Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business - July 2020

July 2020 Volume 19 | Issue 7

PPP loans a ‘lifeline’ to Tri-City businesses

By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

Tourism

Right on schedule, food follows wine at Kennewick’s Columbia Gardens Page A23

Local News

Kennewick health-focused meal delivery service redefines midday lunch run Page A33

Real Estate & Construction

2 new businesses plus bakery expansion pause opening plans Page B1

NOTEWORTHY “Balancing keeping our teams safe and healthy and trying to maintain some level of ‘business as usual’ is an opportunity for leaders to stretch and think outside the box.”

- Rebekah Dobbs, STCU Page A15

As Tri-City business and civic leaders work to tame local Covid-19 infection rates so more businesses can open, some of the Mid-Columbia’ biggest employers say forgivable paycheck loans were a “lifeline” that helped them keep valuable employees.

Benton and Read about how PPP Franklin counapplications pushed ties moved into lenders to their limits. a modified verPage A11 sion of Phase 1 of Washington’s Safe Start economic recovery program in early July, the same time the U.S. Small Business Administration released the names of the millions of U.S. companies that received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES Act. Economic recovery and the millions of dollars in PPP loans that flowed to the Tri-Cities are connected. For businesses to revive, they need to be in business. Employers who received PPP loans say that’s just what happened.

“To have that government support was a relief. It reduced the stress,” said Chris Senske, owner of Senske Lawn & Tree Care Inc., a Kennewick-based landscaping firm with branches in Washington, Idaho and Utah.

Senske received between $2 million and $5 million – the SBA gives ranges rather than exact amounts. It was one of nearly 500 Tri-Cities companies that received $150,000 or more.

Another 2,200 received up to $150,000.

Senske said the company used about 83% of its PPP loan for salaries and the balance for other allowed expenses such as rent. The money helped it manage the growing balance in its accounts receivable as customers fell arears on bills and the company stopped sending out reminders.

“We had a lot of employees were potentially at risk for their jobs,” he said.

It used the PPP money to keep all its 472 employees, including bringing back people who were laid off in the beginning of the pandemic.

It plans to apply to have the loan forgiven.

The Tri-City economy is far from recovered.

A modified version of Phase 1 is still uPHASE 1, Page A7

Photo by Wendy Culverwell Jr. Gonzalez, left, and Chris Curtis of Help-U-Move remove furniture from a Richland home in preparation for new flooring.

Covid-19 is making Mid-Columbia’s tight housing market tighter

By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

Tri-City home sales are defying the expectations of a stressed economy. But real estate insiders aren’t surprised.

A tight inventory of homes for sale coupled with unprecedented low mortgage interest rates and an unemployment rate that’s lower than the rest of the state is keeping the market moving.

The first five months of 2020 saw strong sales and rising prices, flying in the face of expectations for an economy chilled by the coronavirus pandemic, according to June statistics released by the Tri-Cities Association of Realtors.

Nationally, sales of existing homes fell by 10% in May, according to the National Association of Realtors But its regional affiliate, which represents

more than 1,100 licensed Realtors in the MidColumbia, sees a different picture. It tracked 2,125 closings for the year through June.

That’s more than the snow-slowed starts to the 2017 and 2019 selling seasons but fewer than 2018, when snow wasn’t an issue.

The rosy figures are echoed by local insiders who work with buyers and sellers every day.

Realtors, mortgage brokers, appraisers, moving companies and inspectors report they’re as busy as ever. Home sales slowed briefly in March, when Washington Gov. Jay Inslee issued the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order to curtail the spread of the virus that causes the deadly Covid-19.

The Federal Reserve slashed interest rates to prop up the economy. Thirty-year mortgage loans can be had for a record-low 3.5% or better. It’s helping turbocharge a market that has uHOUSING MARKET, Page A4

Necessity is the mother of invention for Tri-City innovators

By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

Great disruptions can bring great opportunities.

For Derrick Stricker, a Tri-City commercial real estate broker, working during the Great Recession in Chicago drove that idea home.

Now, a decade older and working in the Mid-Columbia, he’s one of the many local entrepreneurs who see new opportunity in the Covid-19 pandemic.

Or rather, an old one.

Stricker organized a team to create DaVista Drive-In Theater and Event Center, a social distancing-friendly concept that could be installed at the former Vista Field municipal airport east of Columbia Center in the heart of Kennewick.

“It came to fruition on my white board in my war room,” he said, referring to his home office.

Stricker’s drive-in is just one of many new businesses emerging from the Covid-19 chaos.

