Small business owners often have a very difficult time trying to determine the value of their business.Perhaps the owner has never taken the time to consider the value. Perhaps the owner believes there really is no value to the business in the event that he or she ceased to run...

Humans have shown a need to build since the dawn of time as hunter-gatherers. That need accelerated as our ancestors organized into agricultural societies. Monumental reminders are still with us, such as pyramids in both hemispheres and the Great Wall. More modest reminders come from archeologists’ digs across the globe.From...

By Tiffany ScottThe Benton-Franklin Workforce Development Council is designated by Gov. Jay Inslee as a local/regional workforce development area. We are responsible for convening and coordinating local workforce development programs and activities through a certified American Job Center called WorkSource Columbia Basin. In addition, we oversee TC Futures, a youth and young adult outreach, in partnership with the local Educational Service District 123. The BFWDC is closely monitoring the impact of COVID-19 on our local community. We are committed to supporting those individuals...

By Kris JohnsonIf it seems like you’ve seen a lot “help wanted” signs lately, you’re not imagining things.Now more than a decade into the current economic expansion, the national unemployment rate is at a 50-year low, labor market participation is at the highest rate in nearly seven years and recent...

By Beau RuffIn most families, the parents dream of leaving a legacy to their children.Of course, the parents want to create a legacy in terms of intrinsic family values, ethics and professionalism. The parents also may often want to create a legacy in terms of material (real) property.Sometimes it takes...

By D. Patrick JonesRanking sixth doesn’t land an industry much coverage in Benton-Franklin Trends. For display purposes, only the top five sectors find their way into our graphs, such as the one covering the five largest sectors by employment. The hospitality industry of the greater Tri-Cities finds itself in this...

By Don C. BrunellNobody knows how deep the impact of the coronavirus will be, but one thing it will test is how effectively people can work from home. Washington is at the point of the spear. Of the U.S. deaths attributed to COVID-19, there are more than 20 in our state....

By Christine ZinterThe outbreak of the coronavirus and the attendant fear of contagion, particularly in Washington—seemingly the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak—is creating unique and challenging labor law issues for employers. What’s more, the situation is rapidly changing as the virus continues to spread. Public health agencies’ recommendations are being...

By Melanie HairWe have canceled our spring Senior Times Spring 2020 Expo. We are confident it’s the right decision. The outbreak of coronavirus in our state made ourchoice a simple one. We simply won’t put our community’s seniors at increasedrisk.Seniors are the most susceptible to severe illness,complications and possibly death...

By Patrick JonesFor several years, the greater Tri-City economy has been firing on most cylinders. Median household income has climbed 11 percent in the past five years. Local income is, and has been, higher than the U.S. median for several years, unique among Eastern Washington metros. Wages, as measuredby the...