Tri-City tech plays starring role in new Adidas shoes

Carbon technology developed by Carbitex, a Tri-City tech firm, plays a starring role in the latest sneaker release from Adidas. The X Ghosted soccer shoe was released Sept. 1 and retails online for about $225.

The X Ghosted boasts a Carbitex “Speedframe,” or carbon plate in the sole. The plate provides a dynamic surface that gives the futuristic soccer cleats a faster profile.

Sneakerheads can learn more about the new soccer shoe, or “football boot,” at bit.ly/XGhostedCarbitex.

Carbitex formed in 2012 to commercialize flexible carbon material originally tested at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland. Its products are used in athleticwear and other applications.

More Covid relief funds available for business

The Benton-Franklin Economic Development District has received $1.4 million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance funds to help local businesses recover from the effects of the pandemic.

The money was awarded by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Association.

Businesses may apply to the revolving loan fund.

Go to bfcog.us/benton-franklin-economic-development-district-eda-rlf-cares-loan-fund for details or contact Rick Peenstra, 509-943-9185, rpeenstra@bfcog.us

Sandvik Special Metals lays off 50 workers

Sandvik Special Metals, a Finley manufacturer, will permanently lay off 50 workers in late October.

Sandvik notified the Washington Employment Security Department of the pending layoffs under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification act.

Sandvik produces advanced metal products such as tube, strip and wire.

Vance to give Hanford update via Zoom

Brian Vance, recently appointed to lead the Hanford site cleanup by the U.S. Department of Energy, will give an update on the status of the cleanup and related activities at a free luncheon organized by the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The Zoom program is from noon-1 p.m. Sept. 23.

Register individually at bit.ly/BrianVanceLuncheon.

Covid forces closure of Tender Care Village

A Kennewick-based nonprofit which offered aging-in-place initiatives by pairing seniors with volunteers has closed.

Tender Care Village, which was part of a national network of community “villages,” closed Aug. 31. It had been in operation since spring 2018.

 “Sadly, Covid was one battle we couldn’t survive. The constraints of the virus limited our already scarce volunteer base, our ability to recruit new members and restricted what we could offer our members,” said Traci Wells, director and president of the nonprofit.

For an annual fee, village members could tap into a network of screened volunteers for non-medical assistance, like rides to the grocery store or doctor’s appointments, light home maintenance, seasonal yard chores or companionship.

“I am hopeful another nonprofit agency can create a similar program in order to fill that gap between needing a little assistance and needing assisted living, there is such a need in this community. We definitely did not have a problem finding members who were searching for affordable and safe assistance so they could age in place,” Wells said.

STCU buying four rural Umpqua Bank branches

Spokane-based STCU and Portland-based Umpqua Bank are seeking regulatory approval to convert four rural Umpqua Bank branches to STCU.

The branches are in Medical Lake, Ritzville, Coulee City and Othello. They operated as Sterling Bank branches prior to Umpqua’s acquisition of the Spokane-based bank in 2014.

If approved, the deal will give the Spokane credit union its first locations in Adams and Grant counties. An estimated 5,000 Umpqua bank customers would be converted to the credit union. Umpqua employees will be offered jobs with the credit union.

The acquisition must be approved by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, the National Credit Union Administration and the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions. It is expected to close by late 2020 or early 2021.

Umpqua was founded in 1953 to serve timber workers in Canyonville, Oregon.

Benton, Franklin restrictions ease but still in Phase 1

Indoor dining and other activities are now allowed in Benton and Franklin counties.

The Washington State Department of Health modified the already-modified Phase 1 restrictions that control activities under the state’s Safe Start program to curtail the spread of Covid-19.

As of Aug. 27, allowed activities include outdoor group fitness classes with five or fewer people, indoor religious services at 25% of the building’s capacity or 50 people, whichever is fewer, social gatherings with five or fewer people outside the household and professional services at 25% capacity.

Restaurants, taverns, breweries, wineries and distilleries may offer indoor services at 25% of the building’s capacity or less. Outdoor activities are limited to 50%, with social distancing protocols in place.

Go to bit.ly/BentonFranklinModifiedPhaseOneAugust for details about what is allowed under the latest modifications.

Energy Northwest records third-highest generation record

Energy Northwest’s Columbia Generating Station, which produced nearly 9.6 million megawatt-hours of carbon-free electricity during its last fiscal year, recently recorded its third-highest generation record and demonstrated its flexibility.

Earlier this summer, the Bonneville Power Administration asked Energy Northwest to reduce power generation for several days for economic supply and demand management.

That changed in August, however, when BPA requested a “no touch” order for Columbia for nine consecutive days and again this month.