Goose Ridge Winery is making sanitizer through its grape-based vodka distillery. A Richland logo business is distributing face masks. A small restaurant chain launched its own delivery service to compete with out-of-state apps.

It’s welcome news, said Karl Dye, president of the Tri-City Development Council, the region’s economic development agency. Placemaking supports development and makes the Tri-Cities attractive to talent.

“We need the amenity-based communi-

uINNOVATORS, Page A10

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

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OUR VIEW

‘But, for the common good, we have to come together in a crisis’

By Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

There’s no established playbook or business strategy for weathering the Covid-19 pandemic.

The rules keep changing as the cases keep rising. Uncertainty seems the only certainty.

But there’s a mindset we can adopt to help us to meet these challenges.

Our former Secretary of Defense, retired Gen. Jim Mattis, offered insight on leading through a crisis during a June 18 meeting with the Columbia Basin Badger Club, a civic discussion group.

It’s clear people listen when the fourstar general who grew up in Richland speaks. More than 1,000 people registered for the Zoom meeting, which attracted listeners from as far away as Canada, Sweden and India.

Mattis said Covid-19 provides a good impetus to speak about leadership in general, but especially about crisis leadership. He said how you lead in a crisis — whether as a parent or at a school district, business, bank, farm, or on a sports field or battlefield — it’s the leader’s role to keep moving with a forward momentum.

Incredible ideas can take shape in dark times. Just read Editor Wendy Culverwell’s A1 story about how Tri-City innovators are rising to the challenge.

Mattis noted that life doesn’t always

uBUSINESS BRIEFS Richland taps former employee as next leader

A former Richland educator will return as the district’s next superintendent.

Shelley Redinger, who led the Spokane School District for the past eight years, is the district’s new choice to succeed longtime superintendent Rick Schulte, who retired June 30. Two prior superintendent picks did not pan out.

Redinger taught at Jefferson Elementary and was later appointed principal at Sacajawea Elementary and then Richland’s Director of Teaching & Learning before she departed to pursue leadership

work out as planned.

Ask any graduating college or high school senior who didn’t get to experience much anticipated pomp and circumstance and doesn’t yet know whether there will be online classes or dorm life come fall.

Ask any business dipping into profit margins to keep the doors open.

Mattis suggested standing as a sentinel, looking ahead for what’s next and what the weather will be. Of course, none of us has a crystal ball. It’s easier to get mired by immobility and fear.

“The leader’s role is to shift. There’s a fundamental essence to a crisis and that essence is unpredictability. None of us could predict Covid,” he said.

That’s the thing about a crisis — it is unpredictable. It tests any leader’s abilities.

Mattis talked about his own pathway to leadership and how books and studying history helped shape him. He said to look at how others managed during hard times.

He cited former presidents, current leaders and Greek philosophers as contributing to his life lessons in leadership.

He praised his own parents and the TriCitians from the Greatest Generation who informed his character.

Though there’s so much about Covid-19 we don’t know, decisions still have to be made.

Do we open partially? Do we allow

workers to continue working from home?

Do we furlough employees? Do we take an early retirement? Do we downsize?

There’s no right answer.

As Mattis said, we must make decisions based on what prudence and science tell us at this point in time. Incomplete information is unavoidable. We just have to deal with it.

A leader’s first responsibility is to define responsibility, Mattis said. To do that, start from the known, no matter how little.

“This takes honesty. Leaders have to say what they don’t know,” he said. “Use competence and compassion to make decisions. It’s a wise approach, pandemic or not.”

And empathy for others should continue to be a core value of what it means to be a good neighbor and a good American.

“Empathy is a tool that connects people with where they’re at,” Mattis said.

Passions run high in a crisis. Instead of railing against who is and isn’t operating their business legally, whether our elected officials are getting it right, or wringing hands over who is not wearing a mask when they should be, take a deep breath and dig deep for empathy. Be magnanimous. Be gracious.

He admits this can be hard in a democracy: “We’re all brought up to be captains of our own ship. But, for the common good, we have to come together in a

crisis. This is where confident, persuasive leaders come together.”

Where do we turn locally to see such leaders in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis? Mattis asked.

He offered a long list of examples of those showing up to do their jobs every day of the pandemic: health care workers, post office and delivery personnel, grocery store workers, police officers and firefighters.

Despite the divisiveness of our time — what Mattis called a “raucous period” — America is a country worth fighting for.

“It’s not a perfect country but it’s always getting better,” he said.

Mattis said the point to make about America is we haven’t always gotten it right, but we have a unique ability to get it right. We need to listen to each other and find the common ground, he said.

