Business Briefs — October 2024

Ironman race brings in millions

The first-ever Ironman race in the Tri-Cities brought an estimated $7 million to $7.5 million in economic impact to the Tri-Cities region, Visit Tri-Cities reported.

The race – which had swimming, cycling and running segments – drew nearly 2,500 athletes and 7,500-plus visitors, including support staff and spectators, the agency said.

In addition, “it was a showcase of the heart and soul of our community. Thousands of dedicated people put their passion on display in the heart of our community, and the positive energy they infuse builds us all,” said CEO Kevin Lewis in a memo.

Visit Tri-Cities played host to the Ironman 70.3 Washington Tri-Cities on Sept. 22.

It was the first of three Ironman races to be held in the Tri-Cities. Similar events also are scheduled to be held here in September 2025 and 2026.

The race required some temporary road closures and backed up traffic.

“As we sweep up the post-race confetti, I’m sure we’ll find a few things we can and will improve upon - but for a moment, I encourage you to reflect on the glimmer of goodness shimmering on the horizon and embrace the sunrise of a new day,” Lewis said.

KPD, Benton County Sheriff’s Office launch online police report filing

People and businesses now can file non-emergency police reports online with the Kennewick Police Department and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.

The two agencies have teamed up to launch a new online reporting website that allows citizens to file reports for certain crimes without talking to a police officer or deputy. Those crimes include abandoned vehicles, destruction of property, graffiti, fraud and more.

The website isn’t designed for incidents where follow-up investigation is needed. For those kinds of incidents, people and businesses still should call dispatch at 509-628-0333 and request to speak with an officer or deputy. People also may continue to make in-person reports with officers and deputies instead of using the new website.

“The primary goal of this initiative is to reduce barriers for community members and make reporting incidents more convenient for victims,” the Kennewick Police Department and Benton County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

The Kennewick Police Department online report site is at go2kennewick.com/1536/File-a-Police-Report.

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office online report site is at bit.ly/bc-report-filing.

Japanese beetle quarantine expanded

The state Department of Agriculture has permanently expanded its Japanese beetle quarantine to include Sunnyside, Outlook, Mabton and additional areas in Benton County. The original quarantine set in 2022 included 49 square miles in the Grandview area.

Japanese beetles can easily be spread through yard waste. Two free yard-waste drop-off sites are set up in the quarantine area for residents.

Learn more at agr.wa.gov/beetles.

Providence Heart Institute of Spokane plans $42M upgrade

Providence Heart Institute of Spokane is planning a $42 million renovation project at its 30-year-old facility on the Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center campus at 62 W. Seventh Ave.

The project, which will increase patient capacity by 15%, will be completed in two phases, with the first phase expected to begin next spring.

One emphasis of the first phase will be a new pediatric catheterization lab for imaging as well as exterior renovations, such as a covered walkway to provide more inclusive access in all types of weather, a prayer room provided by the Kalispel Tribe and an open welcome area to improve navigation.

The second phase will involve consolidating clinic suites on the upper floors of the four-story institute.

Providence is providing $32 million in funding, with the remainder coming via philanthropic fundraising efforts through the Providence Inland Northwest Foundation.

York says the foundation has secured $7.5 million already and is raising the final $2.5 million from the community through its Follow Your Heart campaign.

Spokane architecture firm Bernardo Wills has developed conceptual designs for the project. A general contractor will be selected in coming months.

– Spokane Journal of Business

Pacific lamprey returns ‘disappointing’ compared to 2023

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said adult Pacific lamprey returns “are looking disappointing this year” after a prolific 2023.

The eel-like fish are important to Tribes in the Columbia River Basin, and they have ecological significance, the Corps said. Projects are in the works to improve lamprey passage at the Columbia and Snake river dams.

Officials discuss impacts of Finley fire

Dozens of local, state and federal officials recently gathered to discuss ongoing public health and environmental concerns stemming from the Lineage Logistics fire in Finley.

The officials – including elected leaders and officials from agencies involved in the fire response and cleanup – discussed response efforts, environmental monitoring and next steps in the recovery process, according to a statement from the Benton-Franklin Health District, which played host to the Oct. 1 meeting at its Kennewick office.

The fire broke out in April at Lineage Logistics’ 525,000-square-foot cold storage warehouse in Finley, southeast of Kennewick. It burned and smoldered until June, sending smoke into the air and impacting nearby residents.

More than 30 gallons of water were used to put out the fire. A preliminary estimate put the fire response costs racked up by local and state agencies at $1.3 million.

