCRD as a whole reflects on its past accomplishments and trajectory toward growth, we also see creating a sense of place as a top priority in attracting and retaining talented individuals. Without creating a sense of place, we risk the loss of intellectual capital; our partners at Washington State UniCourtesy photo versity Tri-Cities Continued investment in our local economy ensures a (WSU-TCs) have been diversification of local talent development and instrumental in overimportation of opportunities that help our local coming those challengeconomy remain resilient and competitive. es. WSU-TCs opened its first on-campus houscommercialization capacity of existing ing in the TCRD in the second half of TCRD companies and promoting 2018, and we continue to explore property to prospects that can genermixed-use development that intrinsiate new non-Hanford-related employcally links these residents to their ment opportunities. This targeted surroundings and the greater Triprospect identification will focus on Cities community. As the TCRD and building potential tenant records for its partners assess land within the both short- and long-term recruitment district, it is important for us to exopportunities. plore additional mixed-use and infill An aligned priority is investing in development that appropriately local entrepreneurship, which was blends the wider community into the realized most recently through the district without sacrificing our primary port’s award of funds to Fuse SPC and job-creation goals. State of Motion from its 2018 U.S. Supporting TCRD tenant and reEconomic Development Adminisgional growth continues to be supporttration i6 Challenge grant. This award ed through the sponsorship and prohas resulted in the creation of a $1.2 motion of events related to entrepremillion seed fund to invest in the neurship and technological innovadevelopment of local startups and tion. On the horizon for 2020 are Fuse education programs for small busiLaunch Pad (March 26), the eighth nesses. iteration of Fuse Launch: Weekend Continued investment in our local (April 24-26), Tri-Cities Tech Summit economy ensures a diversification of (September), and numerous speaker local talent development and importa- opportunities throughout the year at tion of opportunities that help our TCRD business locations. local economy remain resilient and Follow us throughout the year at competitive. www.tricitiesresearchdistrict.org.
BY DAVID KOBUS
Scout Project Manager
S
cout Clean Energy has been working to develop a wind energy project in Benton County, and this year is anticipated to reach important milestones for permitting and construction. The Horse Heaven Wind Farm project will be just south of the Tri-Cities and would bring up to 600 megawatts (MW) of wind energy to the Tri-City region and Washington state. Scout Clean Energy is a utility-scale wind energy developer based in Boulder, Colo. Formed in 2016, our team has an extensive track record developing large-scale wind projects. The most recent, the Persimmon Creek Wind Farm in Woodward County, Okla., began operations in December 2018 and the Ranchero Wind Farm in Crockett County, Texas, began operations in October 2019. In 2019, the state enacted a law that commits Washington to an electricity supply free of greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. Utilities across the state seek to use renewable energy for their electricity needs, and businesses are also increasing their commitment to renewable power. Horse Heaven will harness the Horse Heaven wind Project development began in late-2016 in the form of leasing, land acquisition and environmental surveys, which were conducted by both Scout Clean Energy and wpd, a Portland, Ore., wind energy developer that previously held lease agreements in Benton County. Scout has acquired wpd’s asSEE SCOUT, 54P
52P
TRI-CITY HERALD
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
BUSINESS & ECONOMY WASHINGTON STATE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY DEPARTMENT
Year in review: Benton and Franklin regional economy with robust growth in 2019 of 3.5%. This translates into over 6,000 new entrants into the labor force. The regional labor force is gaining confidence in the local economy and their ability to gain and keep the jobs. Looking at the labor supply statistics, a notable factor for the future workforce supply is that 29.7% of region’s population is under 18, compared with the state’s 22.2% and the nation’s 22.6%.
