The Washington Legislature stayed in a holding pattern in early June on two bills that will affect Mid-Columbia businesses.Behind-the-scenes negotiations continued on legislation to simplify digging for new wells and to install a paid family leave law. The talks are dragging along with the sluggish talks on resolving the state budget...

Juan Murillo said business was slow at American Wheel Specialist on a recent Wednesday.But within the span of five minutes, two men in an old Army truck pulled up to the front door of the plant at 1010 East Bruneau Ave. in Kennewick looking for help on a wheel for...

By Robin WojtanikThe Tri-Cities has seen the creation of thousands of new jobs in manufacturing, despite a loss of manufacturing jobs across the state.Jobs in food processing led the way for the region, with gains in non-durable manufacturing up 2.9 percent between March 2016 and March 2017, which translates to...

Kennewick’s Columbia Basin Ice anticipates $7M in sales for 2017Tri-Citians reaching into big store coolers to grab a bag of ice on their way to a picnic, party or boat this summer most likely will be chilling their food and drinks with ice manufactured by a growing Kennewick company.Columbia Basin...

By Michelle DuplerWhen your job is to make the best hydraulic jack you can, also understanding how to reach customers on Facebook might be outside your toolbox.But for manufacturing businesses in Washington state, help is available through a program that aims to help small and medium-sized manufacturers to change, grow...

By Laura KostadMiramac Metals Inc. opened a new manufacturing facility a year ago in Pasco and is already considering a future expansion.The Mead-based company supplies a diverse offering of customized steel products, including corrugated, ribbed and snap-lock panel profiles, to commercial and residential customers in the rapidly growing Tri-City region.Miramac...

Occupancy rates have ranged from 57 percent to 87 percent in past five yearsWhen the Port of Pasco’s director of properties walks around the huge warehouses in the Big Pasco Industrial Center, she sees business possibilities.[blockquote quote="We’d like to see more manufacturing. More manufacturing brings greater employment." source="Mayra Reyna, Port...

Privilege tax generated $51.2 million for state last yearThree Tri-City public power electricity producers and providers recently paid more than $9.3 million in privilege taxes to the state.The annual tax is levied on public power electricity producers and providers for the privilege of generating electricity or providing electricity in the state.Energy...

Five-acre farm produced 65,000 pounds last year for Tom Douglas Restaurants   Jackie Cross had no intention of owning a farm in Prosser as she and her husband Tom Douglas spend most of their days on the west side of the state.As the owners of more than a dozen Seattle-area restaurants,...

By Paul G. NeifferFarm couples can be worth about $11 million and not owe any federal estate tax. However, farmers in Washington state are subject to a state estate tax which starts at a little more than $2 million of net worth and the tax rate reaches 20 percent at...