On occasion, you, or someone you know, might be asked to co-sign a financial obligation for the purchase of a car or a house or the lease of an apartment or commercial space. Sometimes the request is simply to co-sign on a personal loan, so the borrower has access to...

By Amanda MasonFor the Tri-Cities Area Journal of BusinessToxic algae can no longer hide in plain sight.The Benton-Franklin Health District Water Lab in Kennewick is now home to ELISA, a testing kit and plate reader that detects toxins from algae blooms in water samples collected from local lakes and rivers.The...

The greater Tri-Cities is rich with STEM jobs.The chart, taken from the Vitals of the Association of Washington Business Institute, makes this clear.The density of STEM jobs in 2021 in the two-county workforce was slightly over 5.6%. That places the metro area at the top of the heap for STEM...

Over the course of the pandemic, using technology to connect with family and friends was a lifeline for so many, but a switch away from 3G – third-generation wireless – could leave loved ones in a lurch.This year, wireless carriers are shutting off 3G coverage, forcing consumers to replace older...

By Derek Sandison Derek Sandison,Washington Department of AgricultureWhen it comes to growing food, it all starts with the weather. No doubt, the weather is having a substantial impact on agriculture of late.In 2021, the lack of spring rains and low soil moisture resulted in difficult growing conditions for dryland agriculture,...

By Mary CoffmanLike all agricultural producers in the state, Washington’s wine grape growers have faced myriad challenges since the onset of the pandemic.Tasting room closures, hot temperatures, wildfires, inflation.“It won’t go back to what the market looked like prior to Covid,” said Vicky Scharlau, executive director of the Washington Wine...

By Jared BalcomDespite all the changes the nation has experienced over the two-plus years of this pandemic, the U.S. potato industry remains as committed as ever to fighting for federal policies that protect our businesses, our families and the communities we support. Years ago, when I first attended the potato industry’s...

By Pam LewisonFor some farmers, growing potatoes is about a passion for growing things and connecting with consumers.Reagan Grabner, of CSS Farms, is one of those farmers. His family is one of the more than 300 families who make up Washington state’s potato growers.“I was raised on a wheat farm...

By Mary CoffmanMore than 84.6 million pounds of hops were grown in Washington in 2021, a 14.1% increase over 2020.“We were all kind of surprised to see a record crop last year, after the spring heat dome, which hit when the vines were vulnerable,” said Maggie Elliot, science and communications...

It’s hard to prepare for the future if you’re only checking the rearview mirror.That’s why the AWB Institute has launched a new tool called FutureCast to provide employers, policymakers and community leaders with a forward-looking view of how growth is likely to affect Washington state and every community within it.The...