The first port in Eastern Washington was established 110 years ago today. 

It’s a major anniversary for the Port of Kennewick, founded by a citizen vote on March 6, 1915, in the midst of World War I. It was the fifth port district in the state at the time. The port’s first Board of Commissioners meeting was on April 12 of that year. 

Initially, the Port of Kennewick’s district was only 5 square miles encompassing downtown Kennewick and the waterfront area. The district expanded by citizen vote and has evolved to meet community demands with rail and air transportation, industrial sites and business parks.  

The now 485-square-mile district includes Richland south of the Yakima River, West Richland, a small portion of Benton City and the eastern third of Benton County. 

In Washington, ports are economic development entities that help build infrastructure, encourage investments from the private sector, create public spaces and revitalize neighborhoods. 

The Port of Kennewick is currently focused on neighborhood revitalization, and some of its accomplishments include building out Clover Island, transforming an industrial area into Columbia Gardens Wine & Artisan Village, and planning the transformation of Vista Field into an urban town center. Ground has already been broken for Vista Field’s first building, Japanese restaurant Kuki Izakaya, and 50% of phase one parcels have been sold at the 103-acre site.  

“Port of Kennewick has a proven history of transformative projects within our region,” said Tim Arntzen, the port’s CEO, in a news release. “Our careful planning, extensive due diligence and engagement with stakeholders and community members in our planning processes help us deliver sustainable developments. We also follow transparent financial practices, a commitment that has resulted in 29 consecutive years of clean state audits.” 

The port also has collaborated with the cities on a variety of projects, helping to transform vacant land in Richland into the Spaulding Business Park, launching the development of Kennewick’s Southridge commercial area through a land exchange and tax-increment financing support, selling land to Benton Fire District 4 for a new fire station, and more.