He encouraged listening with a willingness to be persuaded. To stay true to your values. “Don’t doubt your values but doubt your doubts,” he said.

To make real and valuable changes, let’s all take the next step forward.

Perhaps it leads to a pivot. Or a detour.

Perhaps it leads down the same path. We all can stand to lead with more heart and empathy, and perhaps come out on the other side of this stronger and more resilient than before.

opportunities.

She also worked as principal for Oregon Trail School District in Sandy, Oregon, and for a school district in Virginia.

She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education at Washington State University. She went on to earn a master’s and Shelley Redinger doctorate in educational administration at the University of South Carolina.

Visit Tri-Cities seeks excellent nominees

business for going above and beyond to provide outstanding customer service.

The nomination deadline is Sept. 1.

The winner will receive a $500 gift card sponsored by Battelle.

Nomination forms are posted at VisitTri-Cities.com/events/excellenceinservice.

Visit Tri-Cities is accepting nominations for its annual Excellence in Service Award.

The honor is given to an individual or

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UPCOMING August: Science & Technology • Nonprofits September: Young Professionals Leadership Development

CORRECTION Rates to stay at The River Lodge and Grill cabins in Boardman, Oregon, start at $179 a night. Incorrect information appeared on page B3 in the June issue.

The Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business, a publication of TriComp Inc., is published monthly and delivered at no charge to identifiable businesses in Pasco, Richland, West Richland, Kennewick, Prosser and Benton City.

Subscriptions are $27.10 per year, including tax, prepayment required, no refunds. Contents of this publication are the sole property of TriComp Inc. and can not be reproduced in any form without expressed written consent.

Opinions expressed in guest columns and by advertisers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of staff, other columnists or other advertisers, nor do they imply endorsement by staff, columnists or advertisers. Every effort will be made to assure information published is correct; however, we are not liable for any errors or omissions made despite these efforts.

been imbalanced for years.

For the Tri-Cities, where demand for homes has long outpaced supply, the low rates support demand by extending the reach of buyers.

Whether that’s good or bad is a matter of perspective. Sellers can expect robust prices and swift sales. Buyers will find few if any homes that meet their criteria and aggressive pricing.

“In my 41 years of real estate, there has never been a better time to sell than today,” said Dave Retter, owner of Retter & Co. Sotheby’s International Realty in Kennewick.

“I’m not saying that to get listings,” he added.

Stay-home orders have taken a heartbreaking toll on the hospitality and tourism sectors but spared residential real estate.

“The housing market is a bright spot,” Retter said.

Dennis Gisi, owner of the Mid-Columbia John L Scott realty offices, said “frenzy” is the word that best describes a market with a 12-day inventory of midpriced homes ranging from $350,000 to $450,000. The figure reflects how long the current inventory would last based on current demand.

Realtors say a market needs a five- to six-month inventory to be in balance.

By the numbers The Association of Realtors saw a slowdown in late spring as buyers and sellers adapted to face masks and new restrictions on the process of looking at homes. June showed a solid rebound, said John Keltch, the association’s president as well as an agent for Windermere Group One. There were 443 home sales in June, compared to 463 the year prior. The average and median home price for June was $333,600 and $315,000, respectively, both up less than a percentage point from the year prior.

Low interest rates are one factor. Unemployment is another. Tri-Citians are suffering because of the stay-home order, but the region was faring better than the state as

the pandemic rolled on.

The Tri-City unemployment rate of 12.3% in May was well below the state, which is unusual for the Mid-Columbia.

The state average was 14.8%, according to the Washington Employment Security Department.

Mortgage loan interest rates were running 2.5%-3.5% in late June, depending on the length of the loan and the creditworthiness of the borrower.

Rates are down, but lenders are demanding more from borrowers, said Mark Runsvold, branch manager for Innovative Mortgage Inc. in Kennewick, who said the Tri-City market is as busy as ever.

Lenders are looking for better credit scores. And they’re demanding more documentation from borrowers, such as proof that they haven’t been laid off when it’s time to close the deal.

Runsvold said the pressure is coming from Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and the other giants who buy loans on the secondary market and were stung by the loose loan criteria that led to a housing bubble and collapse in 2008.

Mortgage lenders, he said, have to make sure the loans they write will appeal to secondary buyers.

“Underwriting is no fun right now,” he said, adding that lending for investment property is even tighter.

New construction Demand may be strong, but supply is a continuing issue.

Both Keltch and Retter said it’s a frequent topic of conversation in their respective brokerages. There were only 433 active listings in June, a third of what the Tri-Cities needs to be considered balanced.

Residential construction was an early casualty of the stay-home order and though it has resumed, it still is restricted by the Mid-Columbia’s high coronavirus infection rates.

