Tri-Cities’ population continues upward trajectory

By Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

We’ve all heard grumblings about delays from road construction projects and the dread of adding more traffic in areas where new construction is underway or planned.

But let’s pause to consider what this means for our economy.

The Tri-Cities grew at a faster rate than the state average in the past year, 1.5% compared to the state’s 1.1%. Benton and Franklin counties boasted a population of more than 316,000 people.

The region first hit the 300,000 mark about three years ago – and it continues to climb.

Our counties are among the fastest growing in the state. Franklin County’s population climbed above 100,000 for the first time this year, to 101,100.

Benton County added 3,200 more people in the past year, and Franklin County welcomed 1,350.

Combined, that’s more than the total of Benton City’s population of 3,810.

Over the past three years, we’ve grown 4.2%, adding nearly 13,000 people.

Our growing population continues to attract attention from companies wanting to set up shop here or to expand their current base of operations. This edition features a few of them.

Inaugural state Civics Bee puts spotlight on civic life in America

This growth also continues to drive Tri-City residential, commercial and civic construction.

That’s a welcome sign when fears of a nationwide recession continue to loom.

Though no one has a crystal ball, everyone seems to have an opinion on whether this will happen and to what extent.

We already know the injection of federal dollars into our community provides a protective mantle, shielding us from some of the economic uncertainties that affect other places.

Take a look at this month’s column from D. Patrick Jones, executive director for Eastern Washington University’s Institute for Public Policy & Economic Analysis, on page A13.

His analysis explores the federal footprint’s effect on our local economy. It’s no surprise it’s sizable.

A robust economy isn’t propped up on one component alone, but the area’s growth is a key factor.

The Tri-City region continues to grow and to attract new business and encourage existing ones to expand, ensuring a steady stream of opportunities for our residents. So when you’re delayed at a busy Tri-City intersection this summer, consider thinking bigger – what it means for the economy, instead of the inconvenience.

Nine middle school students stood on a stage and listened as Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs asked them a series of questions about the inner workings of our system of government.

With the clock ticking and spotlights shining, the students punched their answers into an electronic tablet and hoped that weeks of studying paid off.

It was the first-ever Washington State Finals of the National Civics Bee, and it was dramatic, a little bit stressful – and a lot of fun.

“Before this, I barely knew anything about civics,” said Benjamin Wu, a Tacoma seventh-grader who was named the overall winner. “Now I know a lot more about Supreme Court cases, amendments and the Constitution. It’s really important to know about civics because it guides us to action and gives us a better future.”

That response is exactly why the Association of Washington Business Institute and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation hosted the event. In this time of division and polarization, it’s important to show young people they have a role in our democracy, to teach them how to engage their fellow citizens and even show them how to respectfully disagree with one another.

On this point, at least, there is widespread agreement. A poll last fall from iCivics and More Perfect shows strong support for civics education across party lines with nearly 70% of voters agreeing civics knowledge is more important than it was five years ago.

The journey to Civics Bee finals began early in the year when the students took part in regional competitions organized by local chambers of commerce. Students submitted essays in which they described a problem facing society, along with their ideas about possible solutions.

Topics included homelessness, littering and the restoration of historic Fort Vancouver. Wu took on the subject of equity in computer science by calling for action addressing what he described as “the new digital divide.”

The top students from those regional competition went on to the finals, which took place June 1 at the William M. Allen Theater inside the Museum of Flight.

The event had the look and feel of a game show, complete with the secretary of state as emcee and a panel of distinguished judges consisting of Chris Reykdal, the state superintendent of public instruction; Jan Yoshiwara, the retired executive director of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges; and Brier Dudley, editor of

Mountains of government red tape shackling U.S. manufacturers

Until President Joe Biden signed the Chips and Science Act (CSA) last year, companies such as Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) looked elsewhere to build plants costing well over $20 billion each.

Biden’s pitch to taxpayers was ultramodern manufacturers of miniature computer chips used in our sophisticated weapons, advanced manufacturing, cars and trucks, and high-tech equipment needed to move back to the U.S. Congress responded and passed CSA supplying $280 billion to encourage those companies to reposition even though our costs tend to be higher and our regulations more shackling.

In the 1990s, the Vancouver-Portland area was “the place” for semiconductor investors. TSMC completed its one U.S. factory, the WaferTech facility, in Camas in 1998. However, while its 260-acre property was designed to hold several factories, TSMC didn’t expand here.

Intel invested heavily across the Columbia River in Hillsboro, but as did

TSMC, it looked outside Oregon to focus investments. During the interim, Intel and TSCM built plants in China and started expanding in states with lower operating costs, better tax incentives and good education and workforce development.

China’s latest aggressiveness – particularly towards Taiwan – heightened worries over security risks of advanced fabrication factories. America suddenly became a safety net.

Federal and some state elected officials seized the opportunity and are supplying tax breaks and other incentives. Now, Arizona is “the hot bed” for semiconductor manufacturing with TSMC and Intel investing billions in new plants.

High costs to comply with government regulations is a focus for all of our nation’s manufacturers.

