Brian McDermottColumbia Industries has added another business to itsportfolio of profit-making enterprises to support its missionto serve hundreds of Tri-Citians with disabilities. The Kennewick nonprofit announced it purchased HarmonExpress, a Lewiston, Idaho-based FedEx Ground independent provider. The dealclosed on Nov. 10. Terms were not disclosed. Harmon Express is now rebranded as CIExpress Inc. and services delivery routes in Pullman, Moscow, Idaho,...

Carl AdrianThe Tri-City Development Council is expected toname a chief executive officer to succeed its longtime leader CarlAdrian by the end of January. The TRIDEC search committee interviewedfive candidates and narrowed the field to two finalists by earlyJanuary. It was expected to make a finaldecision on Jan. 9, after the deadline for this edition ofthe Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business. The online version of thisstory will be updated...

Lamb Weston Inc., the Northwest potato giant witha substantial Mid-Columbia footprint, reportedsignificant revenue growth in a quarterly report released in earlyJanuary. It also suggested it could be on the cusp ofannouncing a new production facility.  Eagle, Idaho-based Lamb Weston (NYSE: LW) reportednet income of $140.4 million on more than $1 billion in revenue inthe second quarter of its 2020 fiscal year, which ended Nov.24. Revenue grew...

A Milton-Freewaterelementary school recently earned an outstanding project award from Learning byDesign magazine.Architects West, withoffices in Coeur d’Alene and Spokane, designed the first all-new schoolfacility constructed in the Oregon city since 1923. Architects West worked withdesign consultant Opsis Architecture of Portland on the project.The $20 million GibOlinger Elementary School is...

Richland will continueto seek new funding sources after it was denied a federal grant to build abridge at Aaron Drive to relieve bottlenecks created at the intersection of thebypass highway and Interstate 182.The city had hoped tosecure a $29 million grant for a flyover, or overpass, at the site that...

Chipotle Mexican Grill is taking overthe former Qdoba Mexican Eats spot at Vintner Plaza inRichland’s Queensgate neighborhood. Alegis Construction Inc. is remodeling thespace for the new tenant. The project is valued at $561,000, according tothe permit issued by the city of Richland. The restaurant will be at 2673 Queensgate Drive. It will join the chain’s original Tri-City spot at 1102N. Columbia Center...

The Pasco Chamber ofCommerce and the Port of Pasco will induct seven longtime farmers and advocatesfor agriculture into the 2020 Mid-Columbia Ag Hall of Fame at the 20th annualdinner and installation gala on Jan. 16 at the Pasco Red Lion Hotel andConference Center.The Ag Hall of Famehonors farmers, families and...

Dee Pridemore, owner ofVivid Imaginations Face Painting, is the new owner of Tri-City Family Expo.Pridemore launched herfirst business to support her family after becoming a single mother. Vivid nowhas several employees and is a staple at local events, including the FamilyExpo.She took the expo overafter speaking with the past owner,...

Franklin County prosecutor2020 president of Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys Shawn P. SantNumberof employees you oversee: 26 Briefbackground of what the Prosecuting Attorney’s office does: The prosecutor’s office handles all legal matters forFranklin County. This includes criminal prosecution for all felony crimesoccurring within Franklin County, as well as misdemeanor crimes...