Business Briefs — June 2024

Pasco breaks ground on new $38M high school

Pasco School District held a groundbreaking ceremony June 12 for Orion High School, its new small high school with capacity for 600 students.

The $38 million school at 1815 E. Salt Lake St. will allow students to graduate with a credential or industry certification and hands-on experience.

It will be similar to Delta High School, but will only enroll Pasco students.

The anticipated opening is fall 2025.

Regional chamber to host diversity summit

The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce will host the annual Tri-Cities Diversity Summit on June 26.

The half-day event focuses on helping professionals create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace, and it will include breakout discussions and a keynote presentation.

Speakers from organizations who are leaders in diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, including Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Washington River Protection Solutions and Washington State University Tri-Cities, will present on a variety of topics.

The event ends with the chamber’s monthly membership luncheon, when the Tri-Cities Champion of Diversity Awards will be presented. Kimberly Harden, founder and CEO of Harden Consulting Group LLC, is the keynote speaker.

The summit is from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. June 26 at the Three Rivers Convention Center, 7016 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick.

The cost for the half-day event is $70 for chamber members and $90 for non-members.

The luncheon is $34 for members or $44 for non-members.

Go to: tricityregionalchamber.com/diversity-summit.

Pasco sets substitute teacher job fair for June 17

The Pasco School District’s Substitute Teacher Job Fair, aimed at preparing substitutes for the upcoming 2024-25 school year, is from 1-5 p.m. June 17 at Educational Service District 123, 3924 W. Court St, Pasco.

Attendees also will have the opportunity to expedite their application process and participate in on-the-spot interviews.

This event is open to those with a bachelor, master, or doctorate degree interested in substitute teaching. A teaching degree not required.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their resume, identification and unofficial transcripts.

Go to: psd1.org/departments/employee-services/substitutes/guest-teach or contact Luis Flores, substitute dispatcher, at luflores@psd1.org or 509-543-6700, Ext. 6738.

Study: night shift work can raise risk of diabetes, obesity, other disorders

A study led by scientists at Washington State University and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory provides new clues as to why night shift workers are more prone to diabetes, obesity and other metabolic disorders.

“There are processes tied to the master biological clock in our brain that are saying that day is day and night is night and other processes that follow rhythms set elsewhere in the body that say night is day and day is night,” said senior study author Hans Van Dongen, a professor in the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, in a release. “When internal rhythms are dysregulated, you have this enduring stress in your system that we believe has long-term health consequences.”

Though more research is needed, Van Dongen said the study shows that these disrupted rhythms can be seen in as little as three days, which suggests early intervention to prevent diabetes and obesity is possible. Such intervention could also help lower the risk of heart disease and stroke, which is elevated in night shift workers as well.

Wireless device helps fight heat stress at Hanford

A Hanford contractor is using a new wireless device to help keep workers protected from heat stress. The monitor and band worn on the upper arm checks heart rate and core body temperature, providing an early warning system.

The battery-powered monitor sends data to a website, allowing the contractor’s safety and industrial hygiene team to observe worker conditions on a computer screen.

Safety specialists can monitor an entire work crew. The device is equipped with LED lights and pulses notify the worker and the safety team when alert thresholds are reached and protective action is needed, such as heading to a cooling station.

Hanford internships help with workforce needs

A Hanford contractor’s internship program is helping prepare the next generation of workers – and it’s an example of how the One Hanford team is working to develop and retain new talent.

Initiated in 2021, the Hanford Mission Integration Solutions co-op internship program matches college students and individuals seeking career transitions, including veterans, with work that complements their academic studies or professional goals. Students also have opportunities for scholarships funded by HMIS to support their education.

Since the program’s launch, it has welcomed 32 graduates into full-time positions at HMIS.

Future teachers celebrated at Pasco signing event

Pasco School District held a Teacher Signing Event on May 15 to honor graduating high school seniors who’ve expressed their intent to pursue teaching careers.

The event at Stevens Middle School was meant to be reminiscent of signing events for athletes committing to colleges, the district said.

A total of 113 students from Delta, New Horizons, Chiawana and Pasco high schools were honored. They were identified through their counselors or because they participated in the district’s Teaching Academy program.

The yearlong program aims to attract students to the education field, particularly those who are bilingual. It provides hands-on experience at an elementary school, plus the chance to earn college credit, the district said in a statement.

“One of the primary goals of the program is to grow our own future teachers, providing career development and a strong foundation for students to be successful in completing a teacher preparation program,” said Laura Jones, career and technical education director, in the statement.

She added that “growing our own teachers in Pasco is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it addresses teacher shortages by nurturing and supporting aspiring educators within our community. Additionally, it allows us to identify and support individuals from diverse backgrounds who can better understand the unique needs and perspectives of our students, thus fostering a more inclusive and equitable learning environment.”

VA director talks state cemetery in Tri-Cities

The Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs director recently discussed a proposed state veterans cemetery in the Tri-Cities during a recent town hall in West Richland.

“While we are at the very beginning stages of this concept, it was wonderful to see how engaged and supportive the community is,” David Puente Jr. said in a statement.

The department is looking for land that meets criteria laid out by the federal VA State Cemetery Grants Program. Proposed sites will be considered based on several criteria, including access to public roadways, availability of utilities and suitability of the land.

The agency is currently searching for 100 acres.

Go to: dva.wa.gov/tri-cities-cemetery.

Farm Service Agency seeks committee nominations

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency is seeking candidates for an upcoming farmer and rancher-elected county committee election. The Franklin County FSA office will accept nominations through Aug. 1.

FSA encourages all interested agricultural producers, including women and minority growers, to seek nomination. Eligible candidates must participate or cooperate in any FSA program or activity and be of legal voting age.

This year’s election takes place in Local Administrative Area 1, which encompasses the irrigated northwest portion of the county, south of the Adams-Franklin county line, north of Bellflower and Sheffield roads, east of the Columbia River and west of Highway 395. A map of all 2024 nomination eligible counties, including Franklin County, can be found at fsa.usda.gov/wa.

Elected county committee members receive an hourly wage and travel reimbursement for their attendance and representation at meetings and serve three-year terms. Call 509-416-5722 for more information.

Chamber seeks Women in Business speakers

The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce is seeking speakers with subject matter expertise for the Tri-Cities Women in Business Conference on Sept. 24 in Kennewick. Potential topics range from leadership and management to branding and marketing.

The deadline is June 21.

Go to: tricityregionalchamber.com/wib-speakers.html.

B Reactor tours extended

The U.S. Department of Energy has released B Reactor tour slots for July.

The B Reactor, which is part of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, is set to close temporarily to the public starting this fall for preservation repair work.

Go to manhattanprojectbreactor.hanford.gov and click on the registration link, select seats and pick a date.

Additional tour slots may be offered in August and September.