At the meeting, “key topics discussed included the ongoing environmental monitoring of air and water quality, the need for increased funding to support post-fire restoration efforts, and public health concerns associated with hazardous materials and decomposing food at the site,” the health district statement said.

Additionally, “there were also calls for improved public engagement through emergency alert systems and for the strategies for deployment of air monitoring technologies.

Further legislative requests were made, such as requiring companies to document building materials to help identify potential emissions and expanding groundwater flow modeling in the region,” the statement said. The health district described the meeting as “a crucial step in moving forward with recovery and addressing the long-term impacts of the fire.”

It added that, “as we continue to analyze the robust notes from our discussions, we are grateful for the valuable advice received from our elected officials, who were all highly engaged throughout the process. Their input will help guide our response efforts moving forward. We will be releasing more information on our next steps before the new year.”

WSU Tri-Cities seeks wine sensory panelists

Viticulture and enology researchers at Washington State University Tri-Cities are looking for volunteers to take part in a red wine sensory panel.

They’ll be trained to identify specific compounds in wines based on small and then will score the wines based on the information, a WSU Tri-Cities news release said.

The panel starts in October and will be in place over eight to 10 weeks.

It will kick off with three to four training sessions lasting 90-120 minutes, followed by nine individual in-booth sessions lasting between 30 and 60 minutes.

Refreshments will be provided after each session. Panelists must be 21 or older.

Sessions will be at the Ste. Michelle Wine Estates WSU Wine Science Center in Richland.

For more information or to sign up, contact Danni Fox at danielle.j.fox@wsu.edu or Jim Harbertson at jfharbertson@wsu.edu.

Pasco School District to launch teacher residency

Pasco School District is launching a teacher residency program in collaboration with the Washington Education Association and the Pasco Association of Educators.

The program will provide “a clear pathway for individuals to obtain a fully licensed special education teacher endorsement,” the district said in a statement.

It’s designed for people with a bachelor’s degree or higher who want to earn a full teaching certificate with a special education endorsement.

“We are thrilled to offer this program as a way to empower future educators and support special education within our schools,” said Tracy Wilson, Pasco School District’s executive director of special services, in the statement. “This program will not only provide a valuable learning experience for residents but also help meet the growing need for qualified special education teachers in our district.”

Go to: washingtonea.org/events-training/residency.

State auditors issue finding to fire district

State auditors issued a finding for Franklin Fire District 1 in an eight-page report released this month. The audit, which covered January 2022 through December 23, found that the district didn’t accurately report financial activity.

Specifically, the district did not report more than $770,000 in federal grants, more than $178,000 in expenditures and $493,000 in unspent grant funds, the audit said.

The district also reported federal grant expenditures of $490,000 on its supplemental schedule that it did not spend, and it reported capital expenditures as service expenditures in both 2022 and 2023, an issue reported in a prior audit.

The district has corrected these errors and omissions, and it responded that the issues “will be remedied going forward,” the audit report said.

Franklin Fire District 1 provides fire protection and suppression services to the central part of Franklin County. The district has about 35 volunteer firefighters.

CBC, Yakama Nation to share in federal grants

Columbia Basin College and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation each have been awarded grants aimed at reinvesting in disadvantaged communities that are impacted by nuclear defense and research missions and host cleanup sites.

The two grants total about $2.3 million. They’re part of $18.9 million in grants announced by the U.S. Department of Energy for communities nationwide.

Columbia Basin College will use about $2 million to establish a Clean Energy Learning Center in collaboration with industry partners.

The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation will use $315,618 to develop outreach materials tailored to different parts of the tribal community, provide site visits to Hanford by youth and elders, and access to sacred sites.

‘Here We Go’ with WSU brand marketing campaign

Washington State University has announced its first brand marketing campaign in years. The campaign, called “Here We Go,” aims to emphasize WSU’s far-reaching impact on research and education in the state and beyond, the university said in a statement.

“The best brand campaigns tell a story, and we’ve got a good story to tell about Washington State University,” said Phil Weiler, vice president for marketing and communications. “We’re problem-solvers who put Washington communities first. Through education and research and our nearly 250,000 alumni, we’re a network of profound impact. And with our six campuses statewide and online, we are Washington’s university.”

The campaign will appear in social media, on billboards, in digital ads and via online video and connected TV, the statement said, adding that photos, videos and narrative stories will be collected on a Here We Go campaign website.

