A faith-based nonprofit that already provides services to children, families and seniors with various needs in the Tri-Cities is planning to set up shop in downtown Kennewick.

Catholic Charities Central Washington recently bought the former Esprit building at 110 N. Cascade St., at the corner of Cascade Street and Canal Drive, for $1.4 million, according to Benton County property records. It is next door to the first nationally recognized historic property in downtown Kennewick, the Farmers Exchange building at 215 W. Canal Drive.

The 13,504-square-foot building, which housed a commercial printer for decades, had been on the market since Jan. 1, 2024.

Steve Wilmes, the nonprofit’s director of development and outreach, told the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business that Catholic Charities Central Washington bought the building for two reasons: to be closer to those it serves and to expand its social services in the Tri-Cities.

“This expansion will allow us to provide even more comprehensive support to the community,” Wilmes said in an email to the Journal. “Additionally, the new location offers ample space for future growth, which will be instrumental as we continue to develop our programs and services. We believe that this move will not only benefit our clients but also foster stronger community ties and partnerships.”

Wilmes said there is no timeline for when the nonprofit would move into its new space. However, it does plan to eventually sell its current primary Tri-Cities offices at 2139 Van Giesen St. in Richland. The agency intends to maintain a satellite office it has in office space on Vineyard Drive in Kennewick adjacent to St. Joseph Parish & School.

Catholic Charities Central Washington, which is part of the Diocese of Yakima, provides services to more than 65,000 people annually in an area stretching as far north as Wenatchee south across central Washington to the Tri-Cities. Its programs include behavioral health services, pregnancy and parenting support, youth programs, housing assistance and senior services.

The organization collected more than $49 million in revenues in 2024, more than half from contributions and the remainder from grants and service contracts, according to filings with the Securities Exchange Commission.

A sister organization, Catholic Charities Eastern Washington, serves Franklin County as part of the Diocese of Spokane.

The building Catholic Charities Central Washington bought was built in 1930 and occupied for decades by Esprit Graphic Communications, owned by Shannon and Skip Novakovich, the latter of whom has long served as a Port of Kennewick commissioner. They renovated the building in 2009.

The Novakoviches sold the business in 2019 to Westin and Janet Mick, who made it part of a Minuteman Press franchise. Minuteman Press, which is under new ownership, moved out of the building in December 2024.