In early July, Benton and Franklin counties have moved to a modified version of Phase 1, the most restrictive phase under Washington’s stay-home order. Home starts aren’t expected to recover even as construction revives.

Tri-City building agencies approved 534 single-family homes in the first five months of 2020, compared to 599 in 2019, and 618 in 2018, according to the Home Builders Association of Tri-Cities.

“If we ever get out of Phase 1...” Keltch mused.

Support industries busy Home inspection services, lenders, movers and appraisers say they are busy despite Covid-19.

Kenny Larsen launched Platinum Inspection Services in Kennewick in 2014, using his background in construction to start his own business. His small crew focuses on residential inspections for both buyers and sellers, though he also conducts commercial inspections.

Platinum had a record high in March.

The numbers dipped in May but are on track to be above average in June, Larsen said.

Larsen had to lay off one of his three employees not because business was off but because of logistics. Workers must drive separate trucks to jobs and only two people can be at a job site at a time. His employees used to travel together. Now they can’t.

“It was painful. We’re like family,” he said.

He agrees with the consensus that interest rates and inventories are driving fast sales. Down time may be a factor too.

“People are home and bored, and they buy houses,” he said.

Platinum is taking precautions, such as driving in independent trucks, wearing masks and gloves and sanitizing equipment.

Larsen is keen to see the Mid-Columbia embrace masks and join much of the rest of the state, which has emerged from the most restrictive Phase 1 of the Safe Start plan.

Phase 2 or higher won’t affect his operations, though he expects more participants will attend inspections if it’s allowed. He would save the cost of sending two trucks to the same location.

Movers are busy too. 2020 started on a solid note, said Steve Schwan of Help-UMove, which has eight trucks and 20 employees.

Classified an essential business under the stay-home order, Help-U-Move kept operating. The initial uncertainty over how to keep staff and clients safe quickly gave way as safety measures were implemented – wearing masks, sanitizing equipment and social distancing.

He said work is “busy.”

But he is guarded about the future. In the six years Schwan has owned Help-UMove, he’s doubled the business by adding a truck each year. That’s on hold.

“Instead of making plans six months out, we’re doing things a week at a time and going from there,” he said.

Appraiser Paul Henderson said demand for residential appraisals from his Kennewick business is increasing, not decreasing.

“Everyone thought with Covid coming on it would affect the real estate market negatively. It really hasn’t done so locally,” he said.

Prices are rising and the tight inventory is affecting all price ranges except for the very upper end. It takes less than 30 days to sell a home that’s priced right.

“I’m inundated with requests every single day. I can’t keep up with them,” Henderson said.

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020 uBUSINESS BRIEFS Wearing a mask?

Say why on social media

Tri-Citians are being encouraged to make short videos to tell why they are wearing a face mask.

The #MinuteMaskChallenge is organized by the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce, Visit Tri-Cities and the Tri-City Development Council as part of a pro-mask campaign to help Benton and Franklin counties move to next phase of the state’s Safe Start program.

Participants are invited to share a 60-second video explaining why they wear a mask and to post it to social media with the hashtag #MinuteMaskChallenge.

Pasco honored for African American history project

Pasco is one of five cities selected for the Association of Washington Cities’ 2020 Municipal Excellence awards.

Pasco was selected from 25 applicants for its efforts to record African American history in east Pasco. The project documented key heritage properties in the area that was home to the majority of African American residents who came to work at the Hanford site.

Many were lost in the name of 1980s era urban renewal projects.

The study will be submitted to the National Register of Historic Places.

A video about the work is posted at bit.ly/PascoAfricanAmericanHistoryProject “This honorable award demonstrates the importance of our heritage in Pasco and the great people that work to remember and learn from our past to improve the quality of life for our future,” said Mayor Saul Martinez.

Insurance rules covering Covid-19 tests extended

Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler extended his emergency order to Washington state health insurers for an additional 30 days requiring them to waive copays and deductibles for any consumer requiring testing for coronavirus.

The order is in effect through Aug. 2.

Insurers also must continue allowing a one-time early refill for prescription drugs and suspend any prior authorization requirement for treatment or testing of Covid-19.

In addition, if an insurer does not have enough medical providers in its network to provide testing or treatment for Covid-19, it must allow enrollees to be treated by another provider within a reasonable distance at no additional cost.

Green2Go has lockboxes for cannabis

Green2Go Wellness, a corporate sibling to the Green2Go cannabis retailers, is providing secured boxes and bags to keep legal cannabis out of the hands of minors.