Ferguson, other AGs urge warning label for social media

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson is among 42 attorneys general from around the country urging U.S. Congress to require a surgeon general’s warning on algorithm-driven social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook.

They sent a letter to congressional leaders on the topic, citing mental health concerns.

“Young people are facing a mental health crisis, which is fueled in large part by social media. As Surgeon General (Vivek) Murthy recognized, this generational harm demands immediate action. By mandating a surgeon general’s warning on algorithm-driven social media platforms, Congress can help abate this growing crisis and protect future generations of Americans,” the letter says in part.

L&I proposes increase in workers’ comp rates

The state Department of Labor & Industries is proposing an increase in the average hourly rate employers and workers pay for workers’ compensation insurance in 2025.

If adopted, the 3.8% increase would mean the average cost of providing insurance for each full-time employee in a business would go up about $1 a week.

“The workers’ compensation system is important to millions of workers and employers in our state, and we work hard to make sure it’s working effectively. The proposed increase reflects the fact that the costs of replacing injured workers’ wages and covering their medical care have increased,” L&I Director Joel Sacks said in a statement. “This relatively modest change aligns with our efforts over the years to keep rates steady and predictable, maintain an appropriate reserve to pay claims, and continue to improve our system.”

Public hearings to take input on the proposal are planned Oct. 28-29.

Go to: lni.wa.gov/2025rates.

Demand for WA paid family leave benefits is overwhelming staff

Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program keeps growing, but its staff and resources do not, leaving applicants with benefit delays and long waits for customer service.

The Employment Security Department wants to hire 98 new employees over the next two years in response. It’s a roughly $23 million ask.

The new employees will help answer phones, process applications and assist employers with paperwork and questions.

“Despite recent staffing increases, the program is not adequately staffed based on current application volumes,” department officials wrote in a budget request to the governor.

–Washington State Standard

State electric vehicle rebates going fast

The state Department of Commerce reports that its electric vehicle rebates are going fast. More than 3,300 residents have received rebates in less than 60 days, the agency said at the end of September. The rebates help low-income drivers lease or buy electric vehicles.

If the current pace holds, funding is expected to run out in October, said Steven Hershkowitz, the department’s Clean Transportation Program managing director, in a statement, adding that no additional funding is set aside.

“In real time, we are validating our research that EVs are popular with people at all income levels,” said state Commerce Director Mike Fong in a statement, referencing Commerce’s Transportation Electrification Strategy. “Vehicles are rolling out of dealerships so much faster than we expected – drivers wanting to take advantage of the program should act within the next month before funds run out.”

Heritage University announces ‘significant milestone’ in enrollment

Heritage University, which is based in Toppenish and has a campus in Kennewick, welcomed 347 new students in the fall. It’s the largest group of new students since 2017.

“This remarkable achievement comes despite the challenges faced by students and families this year, particularly with the delayed release of funding through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA),” the university said in a statement. “The university’s Financial Aid Department played a crucial role in overcoming these hurdles, working tirelessly to help students secure the necessary funding to pursue their education. In addition, the university’s generous donors stepped in to fill any financial gaps, ensuring that no student was left behind due to financial constraints.”

Oregon officials concerned about moving Hanford waste through state

A federal proposal to move radioactive nuclear waste from Washington through Oregon and onward to Utah and Texas via truck and rail has raised major concerns among Oregon officials and environmentalists.

The radioactive waste comes from Hanford, where 56 million gallons of radioactive sludge – a byproduct of World War II-era plutonium production – still sits 80 years later in 177 underground tanks, some of which are leaking.

To clean up the site and to remove the sludge, federal agencies and the Washington Department of Ecology could decide by the end of the year to move ahead with a proposal, negotiated mostly in private, to cart at least 2,000 gallons of sludge via rail or truck through Oregon to facilities in Utah and Texas that can process it into a grout cement and dispose of it. The proposal doesn’t yet detail a route, but critics have said it would most likely end up on major interstate highways through Oregon, or on a rail line through central Oregon along the Deschutes River, passing near areas like Bend and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation.

–Washington State Standard

Employment rises statewide

Nonfarm employment in Washington grew by 1,600 jobs in August and 58,500 jobs in the 12-month period ending Aug. 31, according to the state Employment Security Department.

The statewide unemployment rate was 4.8% in August, down slightly from 4.9% in July but up from 3.6% in August of 2023, the agency said.

Climate Pledge to pay for charging hidden fees

Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle will pay $477,917 in penalties and refunds after a state Attorney General’s Office investigation found the venue was charging a 3% hidden fee on food and beverage purchases. The fee first came to light in a TV news report.

