Chervenell wins $4M Covid-inspired contract

Chervenell Construction of Kennewick received a $4 million emergency contract to install courtroom technology at the Benton County Justice Center necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The project, designed by Meier Architecture & Engineering Inc., facilitates remote hearings.

The Benton County Commission previously hired Meier to design the new system. The commission awarded the contract to Chervenell on Sept. 29.

The project is being paid for with $3 million from the federal coronavirus relief bill, and $560,000 from the Washington State Administration of the Courts award.

Benton County lands grant to improve water system

Benton County received an $870,000 Community Development Block Grant to upgrade the Sundance Improvement Association water system, which serves about 100 customers in the Kennewick area.

The project will cost $881,000.

The award is part of $10.8 million in CDBG awards announced by the state Department of Commerce in early October. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and targets lower income, rural communities.

Sundance water samples tested in in the first quarter of 2019 met federal drinking water standards, according to Department of Health reports to the Environmental Working Group.

Tri-City Radiology sold to Inland Imaging

Tri-City Radiology will become part of Spokane-based Inland Imaging following the sale of its imaging center and professional assets.

Terms were not disclosed.

Formed in 1971, Tri-City Radiology was owned and operated by Drs. James A. Clark II, Gary Dunn, Steven Sunderland and Lon Welch at the time of the sale. Drs. Dunn and Welch will continue with the practice while Drs. Clark and Sunderland will retire.

Inland Imaging has operated in Spokane since 1930 and has more than 100 board-certified radiologists working in imaging centers, medical facilities, hospitals, clinics and private practices in Washington, northern Idaho and western Montana. It has 15 radiologists posted at Richland’s Kadlec Regional Medical Center and clinics.

Regal suspends U.S. cinema operations

Regal Theatres suspended operations at all its U.S. theaters on Oct. 8 citing the “challenging theatrical landscape and sustained key market closures.”

Regal, a subsidiary of Cineworld Group, operates 549 theaters in 42 states with a collective 7,211 screens, making it one of the largest theater chains in the country. It has 27 locations in Washington. Most are in western Washington.

Regal has had no presence in the Tri-Cities since 2018, when it closed its Columbia Center mall location. The theater was demolished and replaced with the current Dick’s Sporting Goods store.

Les Schwab finds buyer in California investment firm

Les Schwab Tire Centers, the Northwest tire chain with locations in Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, is being sold to Meritage Group, a family-led California investment firm.

The Les Schwab board and shareholders announced the deal to sell the Bend-based chain on Sept. 29.

Terms were not announced, but the descendants of founder Les Schwab emphasized Meritage’s family culture.

“Meritage Group has a history of preserving culture and values while growing its companies with investment over time,” said Jack Cuniff, chief executive officer, in a statement announcing the deal.

Founder Les Schwab was born in Bend, Oregon, in 1917 and established the chain that bears his name. He died in 2007.

The Schwab family announced plans to sell earlier this year.

Port of Benton launches website

The Port of Benton has launched a website that targets real estate and economic development in the Tri-Cities.

The site, portofbenton.com, helps site selectors and developers identify properties for sale and lease and provides demographic information about the community.

It also provides a place where contractors and other professionals can respond electronically to requests for proposals and bids on port-sponsored projects.

The site was designed by Underground Creative, a Kennewick marketing firm established this year.