Owner Steve Lee is partnering with the Benton-Franklin Health District and Educational Service District 123 on the campaign to prevent underage cannabis use.

The secured storage devices are free

and available to those who complete a survey and sign a release form. The devices will be distributed at Green2Go Wellness, 419 W. Columbia Drive, Kennewick, while supplies last. Call 509497-2020 for information.

Washington’s average wage increased to $69,000 in 2019

In pre-pandemic news, Washington’s average annual wage grew by 6.7% in calendar year 2019 to $69,000, according to the state Employment Security Department.

It was the largest year-to-year percentage increase in 20 years.

The average weekly wage rose from $1,255 in 2018, to $1,340 in 2019. These figures include only those wages that are

covered by unemployment insurance.

Much of the increase was driven by an 8.7% increase in total earnings, which grew by nearly $18.5 billion in 2019.

Overall, the average number of workers in Washington covered by unemployment insurance grew by just over 59,267 in 2019.

The industries with the largest average wage growth in 2019 were transportation and warehousing, up 7.1%; information, up 6.5%; and educational services, up 6.4%.

The average annual wage is used to calculate unemployment benefits for jobless workers.

The minimum weekly unemployment benefit, calculated at 15% of the average weekly wage, will increase by $13 to $201, for new claims opened on or after

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July 5. At the same time, the maximum weekly benefit, which is the greater of $496 or 63% of the average weekly wage, will increase by $54 to $844.

Currently, about 20% of unemployment insurance claims are paid the maximum benefit amount, and 10% receive the minimum.

In addition to unemployment benefits, the average annual wage is used in computing employers’ unemployment taxes. Beginning in 2021, employers will pay unemployment taxes on the first $56,500 paid to each employee — up from $52,700 in 2020.

The Department of Labor & Industries uses the state average wage to calculate worker’s compensation benefits.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

DATEBOOK

VISIT TCJOURNAL.BIZ AND CLICK ON EVENT CALENDAR FOR MORE EVENTS

JULY 16

• Columbia Basin Badger Club: “To Protect and Serve: How to Fix America’s Broken Police:” Noon-1 p.m. Free. Register at bit.ly/ cbbcprotectandserve • Tri-Cities Community Health immunization clinic: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., 830 W. Vineyard Drive, Kennewick. Call 509-543-1999 for appointment. Face coverings required.

JULY 21

• Central Washington Home Builders Association, “2018 Code update Webinar:” 8 a.m. Register at: https://bit.ly/3cPCJed • Covid-19 Impact on Small Businesses Seminar: 9-11 a.m.

State’s Small Business Liaison team.

Free. Register: sbrrcv19.eventbrite. com • Franklin County Commission: 9 a.m. Details at co.franklin.wa.us/ commissioners/meeting.php • Benton County Commission: 9 a.m. Details at co.benton.wa.us/ agenda.aspx • Historic Downtown Kennewick Partnership Zoom meeting hangout, 5 p.m. Get link for meeting at historickennewick.org/calendar

• Mid-Columbia Libraries Board of Trustees Zoom meeting at 5:30 p.m. Get link for meeting at midcolumbialibraries.org.

• Richland City Council: 6 p.m.

Go to ci.richland.wa.us for meeting information.

JULY 28

JULY 22

JULY 29

• Tri-City Regional Chamber Membership Luncheon: “The State of the Cities Luncheon”: Noon-1 p.m.

Register: tricityregionalchamber. com/events • Launch University: Ideation 2020: 4-6 p.m. Register: tiny.cc/ FuseIdeation2020 • Covid-19 Employer Resources Webinar Series with Association of Washington Business: 9-10 a.m.

Register: awb.org

JULY 23

• Port of Pasco Commission: 10:30 a.m. Details at portofpasco. org/about-us/port-commission

JULY 25

• Cool Desert Nights Virtual Cruise: 10 a.m. Register at cooldesertnightstc.com

• Franklin County Commission: 9 a.m. Details at co.franklin.wa.us/ commissioners/meeting.php • Benton County Commission: 9 a.m. Details at co.benton.wa.us/ agenda.aspx • Covid-19 Employer Resources Webinar Series with Association of Washington Business: 9-10 a.m.

Register: awb.org

JULY 30

• Fuse SPC Presents Lunch & Learn with Diane Borders: 12:30-1 p.m. Details at fusespc.com • Covid-19 Impact on Small Businesses Seminar: 1:30-3:30 p.m. State’s Small Business Liaison team. Free. Register: sbrrcv19. eventbrite.com • Celebrating Dreams Showcase, Washington Women’s Business Center event: 6-7:30 p.m.