BY AJSA SULJIC
Regional Labor Economist
T
he national and state economies expanded at its long-term growth rates, but economic growth momentum is showing signs of slowing as the economic expansion matures. The Benton and Franklin regional economy proved robust in 2019, defying any downturn fears by continuing upward growth in almost all aspects economic activities. Regional economic activity continued to outpace most of other areas in the state, with employment rising 3.6% (over 4,200 new nonfarm jobs) in December of 2019, compared to 2.2% statewide. Regional nonfarm employment reached a new peak with over 119,900 jobs. In the past 5 years, since December 2014, the Benton-Franklin area grew on average 3.1% a year, which translates into over 15,700 new jobs. Economic activities in both goods-producing and service-providing sectors added jobs to accommodate demand coming from both local residents and local businesses. Leading industries in job growth are professional and business services, with 1,700 added jobs, of which 1,400 were added by administrative and support services. Construction, private education and healthcare services each added 700 jobs. Leisure and hospitality added 400 jobs, of which 300 were in food services. Other industries, including financial services and local government, added jobs in 2019 as the local economy paved its expanding path forward due to population growth and service demand. As of 2018, the Benton-Franklin region population topped 296,200, according to U.S. Census estimates. Average annual growth rate for the past eight years has been around 2.%, with 2.2% in Franklin County and 1.7% in Benton County, compared to the state’s average annual growth rate of 1.4% and nation’s 0.7%. From 2010-18 the area gained 42,800 residents, almost equally divided into people moving into the
area (net migration) and family expansion (net natural changes). To put it in a perspective as an economic driver and future supply of labor force, Benton and Franklin region had over 35,390 new births, that is an average of 4,400 babies a year for the past eight years. Families and households are expanding and increase demand for services and products, which, in return, drives local economic growth. Looking at the population forecasts, area will continue to be one of the fastest-growing regions in the state. The Benton-Franklin population is forecasted to grow at a pace of around 2% a year for next 10 years. By 2028, region is expected to be home to about 350,000 people.
A very positive impact of well-distributed population growth is labor force growth, which increased by 4.9%, compared with the sate increase
Demand for public services, educational opportunities, healthcare services and other community activities for will likely increase in the area, but at the slower pace, while services and activities for an aging population will be increasing at more moderate pace. The Tri-Cities have good cooperation among its many community agencies and organizations for diversification of the local economy and community assets. According to Washington state nonfarm projections, the Tri-Cities are expected to be the fastest growing area in the state through 2027, however, many of these projections are subject to change as new information on economic activities comes along. We are sure to see known and unknown obstacles that will come forward and challenge resiliency of the local economic strength. Most recent trends show that the local economic structure is much more diversified, which will help offset any large event impacts on the greater regional economy and community well-being.
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
TRI-CITY HERALD
53P
BUSINESS & ECONOMY HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION
Construction trends in 2020
BY JEFF LOSEY
Executive Director
W
hat a difference a year makes when it comes to building new homes in Tri-Cities! Last year at this time, we were on lockdown by freezing temperatures and piles of snow, which delayed many new home starts for weeks. This year, we had a very mild winter, which caused no real slowdown of any kind and allowed home building to continue at a rapid pace. Plagued by a low inventory of existing homes on the market, along with a sluggish start, 2019 had all the makings of an off year. However, that wasn’t the case as new permits for single-family homes finished 12.9% higher than in 2018, with a total of 1,655 permits for the year. The accelerated pace of construction extended into 2020 with new home starts through February 52% ahead of the same period in 2019. The mild winter helped jump-start this year, but we look ahead cautiously with many questions about when and if a recession may hit. At the beginning of this year, most of our projections were focused on whether there would be any changes to interest rates. It became clear that no increases would come from the feds, inspiring confidence for a very robust year of building in Tri-Cities. Now the evolving COVID-19 pandemic is ripping through the U.S.,
BOB BRAWDY Tri-City Herald
New homes under construction on Chelan Loop and Wishkah Drive in South Richland.
causing the national economy to sputter and effects on the Tri-Cities are up in the air. At the time of the writing of this article, the feds have dropped interest rates to levels equivalent to those seen in the post-2008 recession. Information on how we interact as humans and businesses is changing daily. The supply chain from China is stalling, and products may take months longer to arrive if they are received at all. Schools forced to close, restaurants banned from providing eat-in meals,
every meeting and convention once scheduled now cancelled or postponed indefinitely are signs of the uncertainty we are currently living. There are layoffs happening now that will cause an economic slowdown in Tri-Cities and throughout the state. The driver for construction is jobs! The length and breadth of these layoffs will greatly impact the local demand for new homes. Our prediction for 2020 has been squashed over the last couple of weeks as there doesn’t seem to be any sign of the normal we had known
returning anytime soon. One thing that holds true, even amid the COVID-19 crisis, is that shelter will still be an essential need. The Tri-Cities building process may slow down as the local jurisdictions try to figure out how to provide key services like permitting and inspections under rules that are changing daily. In the short-term, construction will slow down for the next two quarters, however by the end of this year, we are optimistic our industry will be returning to a normal level keeping pace with similar starts as last year.
