Articles by Laura Kostad
Manhattan Project National Historical Park launches new joint-tourism initiative
Visit Tri-Cities recently unveiled a new website to promote the national park in our backyard. The new, independent website for the Manhattan Project National Historical Park will provide more educational resources and tour information to the public, as well as unify and jointly promote the park’s three distinct segments as part of a new initiative…
Tri-City health food stores make switch to Highlands Organic Market
A new name recently appeared above the doors of two long-standing Tri-City health food stores, Highland Health Foods in Kennewick and Richland Health Foods. But longtime customers needn’t worry. Highlands Organic Market will continue to feature the same items. Owner Nathan Lull said it was time to unify both stores under the shared name. He…
E-commerce experts offer tips for navigating digital marketplace
The new storefront is online and to be successful there, it’s best to learn all you can about how to do it. That’s according to James Bledsoe, director of the U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration’s eCommerce Innovation Lab in Tacoma. “That’s how people are finding you and finding your products,” Bledsoe said during…
Company creates new position to ‘lean’ into efficiencies
Bouten Construction recently made a progressive business move not often seen among Eastern Washington construction firms, but more common among larger companies across the nation: it hired a director of performance and innovation. “We’ve come to a point now where we’ve grown a little bit in size,” said Tony Spratling, who was appointed to the…
Richland spiritual supply store offers tools, classes for self-discovery
A Richland shop that opened a year ago already has expanded its footprint and offerings with a goal of providing “spirituality for all.” Lotus of the Moon, a metaphysical and spiritual supply store, recently celebrated its one-year anniversary. The shop opened in June 2017 using $5,000 in savings and donations inside a 350-square-foot space in…
New mill to convert wheat straw to pulp expects to hire 80 people
Progress is moving forward on Columbia Pulp’s new plant north of Dayton. With a pilot plant starting in July in Pomeroy and the goal of beginning pulp production at the Lyons Ferry operation in the fourth quarter this year, the company is ramping up recruitment efforts. CEO John Begley said the pilot plant “is a…
Kennewick lab provides fast, accurate analysis of ag samples
For more than 35 years, Northwest Agricultural Consultants has been providing the Columbia Basin with quality, in-house soil, plant and water testing services, continually upgrading its equipment and testing methods to deliver fast results. Company President Wade Carter said the accredited lab strives for one-day or better turnaround, processing tens of thousands of samples from…
Hill’s Restaurant and Lounge plans to reopen this fall
Less than a year and a half since a kitchen fire closed Hill’s Restaurant and Lounge in Kennewick, the diner is making a comeback. A majority of the original building has been demolished, but when the restaurant reopens in November, Tri-Citians will once again be able to enjoy their favorite homestyle meals at 24 Vista…
$11.3 million in financing secured for The Commons apartments
Less than a year since construction wrapped up on The Commons at Innovation Center apartments in north Richland, $11.3 million in permanent financing has been secured as the complex closes in on full occupancy. Located in the Tri-Cities Research District across the street from The Lofts apartments, the 95,102-square-foot, 150-unit Commons complex, completed in 2015,…
Adams County to build waste treatment plant to lure food processors
Tri-Cities’ northern neighbor, Adams County, is moving forward with plans for infrastructure to support the growth of its food processing and distribution sectors, based on positive projections for the area’s potential as a low-cost hub for these industries. Results from two recent site selection studies conducted by The Boyd Company, a New Jersey-based consulting service,…