Free. Register: businessimpactnw. org/annual-events/dreams/ celebrating-dreams-tickets.

AUG. 4

• Franklin County Commission: 9 a.m. Details at co.franklin.wa.us/ commissioners/meeting.php • Benton County Commission: 9 a.m. Details at co.benton.wa.us/ agenda.aspx • Historic Downtown Kennewick Partnership Zoom meeting hangout, 5 p.m. Get link for meeting at historickennewick.org/calendar.

AUG. 12

• Tri-Cities Cancer Center’s Cancer Crushing Cuisine virtual cooking class fundraiser: 6-7 p.m., via zoom. Cost $40. To register: tccancer.org/cuisine, 509-737-3413.

AUG. 13

• Young Professionals Summer Social: 6-8:30 p.m. Anelare Winery, 19205 N. McBee Road, Benton City.

Details at washingtonpolicy.org/ events

AUG. 18

• Historic Downtown Kennewick Partnership Zoom meeting hangout, 5 p.m. Get link for meeting at historickennewick.org/calendar.

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020 PHASE 1, From page A1 heavily restricted. The state authorized the modifications after Tri-City Development Council and other groups pled for relief, telling the governor the community was dying.

Dr. Amy Person, health officer for the Benton-Franklin Health District, said the reopening was tailored to address the services area residents told the department they want most – dining, shopping and dog grooming.

The health district together with the TRIDEC and other civic and business groups are promoting social distancing and mask wearing in a bid to move to a modified Phase 1 or even Phase 2, which would further loosen restrictions.

Person said she’s optimistic during a weekly “Coffee with Karl” Zoom meetup hosted by Karl Dye, president of TRIDEC. “When we have the mayors pushing public health messages, this community is going to get through,” she said.

Goodwill Industries of the Columbia, a Kennewick nonprofit serving people with disabilities, is another local organization that received between $2 million and $5 million in PPP loans, according to the SBA database.

The money kept more than 350 people on payroll with benefits during a shutdown that lasted more than three months,

uBUSINESS BRIEFS Chamber offers Covid-19 relief grants

The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce and Washington River Protection Solutions again have partnered to offer $30,000 in grants to local small businesses through the Small Business Incentive Program.

This year, winners will select from one of three Covid-19 relief packages valued at $1,000: • Retrofit Grant – to install new safety equipment, and/or modifying existing facilities with plexiglass, handwashing stations, no-touch doors, walk-up windows, etc.

• Personal Protective Equipment and Screening Tools Grant – to buy masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, thermometers, etc.

• Rent Assistance Grant – For rent due directly to the applicant’s landlord.

To be eligible:

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said Ken Gosney, executive director, who called the loan a “lifeline.”

It was a similar story for Lampson International, the Kennewick based crane manufacturer, another company that received between $2 million and $5 million.

“It helped us maintain our current level of staffing,” said Kate Lampson, director of public relations and marketing.

Jim Davis, chief executive officer of Tri-Cities Community Health, said visits to its clinics in Kennewick and Pasco dropped by half when the stay-home order hit.

A typical business would cut staff, but the health clinic was loath to lose its experienced dentists, hygienists and other professionals. Its loan, between $2 million and $5 million, allowed it to keep a staff Davis said would take years of recruiting to replicate.

Routine dental visits were the hardest hit. The clinic kept its dentists on payroll even with reduced workloads. Hygienists, prevented from working by the stay-home order, were put on “standby” status. That allowed them to collect state and federal unemployment benefits while the clinic continued to pay fringe benefits, including health insurance.

“I didn’t want to even think about any of our team having to go through a pandemic without health insurance,” he said.

When dental work was authorized to

resume, it brought its staff back to fulltime status.

By early July, patient volumes had returned to about 80% of pre-Covid-19 levels.

“It enabled us to get through that significant downturn. We didn’t have to worry about where to get the money for paychecks,” Davis said. It will apply for loan forgiveness.

Christensen Inc., a Richland-based fuel, lubricants and propane distributor, said that although it continued operating as an essential business, it recorded significant declines in the second quarter due to the pandemic.

The company was largest PPP recipient in the region, receiving between $5 million and $10 million, the SBA said.

“The PPP loan assistance program accomplished what it set out to do. It allowed Christensen to keep team members employed, avoid layoffs and continue to support our communities during this time of crisis. We’re grateful for this assistance and have seen business slowly start to come back here in the third quarter,” the company said in a written statement in response to a Journal of Business inquiry.

