• Home
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Real Estate
    • Q&A
    • Business Profiles
    • Networking
    • Public Record
    • Opinion
      • Our View
  • Real Estate & Construction
    • Latest News
    • Top Properties
    • Building Permits
    • Building Tri-Cities
  • Special Publications
    • Book of Lists
    • Best Places to Work
    • People of Influence
    • Young Professionals
    • Hanford
    • Energy
    • Focus: Agriculture + Viticulture
    • Focus: Construction + Real Estate
  • E-Edition
  • Calendar
    • Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Journal Events
    • Senior Times Expo
    • Young Professionals
      • Sponsor Young Professionals
    • Best Places to Work
      • Sponsor BPTW
    • People of Influence
      • Sponsor People of Influence
  • Senior Times
    • About Senior Times
    • Read Senior Times Stories
    • Senior Times Expo
    • Obituaries and Death Notices
Home » Port hires consultant to map next steps in wake of Lamb Weston closure

Port hires consultant to map next steps in wake of Lamb Weston closure

Fries_LambWeston.jpg
Courtesy Lamb Weston
May 15, 2025
Ty Beaver

The Port of Pasco has selected the consultant that will help inform efforts to revitalize Connell’s economy after Lamb Weston closed its production facility there.

ECOnorthwest was one of six firms that submitted proposals to the port for the Connell Industrial Site Readiness/Economic Development Market Analysis Project, according to port officials. It will receive $125,000 to conduct the study, funded largely by the state’s Community Economic Redevelopment Board (CERB), with matching funds from the port and Avista Corporation.

Company leaders met with port and Connell officials in mid-April to begin developing a work plan for the study.

“The firm has a proven track record in similar projects throughout the Pacific Northwest,” port officials told port commissioners in a March 21 meeting.

The study is expected to identify potential industrial sites and conduct infrastructure, environmental and cultural assessments in and around Connell. Under the terms of the grant from CERB, the study must be completed in the next two years.

ECOnorthwest has offices across the Pacific Northwest and in California and uses   interdisciplinary research to assist communities facing challenges in housing, land use, natural resources, education and social supports.

One of ECOnorthwest’s most recent projects was an economic development action plan for the city of Burien, according to the company’s website. It was developed as the city emerged from the Covid-19 pandemic and faced shifts in how people work, tourism and rising costs. Burien city leaders adopted the final version of that plan in the summer of 2024.

The firm also helped craft an economic response plan to wildfires in New Mexico, partnered with the state of Washington to manage and provide analysis to a tax structure work group and supported the Oregon Business Development Department with developing a strategic plan to assist communities recovering in the wake of the pandemic.

Lamb Weston is one of the Tri-Cities’ largest employers, with 2,660 employees in Benton and Franklin counties, according to Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business’ Largest Employers list. It announced the closure of the Connell potato production plant on Oct. 1, 2024, as a cost-cutting measure. 

The company originally applied for permits to demolish the 450,000-square-foot plant but has since listed the property for sale.

Roughly 150 of the plant’s 375 former workers reportedly live in Connell. About $580,000 of the city’s water utility’s annual revenues, representing more than half of the utility’s budget, came from the plant, and it also generated another $200,000 or so in other revenue for the city’s general fund.

Port officials have worked with city leaders to find long-term solutions for the plant’s closure. That led the port to pursue and secure the CERB grant for $100,000 to conduct the study.

    Latest News Real Estate & Construction Local News Food Processing Manufacturing
    KEYWORDS May 2025
    • Related Articles

      Port, Connell work to find long-term solution to plant closure

      Lamb Weston reverses course, lists Connell plant for sale

      Lamb Weston reports improved sales, cost savings through first months of 2025

    • Related Products

      TCJB One Year Print and Online

      TCJB Two Year Print and Online

      TCJB Three Year Print and Online

    Ty ltbkgrnd
    Ty Beaver

    Hanford environmental landfill expanding

    More from this author
    Free Email Updates

    Daily and Monthly News

    Sign up now!

    Featured Poll

    How does summer affect your business in the Tri-Cities?

    Popular Articles

    • Blue bridge work
      By Senior Times

      Pasco, Kennewick ranked among ‘best places’ on national lists

    • Surfthru1
      By Building Tri-Cities advertising

      Surf Thru Express Car Wash

    • Peanuspark1
      By TCAJOB Staff

      Pasco sets park planning meetings

    • Clearwaterlofts1
      By Building Tri-Cities advertising

      Clearwater Lofts

    • Top properties
      By TCAJOB Staff

      Top Properties – June 2025

    • News Content
      • Latest news
      • Real Estate & Construction
      • Public records
      • Special publications
      • Senior Times
    • Customer Service
      • Our Readers
      • Subscriptions
      • Advertise
      • Editorial calendar
      • Media Kit
    • Connect With Us
      • Submit news
      • Submit an event
      • E-newsletters
      • E-Edition
      • Contact
    • Learn More
      • About Us
      • Our Events
      • FAQs
      • Privacy Policy
      • Spokane Journal of Business

    Mailing Address: 8656 W. Gage Blvd., Ste. C303  Kennewick, WA 99336 USA

    MCM_Horiz.png

    All content copyright © 2025 Mid-Columbia Media Inc. All rights reserved.
    No reproduction, transmission or display is permitted without the written permissions of Mid-Columbia Media Inc.

    Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing