2020 has been a turbulent year for tourism as it has been for so many industries and individuals.Tourism is a significant economic engine for our community, driving half a billion dollars in visitor spending and supporting more than 5,600 jobs.Tourism helps small businesses not only survive but thrive and helps...
Making it through a worldwide pandemic has been both a challenge and an opportunity for the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce – requiring a great deal of “out of the box thinking.”Covid-19 offered little choice for chambers and associations but to retool the programs, products, events and services we offer,...
Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Port of Kennewick spent 2020 engaging in transparent urban planning; working to revitalize Kennewick’s historic waterfront district; and constructing a regional town center in place of the former Vista Field airport.At Vista Field the port is following a community-driven master plan to create a pedestrian-focused development...
The Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (TCHCC) began, like I’m sure many other organizations, with great hopes and plans for 2020.We had a new board that was a good mix of seasoned and new directors. I also was optimistic as I took over the president’s position since our finances were...
When we look back 20 years from now at the year 2020, I hope we will see this was a launching point for major achievements for our region and nation.I believe there will be a change in how we continue to live our lives, and history points to shifts in...
2020 started as a year of transition, followed by a global pandemic and an unprecedented new way of doing business.Your Port of Benton team stepped up, setting the bar high by delivering a new website and accelerating digital communications, key capital projects and organizational improvements.These achievements demonstrate the team’s flexibility...
As we close out a tumultuous year where the pandemic has stolen so much of our attention, it might help to step back from the daily challenges and appreciate a fundamental demographic of life here: the greater Tri-Cities continue to grow.Demographics may not drive destiny, but they certainly influence it.Unlike...
Year-end is the perfect time to do tax planning. And what a tax year 2020 has been! Let’s review the urgent items that can still be taken advantage of before the New Year’s ball drops.Covid-19-related distributions, loansThe CARES Act, passed in March 2020, changed the rules for certain distributions and...
Expansions, visions cited as year’s biggest successesThose focused ongrowing, promoting and improving the Tri-City economy are counting up their2019 successes and looking ahead to plans for the upcoming year and decade. Recent wins includeplans for an expansion of the Three Rivers Convention Center, a new nonstopflight from Pasco to Chicago,...
An agency that prides itself on “delivering kindness” is on track to serve 220,000meals to 2,400 seniors by year’s end.That’s a 5 percentincrease over the previous year.The volunteer driversfor Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels distribute about 450 meals to homeboundseniors each day along 45 routes in Benton and Franklin counties.More than...