Michael Atkinson runs two staffing firms in Kennewick. Agrilabor Inc. and Atkinson Staffing Inc. provide workers for dairies and plants processing potatoes, onions and other crops. Agrilabor special-

izes guest workers who come to the U.S. under the H-2A visa program.

Agrilabor and Atkinson Staffing received between $2 million to $5 million each.

The PPP loans offset the soaring cost to follow Covid-related rules. Atkinson created a sewing division to produce face masks, which weren’t available at the start of the pandemic. It had to increase the number of vehicles it uses to transport workers to jobs – which drove up the need for trained drivers, operating expenses and insurance.

Most of all, it helped Atkinson raise pay rates to incentivize workers who otherwise would have earned more on unemployment because of the $600-a-week federal benefit that expires in July.

“Our expenses have gone up incredibly to manage the virus, and we have to pay more to incentivize people to come to work,” he said.

For the week of June 21-27, the Washington Employment Security Department reported 696,272 unemployment claims, a decrease of 3.1% from the prior week but 473% higher than the same week a year ago.

Locally, the unemployment rate was 12.3% in May, the most recent available.

Unemployment has eased slightly from the pandemic high of 13.5 % recorded in April.

• The applicant must be an established small business and a member of the TriCity Regional Chamber.

• Non-members that have been in business at least 18 months may still qualify for the program upon joining the Regional Chamber prior to the application deadline.

• The applicant must be organized as a for-profit business.

•Applications must be complete.

•Applicants must have 30 or fewer full-time equivalent employees and annual revenue less than $3 million.

• Funds must be used toward purchases made after Aug. 12.

Qualifying applications will be numbered and entered into a drawing with 30 winners selected at random at 1:30 p.m.

Aug. 12. The drawing will be broadcast live over Zoom.

Members must apply for a grant through the online application form.

Printed applications will not be accepted.

Applications must be submitted by 5

p.m. July 31. Apply at https://bit.ly/ Chambergrantapp.

• Handicapped parking stalls shall not be used for patron seating.

• Fences shall be no more than 42 inches high and shall be decorative metal.

• Tables/seating shall be a durable material and complementary to the decorative fencing. Fencing and furnishings shall not be permanently affixed to the sidewalk.

Fencing and furnishings shall be adequately weighted to prevent tipping.

• Clear access for pedestrians of at least 6 feet shall be maintained along sidewalk corridors at all times.

• Maintenance of all allowed fencing and furnishings shall be the responsibility of the business owner/applicant.

• Additional outdoor lighting and/or signage in conjunction with the outdoor seating may be allowed.

• Curbside pickup zones shall be maintained within 500 feet of each restaurant.

Call 509-545-3441 for more information.

Communication will be our Key to Success!

To support my campaign, please visit: www.go4joe.us (Paid for by Committee to Elect Joe Lusignan)

Pasco OKs plan to create sidewalk dining

Pasco Mayor Saul Martinez signed an order that allows restaurants to create outdoor seating, including on sidewalks, as Franklin County moved into a modified Phase 1 plan to control the spread of coronavirus.

The order allows restaurants to operate in outdoor spaces, generally under the following conditions: • Sidewalk/café seating plan shall be approved by the city of Pasco Community & Economic Development Department.

• Off-street parking areas adjacent and dedicated for restaurants may be fenced off to provide additional seating, provided the area shall not exceed 100% of the interior seating space of the restaurant. Required off-street parking may be reduced by 50% during the duration of this emergency order.

As your full-time Commissioner, I will always pursue open, clear and inclusive communication between our cities’ and county officials and work together to improve the lives of our citizens.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

Aug. 4 primary ballots hit mailboxes this month

By Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

File photo Ballots for Washington’s Aug. 4 primary election will be mailed July 17 and hit local mailboxes a few days later.

Ballots for Washington’s Aug. 4 primary election will be mailed July 17 and hit local mailboxes a few days later.

Results will set the stage for the Nov. 3 general election, when everything from the presidency to local county commission posts are up for grabs.

Ballots must be returned or postmarked by election day to be counted. Washington is a vote-by-mail state with no local polling places.

Residents can register by mail or online through July 27. Election day is the last day to register in person.

Visit votewa.gov to check voter status, update voting information or to register.

Washington primary ballots list all candidates for partisan positions regardless of the number of candidates. In races with three or more candidates, the top two will advance to the general election.

Mid-Columbia races to watch include the bid by U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, RSunnyside, for a third term. He faces five challengers — Republicans Tracy “Justice” Wright and Sarena Sloot, Democrat Douglas E. McKinley, Libertarian Ryan Cooper and Independent Evan Jones.

Sen. Maureen Walsh, a Republican who represents the sprawling 16th Legislative District, is not seeking re-election.