Bonneville, which markets the electricity produced at Columbia, asked for the restriction due to an increased demand for electricity due to high temperatures. The order limits any maintenance activity that would either require a reduction in power or pose a risk to sustaining 100% generation.

A “no touch” order is occasionally requested by BPA when unusually hot or cold weather increases demand for electricity.

Columbia has the capability to produce 1,207 megawatts, which is enough electricity to power about a million households, or a city the size of Seattle and much of its metro area. It is the third largest electricity generator in the state.

Hanford transitions to Phase 2 operations

Hanford workers transitioned to Phase 2 operations on Aug. 31 as they continue through the phased ramp up of operations on the nuclear reservation.

This transition reflects community conditions as well as a commitment to preventing the spread of Covid-19 on the site, through continued use of face coverings, frequent hand washing and social distancing.

Site leadership will continue to assess community conditions, including health care system capacity, testing availability and site conditions.

 During Phase 2, work scope includes field work that may require larger work teams and more extensive personal protection equipment use. 

Information about the remobilization plans and activities is posted on Hanford’s Covid-19 intranet page at rl.gov/page.cfm/COVID-19.

United Way launches campaign kickoff month

In lieu of its annual campaign kickoff luncheon event, United Way of Benton & Franklin Counties is conducting a virtual kickoff throughout the month of September.

This year’s campaign theme is “United, we shape the future” and events feature daily information and resources on how the community can unite to improve the lives for everyone via video discussions with representatives from local agencies providing critical services in education, job skills training, mental and behavior health, and health care access.

Also expect to hear from local supporters about why the nonprofit’s mission is important and how people can get involved through virtual volunteering and how to double their donations through matching opportunities.

At the end of the month, United Way will announce a new slate of funded partners that will be receiving grant funding through the end of 2021.

Follow United Way on Facebook and Instagram or go to uwbfco.org/campaign-kickoff-month.

Tri-Cities Wine Festival canceled

The 42nd annual Tri-Cities Wine Festival has been canceled because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The event, which typically draws more than 1,000 attendees, was set for Nov. 14 at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick.

Ted Davis, president of the Tri-Cities Wine Society, said the board concluded it would not be possible to hold the event because of restrictions on gatherings.

The wine festival includes a judged competition and public tasting event.

It is the longest continuously judged wine festival in the Northwest dating to 1979.

Updates will be posted at tricitieswinesociety.com.

Survey: Tri-Citians expect to return to skies soon

Nearly half of Tri-Citians either continued to travel by air during the pandemic or expect to return to flying within three months, according to a passenger survey conducted for the Port of Pasco, which owns and operates the Tri-Cities Airport.

The survey was conducted online in June and July and drew 468 responses.

• 8% reported they never stopped flying, 40% expected to resume flying in one to three months and 28% expected to resume in four to six months. Only 18% said they wouldn’t fly within six months.
• The survey revealed people feel they’re most at risk of exposure to the virus that causes Covid-19 when they’re on the plane, followed by exposure to other passengers and restrooms.
• The most popular airport services included availability of grab-and-go meals, water-filling stations and rental cars as well as taxies and ride-share pickup areas.
• The majority want to see airport workers and employees wear masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment. The survey showed 80% of respondents said they felt “comforted” by the use of protective equipment and 11% said it made them nervous.

Not all results add up to 100% because some respondents didn’t answer all questions.

Survey results are posted at bit.ly/Tri-CityAirTravelSurvey.

RiverFest 2020 heads online

The 2020 edition of the annual RiverFest will be held online from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 10.

The celebration of the Columbia, Snake and Yakima rivers is hosted by the city of Richland, Visit Tri-Cities, the Tri-City Development Council and a half dozen more civic organizations.

Details will be posted on the RiverFest 2020 Facebook page.

Chaplaincy Health event will be held online

Chaplaincy Health Care’s annual “Lighting the Path” fundraising breakfast will be held online this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

It will be held at 8 a.m. Nov. 4. The event provides support to Chaplaincy Health Care and those it helps with hospice, grief, crisis and related services. Table hosts are organizing guests to watch the event together.

Contact Heather Filbin, development coordinator, at heatherf@chaplaincyhealthcare.org.

Kreidler extends 2 emergency coronavirus orders

State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has extended two emergency orders.

His order requiring health insurers to waive copays and deductibles for any consumer requiring testing for coronavirus and his order protecting consumers from receiving surprise bills for lab fees related to medically-necessary diagnostic testing for Covid-19 are both extended until Sept. 27.

Kreidler’s order waiving cost-sharing applies to all state-regulated health insurance plans and short-term limited duration medical plans. The order on surprise billing applies to both in-state and out-of-state laboratories, when a provider orders diagnostic testing for Covid-19.

Children’s Development Center has envelope for you

The Children’s Development Center has pivoted from its traditional fundraiser to an online “Envelope Challenge” it hopes will raise $45,000 to support disabled children.

The nonprofit is offering 300 envelopes online with dollar values ranging from $1 to $300. Supporters claim an envelope that corresponds to their donation.

The electronic envelopes will be swapped for physical ones. Supporters will receive random gift cards provided by Tri-City businesses.

Go to envelopechallenge.org/cuisine2020/ for details.

The challenge replaces the annual Cuisine de Vin at Terra Blanca Winery, which had to be canceled because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Auction of Washington Wines raises $1.74M

The 33rd annual Auction of Washington Wins charity event raised $1.74 million for charity after moving to an online format the week of Aug. 11-15 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The online auctions and livestreamed gala generated funds for Seattle Children’s, Washington State University’s Viticulture & Enology Program research and for the auction itself. The prepandemic event raised a record $4.5 million in 2019.

Top auction items included a post-pandemic pool party hosted by Seattle rapper Macklemore, a trip to London for the premier of the next James Bond movie and a chance to explore Napa, California with Karen MacNeil, the auction’s honorary chair.

“We are so grateful for the incredible show of support for the Washington wine industry, which is such a key part of the overall Washington state economy,” said AWW board president Beth McCaw.

Seattle Bank was the presenting sponsor for the 2020 event.

Feds give themselves ‘A’ for small business contracting

The U.S. Small Business Administration reports the federal government issued a record $133 billion in contracts to small businesses in 2019, including $2 billion in Washington and northern Idaho.

Small businesses received 26.5% of federal contract dollars in 2019, or $12 billion more than the 2018 fiscal year.

The SBA said the government met its goal of awarding 5% of contracts to women-owned small businesses in 2019, the second time in its history.

The Seattle District covering Washington and northern Idaho reports 23% of federal contract dollars were awarded to small business. Broken down, that represents 5% to disadvantaged businesses, 3% to disabled veteran-owned businesses, 5% to women owned businesses and 3% to geographically targeted businesses.

Federal contracts supported more than 1 million jobs at small businesses. The government awarded itself an “A” on its government-wide Scorecard.

County-specific numbers are not available, the SBA said.

Hanford treats over 2 billion gallons of groundwater

Workers at the Hanford site have marked the sixth consecutive year that Hanford has treated more than 2 billion gallons of groundwater to remove contamination from decades of past operations to produce plutonium

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and contractor CH2M Hill Plateau Remediation Company, (CHPRC), a Jacobs Company, have treated an average of 2.4 billion gallons of groundwater a year for the past five years. The agency and its contractor expect to reach that goal again when the fiscal year ends on Sept. 30.

Hanford workers operate six treatment systems to remove radioactive and chemical contaminants from groundwater along the Columbia River and an area near the center of the Hanford site called the Central Plateau.

This is where massive chemical processing facilities separated plutonium from fission products from the 1940s through the 1980s and discharged billions of gallons of contaminated liquids to soil disposal sites.

Hanford has treated more than 23 billion gallons of groundwater and removed nearly 600 tons of contaminants since the first groundwater facilities began operating in the mid-1990s. The treatment systems have removed most of the chromium contamination along the Columbia River and hundreds of tons of nitrates on the Central Plateau, as well as other contaminants of concern such as carbon tetrachloride, uranium and technetium-99.

Royal Slope secures new AVA designation

A 156,389-acre swath of Grant County is Washington’s newest American Viticultural Area, or AVA.

The Royal Slope AVA was designated Sept. 2 when the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau published the final rule to define it as a designated wine grape-growing region for its ideal topography, elevation and temperatures.

Royal Slope AVA is contained within the preexisting Columbia Valley AVA. According to the Washington Wine Commission, there are 1,900 acres of more than 20 varieties of wine grapes planted within the area, where soils are formed from windblown silts, or “loess.”

“The AVA is something of an island geographically that is surrounded on all four sides by very different lands,” said Alan Busacca, who co-wrote the AVA petition with Richard Rupp.

New CBC computer degrees transfer to four years

Columbia Basin College’s School of Computer Science is offering an associate in computer science degree that transfers directly to degree programs at public and private universities and colleges.

The new degree is designed to help meet the local need for qualified programmers; currently there are more jobs for software developers than there are computer science graduates.

“Computer science is a high-demand, high-wage field, and now local students will have an affordable option for completing their first two years of prerequisites here at CBC before transferring to a university,” said Rod Taylor, CBC’s dean for math, science and engineering.

Washington universities honoring CBC’s include the University of Washington, Washington State University, Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, The Evergreen State College, Gonzaga University, Heritage University and Pacific Lutheran University, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle University and Whitworth University.