Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business - January 2020

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January 2020 Volume 19 | Issue 1

Employers brace for ‘monumental’ changes in 2020 By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

Architecture & Engineering

$20 million clinic shows what’s possible at Vista Field Page 11

Real Estate & Construction

Kennewick developers plan up to 600 homes on Pasco waterfront Page 21

Legal

Legal Aid Society recognizes pro bono stars Page 43

NOTEWORTHY “I recognize we cannot please everyone in this business, but we can ensure they have an opportunity to be heard and that they are treated fairly and with respect.” - Shawn Sant, Franklin County prosecutor Page 46

Employers might be tempted to take a wait-and-see attitude toward Washington’s new overtime rules that will dramatically increase pay for some salaried workers. Unlike the new minimum wage rate and paid family leave, which took effect on New Year’s Day, the overtime rules don’t change until July 1. Between now and then is the short session of the Washington Legislature, which convened Jan. 13 for a 60-day session. Lawmakers will be under pressure to walk back or at least minimize the impact of the overtime rules enacted by the state Department of Labor and Industries rules in George Cicotte December. The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce, for one, wants Olympia to delay implementation or, failing that, to yoke wages to the local cost of living, sparing rural areas the influence of Seattle prices. The Association of Washington Business will emphasize the new rules’ potential to chill hiring as part of its larger projobs message. Employment law is an ever-changing landscape and 2020 is no exception. In addition to the new overtime rules, Washington employers must adapt to a host of changes. Most Washington workers were able to start taking paid leave under the state’s new Family and Medical Leave law on Jan. 1. And the minimum wage for non-salaried workers rose to $13.50 an hour on Jan. 1. In a lesser change, the Internal Revenue Service has adjusted W-4 forms to reflect the Tax Cuts and Changes Act. Here’s a look at the key changes and what they mean to employers. uCHANGES, Page 45

Photo by Wendy Culverwell The Tri-Cities is no architectural wasteland. The Franklin County Courthouse, constructed in 1911, is a handy example, but it’s not alone. The region is dotted with architectural gems, some prominent and many not. Tell the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business about your favorite building or structure by filling out a short form online: bit.ly/ArchitecturalGemsTriCities.

Meet the architectural gems of the Tri-Cities

By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

Michael Marley recalls when TriCity school officials cautioned architects to avoid anything fanciful in their designs for new buildings. Districts need voter approval to raise taxes to build and remodel schools. They feared “fancy” would come across as “wasteful.” Decision-makers relied on plain buildings to convey stability and frugality, said Marley, principal with CKJT Architects, a Kennewick firm focused on public sector projects. It’s an ethos that informed much of the region’s development but obscures the archi-

tectural gems that dot the community. The Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business invited local architects to share their favorite examples. Most shrugged. “My favorite is the building I’m working on at the moment,” one said. “I don’t have a favorite Tri-City building,” said another.

Design takes a front seat But there are gems, and Marley believes the list is growing. Schools and other clients are more likely to aim for buildings the community can be proud of. It’s OK for a school to look nice, he

uGEMS, Page 12

Kennewick marijuana retailer wants to professionalize the CBD industry By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

Steve Lee is probably the only small business owner in the Tri-Cities who isn’t complaining about government regulation. Well, he’s not complaining about the rules governing his newest venture, Green2Go Wellness, the CBD retail and delivery business he opened in the former Franz Bakery Outlet, 419 W. Columbia Drive, in December. That’s because Lee and his wife, Jessie, also operate Green2Go Recreational, a legal cannabis retailer with stores in Finley and Tokio. The cannabis business operates under Washington’s exacting rules for marijuana sales. Green2Go Wellness sells products derived from cannabidiol. CBD is derived from hemp, a member of the cannabis family that is low

in THC, the primary psychoactive element of marijuana. It isn’t regulated under Initiative 502, the voter-approved initiative that legalized recreational marijuana in 2012 And since marijuana remains illegal under federal law, owners of “I-502” shops like the Lees face a host of regulatory burdens that non-502 businesses do not. Their product is tracked from seed to store. Business expenses aren’t deductible on federal tax returns. Advertising is a challenge, as is banking. Most nonprofits shy away from marijuana-related donations. Green2Go Wellness doesn’t fall under I-502, so it enjoys the same benefits as any other business. Rent and other expenses are tax deductible. Nonprofits welcome its donations. It can buy ads and sponsor a Little League team. The store hasn’t yet sponsored a uGREEN2GO, Page 4

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