When the attorney general’s office followed up, it found that the arena brought in more than $162,000 from the hidden fee over about five months in 2023, a news release said.

“Washington law is simple: If you charge a fee, you must clearly disclose that fee before someone pays it,” said state Attorney General Bob Ferguson in the news release. “Climate Pledge was not doing that. Now they are paying the price. If you believe a company is charging hidden fees in Washington, contact my office.”

State budget error could cost WA community colleges

Leaders of Washington’s community college system are vowing to fight the potential loss of $28.5 million in state funds due to a budget miscue by the governor and state lawmakers. In a special meeting in September, members of the state Board for Community and Technical Colleges warned of layoffs and program cuts if they are unsuccessful.

“This is something that was not the fault of the state board or colleges,” board chair Martin Valadez said. “This money has already basically been spent.”

In August, the Office of Financial Management informed officials at the state Board for Community and Technical Colleges that a $28,527,000 appropriation had been “duplicated” in the current budget and “needs to be unallocated to colleges,” according to a memo to board members.

In an Aug. 22 letter, former OFM Director David Schumacher said that “to address the error” Gov. Jay Inslee will seek to get the money back in the 2025 supplemental budget. To do so will ultimately require action by lawmakers and the next governor.

In the meantime, the state board voted to submit a budget request that would keep community colleges financially whole through either an increase in the system’s base funding or with a boost in its College Affordability Program appropriation. That program requires community colleges to be compensated for revenue lost from the 5% tuition cut passed in 2015.

–Washington State Standard

Inslee says opposition to wind, solar projects could slow use of AI

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is cautioning that resistance to locating large-scale wind, solar and battery storage projects risks slowing the use of artificial intelligence.

“This is a double-edged sword,” Inslee said at a Sustainability Leaders Summit hosted by Forbes magazine in New York City in September.

AI “will help the clean energy revolution. It’s going to help us decide what’s the most effective silicon anode battery. It’s going to help develop fusion,” he said.

While AI may be pivotal to accelerating research and development of new technologies, it demands huge amounts of energy to operate. “I’m having trouble siting facilities for wind, storage and solar just to feed the AI centers,” he said. “We’ve got to be able to site them because we’re not going to stop this use of technology.”

–Washington State Standard

$620K grant will expand women’s health access in WA

The state Insurance Commissioner’s Office will use a $620,000 federal grant to enhance and expand women’s reproductive and maternal health access.

“Understanding and accessing over-the-counter contraceptives is critical to the health, safety and well-being of women in our state,” state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler said in a statement. “This will help us better inform women of their rights and empower them to advocate for their health and medical needs.”

The two-year grant is from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

WA state will use $900K grant to boost small business exports

The state Department of Commerce has been awarded a $900,000 grant to help small businesses in Washington grow through exporting and international trade.

The U.S. Small Business Administration, or SBA, recently announced the State Trade Expansion Program grant award. A total of 43 states are sharing in $20 million through the program, with Washington among the eight states awarded the largest amount possible.

“As the world continues to experience economic challenges, exporting can serve as a key tool for small businesses to diversify their strategies and continue to grow,” said Washington State Commerce Director Mike Fong in a statement. “I’m proud that the SBA has recognized our team’s exceptional work once again with the largest STEP grant awarded to any state. We look forward to continuing to provide the best support to small businesses looking to grow outside of the United States through targeted trade shows and missions, export training, and technical assistance.”

Hanford Advisory Board seeking new members

The volunteer board charged with providing policy recommendations and advice to the Hanford site’s Tri-Party Agreement agencies is looking for new members.

The Hanford Advisory Board, or HAB, is nonpartisan. It was chartered in 1994 and represents “the broad and balanced mix of diverse interests affected by Hanford site cleanup,” a news release said. The Tri-Party Agreement, signed by the U.S. Department of Energy, state Department of Ecology and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, outlines how the state and federal government will work together on Hanford cleanup.

“The advice we provide to the Tri-Party Agreement agencies now can help influence cleanup for decades to come,” said Susan Coleman, HAB chair, in a statement. “We’re looking for new board members interested in making a difference. A diversity of voices and perspectives on the board is crucial for providing meaningful advice.”

HAB members are expected to attend quarterly full board meetings, and they have the option to join topic-specific committees. Most meetings have a hybrid attendance option.

Board terms start on Oct. 1, 2025, and run for two years.

Applications are due by Dec. 6.

Go to: hanford.gov/page.cfm/hab.