The onslaught of new federal regulations is “chilling manufacturing investment, curtailing manufacturers’ ability to hire new workers and suppressing wage growth, especially for the small and medium-sized manufacturers that are the backbone of the supply chain,” National Association of Manufacturers (NAM)

President Jay Timmons wrote a June letter to Biden.

NAM, which represents small, medium and large manufacturers in all 50 states, launched the Manufacturers for Sensible Regulations Coalition. More than 200 manufacturers signed a letter to Biden’s Chief of Staff Jeff Zients requesting the White House designate a senior-level advisor to work with agencies and manufacturers to streamline regulations.

“Regulations create tremendous uncertainty, which can stall or even prevent manufacturers from growing their work- force, purchasing equipment, conducting research and development and investing in their communities,” the coalition letter said. “This puts manufacturers in the U.S. at a competitive disadvantage with countries such as China, threatening America’s global leadership.”

In a recent analysis, NAM found manufacturers are feeling the time and financial consequences of these overwhelming regulations. “More than 63% of manufacturers reported spending over 2,000 hours per year complying with federal regulations, and more than 17% exceeded 10,000 hours.”

NAM finds the extent to which manufacturers bear a disproportionate share of the regulatory burden, and that burden is heaviest on small manufacturers because their compliance costs are often not affected by economies of scale.

Its analysis also determined the average U.S. company pays $9,991 per employee annually to follow federal ing for the taphouse, plus party and event space.

And they intend to add an outdoor stage and enhance the outdoor area.

Along with the nearly 18,000-squarefoot building, the Hopps are buying the 4.8 acres it sits on.

While the building has held a variety of businesses over the years, its only other current tenant is the visitor center for the Hanford unit of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park.

The visitor center will remain at the building, with the Hopps as landlords.

The Hopps said they’re excited about the expansion plans, which will kick off with the brewhouse work. They hope to begin brewing using the new equipment in early 2024.

Port officials see significant benefits, too.

“The sale of this property supports the port’s economic development mission by facilitating further development and utilization of this property through the investment of private capital,” said Port Commission President Christy Rasmussen in a statement.

“The Hopps’ efforts have enhanced north Richland as a growing destination, which further augments the port’s mission. It has been amazing to see this family-run business grow and succeed, and the port is grateful to have been a part of the facilitation and support of a local small business. The port looks forward to their continued growth and success,” she said.

The Hopps make a variety of craft beers, with about a dozen on tap at any given time.

Bombing Range Brewing beer is already sold at several other restaurants and bars in the region, and the Hopps intend to move to canning and increase distribution in the future, thanks to the expansion.

They didn’t initially set out to open a brewery.

The couple met years ago when they were both working at the Richland Red Robin, and they dreamed of opening their own restaurant and bar someday.

They both moved into other fields –Mike went into law enforcement, retiring as Grandview’s assistant police chief last year, and Dashia worked for years as a paralegal.

Along the way, Mike picked up brewing as a hobby; he started homebrewing with friends.

While the other guys eventually dropped off, Mike’s passion grew, and eventually the Hopps’ dream shifted from a restaurant and bar to what became Bombing Range Brewing Company.

The success they’ve had with the brewery and The Dive – it’s been something special, they said.

“It’s the American dream,” Dashia said.

The Hopps have four children, and two of them – Ryan and Taylor – work with their parents. Ryan is the head brewer and Taylor helps with front-of-house duties.

The Hopps’ other two children, Michael and Madison, live on the East Coast.

Mike said the feeling of family runs throughout Bombing Range Brewing and The Dive.

“Everybody who works here feels like family, everyone who comes in on a regular basis feels like family. Even strangers who come in, we try to treat them like family. You’re a guest in our business, come share our passion,” he said. “Basically, we’re pouring our passion out on a plate here and sharing it with everybody, and to see them love it makes it all worthwhile.”

As their businesses grow and expand, the Hopps said they’re staying focused on what’s made them successful in the first place: their quality products and their care for customers.

“We hope that we can continue on a path of growth and make it even better and more fun for the community to come out,” Dashia said. “We’re going to strive to keep doing bigger and better, but yet stay focused on our customer service and what we’re here for and why.”

Go to: bombingrangebrewing.com, thediverichland.com.

uBUSINESS BRIEF

Washington’s average wage increased in 2022

Washington’s average annual wage grew by 2% in 2022 to $84,167, according to the state Employment Security Department.

Average wage growth slowed in 2022 compared to 2021, when average wages grew by 7.5%.

These figures include only those wages that are covered by unemployment insurance (UI).

The average annual wage is used to calculate:

• Unemployment benefits for claims opened on or after July 2, 2023.

• Paid family and medical leave (paid leave) benefits filed on or after Jan. 1, 2024.

• Employers’ unemployment taxes beginning Jan. 1, 2024.

The state Department of Labor & Industries also uses the average annual wage to calculate workers’ compensation benefits.

The average weekly wage rose from $1,586 in 2021, to $1,618 in 2022. These figures also include only those wages that are covered by UI.

The increase was driven by a 5.5% increase in employment covered through UI and a 7.6% increase in total wages and salaries, which grew by nearly $20.3 billion in 2022.

The average number of workers in Washington covered by UI rose from 3,257,983 in 2021, to 3,435,848 in 2022, an increase of 177,865 workers.