Auto dealership closes all locations, including one in Pasco

A dealership with multiple locations across the state, including in Pasco, has closed.

Northwest Motorsport shut down its operations effective Jan. 23, according to its website.

The move came “after thoughtful consideration and evaluation of today’s pre-owned vehicle market conditions,” the website said. The Pasco location was at 816 N. 28th Ave.

It wasn’t immediately clear how many people worked there, but 142 people were laid off among the Lynnwood, Marysville, Pasco, Puyallup and Spokane Valley locations, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification from the state Employment Security Department.

A woman who answered the Pasco phone number on Jan. 24 confirmed the closure but said she couldn’t provide further information beyond pointing to the company website. An email to Northwest Motorsport seeking details about the Pasco location wasn’t immediately returned.

State awards millions to expand electric vehicle charging stations 

Two state offices in the Tri-Cities and a Tri-Cities-based nonprofit received funding to build electric vehicle charging stations.

The state Department of Children, Youth and Families at 1661 Fowler St. in Richland received funding to install 12 L2 ports, six L2 chargers and 12 parking spaces. There are currently 188 parking spaces at the site.

The state Department of Social and Health Services at 500 N. Morain St. in Kennewick plans to install five L2 ports, three L2 chargers and five parking spaces. There are currently 170 parking spaces at the site.

Women of Wisdom (WOW) Tri-Cities, which has an EV carshare program, received funding for three public charging sites, one in Yakima County and two in Walla Walla County:

• Six EV parking spaces with L2 and DCFC ports at 1195 E Whitman Drive in College Place, near the Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Hospital.
• 10 EV parking spaces with L2 and DCFC (direct-current fast charger) ports at 1600 W. Rose St. in Walla Walla.
• 10 EV parking spaces with L2 and DCFC ports at 3801 Summitview Ave., Yakima.

“WOW carshare program is a visionary initiative that tackles emission issues head-on, while also addressing the critical EV charging demand,” said Chauné Fitzgerald, founder and CEO of WOW Tri-Cities, said in a news release. “By bridging the gap of resources, WOW carshare not only helps reduce emissions but also empowers communities that have historically been marginalized, creating a more inclusive and equitable future for all.”

2 cities receive federal funding for roadwork

Two of the Tri-Cities received federal grants for road improvement projects.

Pasco received two federal grants totaling over $6.8 million for overlay projects on Ainsworth Avenue and Lewis Street.

Richland received more than $2 million for work on central and south George Washington Way.

The grants come from the National Highway System Asset Management Program.

With more than $2 million allocated for Pasco’s Ainsworth Avenue and more than $4.7 million for Lewis Street, these funds signify a significant stride in the city’s long-term infrastructure improvement plans, according to the city.

The city said the overlay project is pivotal in extending the life and improving the functionality of roadways.

Alongside these enhancements, the projects also will include necessary updates for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Pasco projects are scheduled for construction in 2026.

Details about the Richland project were not immediately available. 

Are excessive impact fees unconstitutional? Supreme Court will decide

The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments in a landmark property rights case involving excessive impact fees.

The National Association of Home Builders and several state building industry associations filed amicus briefs in support of the California homebuilder involved in the case.

Go to: biaw.com/excessive-impact-fees.