Articles by Guest Contributor
American giving to nonprofits surpasses $400 billion
By Don C. Brunell Believe it or not, there is good news to report these days. According to the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, last year Americans donated more than $410 billion in cash to nonprofit organizations, which is up from $389 billion in 2016. Additionally, giving by individuals represented more than 70 percent…
Foreign investor plan offers developer capital, path to U.S.
By Jennifer L. Drey A program linking foreign investors with cash-seeking U.S. developers has contributed millions of dollars of financing to Eastern Washington projects — including ones in Richland and Walla Walla — and created jobs throughout the state at venues including hotels, wineries and resorts. And for the investors, it has created a pathway…
Paper Street closes Richland alehouse to open Pasco taphouse
By Arielle Dreher Paper Street Brewing Co. is changing its scenery and its vibe, as Robby Burns, the founder of the five-year-old brewery, puts it. He decided to close the Richland alehouse at the end of July in favor of bringing the operation closer to home. A new brewhouse, which will be on the same…
To preserve or not to preserve: that is the question
By Marilou Shea ’Tis the season. You know the one I’m talking about. It involves lots of stove time, oodles of fresh, local produce, and those familiar-looking Kerr or Ball mason jars. No matter what berry or pickle you’re into, next to fresh, there is no substitute. Except one: canning or preserving food usually tastes…
Tri-City Rotary clubs raise almost $3M for charities in 30 years
By C. Mark Smith This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Mid-Columbia Duck Race and it is clear the annual fundraiser for six Tri-City Rotary clubs has been an unqualified success. The clubs estimate that over the past 30 years, almost $3 million has been donated by the local Rotary clubs to more than…
States’ tax structure is working: economy is healthy, tax collections growing
By Kris Johnson All eyes were on Seattle this spring as the city council passed — and then quickly repealed — a head tax on employees. The $275 tax per employee, which would have been levied annually on about 500 of the city’s larger employers, was intended to raise money to combat the city’s homelessness…
Sunnyside mushroom farm secures $45 million in financing
By Ted Escobar, Daily Sun News Sunnyside is closer to 200 new year-around jobs thanks to Ostrom Mushroom Farms LLC acquiring funding for its new state-of-the-art composting and operating platform at the Port of Sunnyside. Ascendant Partners Inc. of Colorado recently announced a $45 million financing package for Ostrom, the largest commercial mushroom producer in…
Father-daughter duo share bounty from their small sustainable Pasco farm
By Marilou Shea Have you noticed that farm stands are few and far between these days with the success of our local farmers’ markets? I’m almost sure I heard a collective sigh when the popular Cool Slice stand shuttered its bins in Pasco two years ago. One of the reasons is that sustaining a small-scale…
Tri-Cities’ financial sector boosted by strong economy
By D. Patrick Jones Remember the phrase, “It’s the economy, stupid?” It certainly is true when assessing the state of regional lending. Let’s walk through what the economy does for the regional financial sector. But first, a word about the sector. The “credit intermediation” industry – largely banks and credit unions – works on a…
Connect with congressional leaders at Aug. 14 summit
By Kris Johnson It isn’t just the decisions made in Olympia that impact the economy in Washington state. What happens in the “other” Washington can also affect employers, their employees and our families. Everything from health care to trade and immigration to taxes are increasingly impacted by what happens — or doesn’t — in Washington,…
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