TRI-CITY HERALD
54P
FRIDAY APRIL 24 2020 TRI-CITYHERALD.COM
BUSINESS & ECONOMY BENTON-FRANKLIN COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS
BFCG celebrating period of growth and transition BY STEPHANIE SEAMANS
Executive Director
I
n 2020, after 25 years in one location, the Benton-Franklin Council of Governments (BFCG) will move to a new office that will be more functional to our agency’s staff and members. BFCG staff will be able to work in a commercial area in a more productive environment that also allows BFCG to hold its meetings on-site instead of searching out alternate partner agency meeting facilities. The new office will be at 587 Stevens in Richland with a ribbon cutting to be scheduled in early summer when the move is complete. The BFCG has been working with local governments in our community for over 50 years to coordinate on regional transportation and economic development issues. Our mission is to support and coordinate with our partner agencies in planning for the region’s future. With the rapid growth this area has experienced, coordination between
jurisdictions and also with federal and state agencies is a key component to receiving project funding and planning for the future of our region. At BFCG, Benton and Franklin counties, along with cities, ports, transit, state and federal agencies work together to develop policies and make decisions about regional issues and project funding strategies. As the region grows, BFCG is committed to growing with it and providing coordination on issues that are the fundamentals of our governmental agency. Transportation Planning and Programming The BFCG transportation staff has made progress on many projects recently and is looking forward to undertaking many more. In 2019, the area’s Congestion Management Process was updated, a review and update of the regional traffic forecasting model was begun, an air quality awareness campaign was conducted and over $15 million of federal transportation funds was awarded to projects sponsored by local agencies.
FROM PAGE 51P
SCOUT sets in the area, and the two previously planned projects are now combined under Scout Clean Energy. The Horse Heaven Wind Farm will consist of up to 212 GE turbines and produce enough electricity to power about 140,000 homes with clean, renewable energy — while also generating local tax revenue and employment opportunities. The project will create approximately 300 temporary construction jobs and 12-16 long-term, familywage positions once the facility begins operation. The property tax revenue over the life of the project for one 250 MW facility are estimated at $26.9 million dollars, and under current allo-
COURTESY SCOUT CLEAN ENERGY
The Horse Heaven Wind Farm project will bring up to 600 megawatts (MW) of wind energy to the Tri-City region and the state of Washington.
cations, the largest proportion of those funds would support local schools. To date, the company has substantial acreage south of the Tri-Cities under wind energy lease and easement with landowners who are participating in the development. The project area consists primarily of private, cultivated agricultural land. Each turbine and associated access roads removes approximately
The regional Active Transportation Plan is currently being developed and another major effort will start this summer — the development of a new longrange Metropolitan/Regional Transportation Plan (which only happens every five years). That plan will address the development of all modes of transportation in the planning area through the year 2045. It will take into account current and future land use development patterns and population growth projections and alternatives for the transportation system within financial limitations. That planning effort, like other BFCG work, will be done in coordination with local member agencies as well as state and federal partners. Economic Development Strategies The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is a living document that is updated yearly as one of the goals of the BFCG’s Economic Development District. The CEDS process includes assessing the current economic status of the region and working on strategies to enhance eco-
nomic growth and resiliency. The CEDS committee works on strategies and also identifies and reviews projects that may apply for Economic Development Administration or other economic development funding. Infrastructure projects of the cities, counties and ports will create opportunities to assist businesses searching for sites within the region and retain and create additional jobs. About BFCG BFCG was established in 1966 as a voluntary association of local governments in the two-county region. It is structured under state law as a Regional Planning Commission, a Council of Governments, and Regional Transportation Planning Organization. BFCG is federally designated as the Metropolitan Planning Organization for Benton and Franklin counties as well as Burbank in Walla Walla County and as the Economic Development District for Benton and Franklin counties. For more information visit our website at www.BFCOG.us and on Facebook.
one-half acre from agricultural production. The project has completed multiple studies to determine biological, aesthetic and cultural impacts, including a three-year avian study that concluded the project would pose a low risk to avian species relative to other wind energy projects in the Pacific Northwest. Horse Heaven would be located near the Nine Canyon Wind Project, which has been operational since 2002. A post-construction two-year study as well as operational monitoring of that facility have also demonstrated low project impact to common avian and bat species.
The Benton County Conditional Use Permit process incorporates a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) environmental review process to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the proposal. In addition to local agencies, our due diligence process includes coordinating with state and federal agencies including the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service as well as local stakeholders. The Horse Heaven Wind Farm is currently planning for an initial construction start in the fourth quarter of 2020, with an estimated commercial operations date in the fourth quarter of 2021. For questions about the project, or to learn how you can support the Horse Heaven Wind Farm, please contact Javon Smith at Javon@scoutcleanenergy.com or 509.490.4892.
Looking Ahead The project intends to enter a conditional use permit process with Benton County in 2020, with a submittal of application forthcoming.