Republicans Bill Jenkin and Perry Dozier and Democrat Danielle Garbe Reser are vying to succeed her. Jenkin represents the 16th in the House.

Benton County Commissioners Jerome Delvin and Jim Beaver ran unopposed in 2016. Now they face multiple challengers. Delvin is facing Republicans Donnie Landsman, Jeff Smart and Michael Alvarez and Democrat Justin Raffa.

Beaver faces Republicans Will McKay and Joe Lusignan.

Franklin County Commissioner Brad Peck, a Republican, is again being challenged by Franklin County Auditor Matt Beaton, who he defeated in 2016. Democrat Kim Lehrman is also running for the seat.

Commissioner Bob Koch is not seeking re-election. Four are running to succeed him — Republicans Rocky Mullen, Cliff MacHugh and Terry Ryan Cissne and Democrat Ana Ruiz Peralta.

Benton Fire District 4 is asking voters to renew its property tax levy and to authorize annual increases for five years to support staffing and service levels in the growing area.

The Kiona-Benton City School District is asking its voters to approve a two-year levy to support educational programs and expenses. The levy rate is estimated at $1.72 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2021 and 2022.

There are no tax requests on the Franklin County ballot.

A sample Benton County ballot is available at bit.ly/Benton2020PrimaryBallot.

A sample Franklin County ballot is available at bit.ly/Franklin2020PrimaryBallot.

Send us your business news info@tcjournal.biz

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

INNOVATORS, From page A1 ty,” he said.

The Port of Kennewick, which owns the airfield, turned down Stricker’s request to discuss a possible lease arrangement with staff in June. It said it wants to follow its plan to ask for proposals and select the best for Vista Field, its marquee development project.

Stricker is undaunted. He plans to press ahead with a possible Vista site and to consider others if he can find a central location with enough acres and asphalt.

“To me it’s not dead. It’s ‘no’ for now but it might be ‘yes,’ ” he said.

Covid-19 has revived interest in drivein theaters across the country, breathing new life into old properties. Walmart announced it would set up drive-in movie theaters in 160 Walmart Supercenter parking lots between August and October.

Stricker said there’s a market in the Tri-Cities.

He served on the Vista Field Vision Committee that spelled out the urban mixed-use plan for the airfield. A drivein was proposed then. It was proposed again as part of MyTri2030, a Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce visioning process.

Stricker serves as past president on the chamber’s executive committee.

“Right now, it’s scary launching a new business,” he said. “But it could be a very big win without committing a lot of capital.”

Benton and Franklin counties received some Covid-19 relief when they moved to a modified version of Phase 1 in early

July under Washington’s Safe Start program. The move allowed some business activity to resume with safety standards in place.

The two counties continue to have some of the highest infection rates in the state and region.

The move away from the most limited phase was welcome relief to the restaurant and hospitality sectors. Business plummeted in March when Gov. Jay Inslee issued the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order, sidelining businesses called “nonessential.”

The stay-home order drove Tracy LaMarr to rethink how she and husband Steve run their two Chicken Shack restaurants — one in West Richland and another in Pasco.

The couple also own a homebuilding business.

Tracy was unhappy with the third-party delivery services that ferry orders to customers’ homes even before the pandemic hit.

“Often the poor service isn’t by us.

Drivers got the wrong order of forgot the sauce. All that reflects on us. It’s Chicken Shack that forgot the sauce. It’s Chicken Shack that gets the bad reviews the next day,” she said.

When Chicken Shack lost its dining room business in March, she realized that third-party services and their 30 percent fees were a nonstarter. The Chicken Shacks wouldn’t survive the financial hit. Covid-19 gave her an incentive to reinvent the delivery model.

The LaMarrs stood up their own delivery service, complete with website

Courtesy Derrick Stricker Derrick Stricker, a Tri-City commercial real estate broker, wants to create a drive-in movie theater and event space that would allow for social distancing and other measures needed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Tri-Cities entrepreneurs are looking for opportunities in the crisis.

and drivers personally trained by Tracy.

The LaMarrs started Tri-Cities Food Dudes — TCFoodDudes.com — to support Chicken Shack. But other desperate restaurant owners heard about it and wanted in.

Now it delivers for 20 area restaurants and is adding more all the time. LaMarr, who leaned heavily on her homebuilding expertise, is coaching restaurants on the art of Facebook and online ordering.

“We’re totally in control of the service,” she said.

She expects to keep the ordering service, which has 14 employees, going after the pandemic passes. Ordering online and through the app isn’t going to fade with the memories of the stay-home order.

“I think it’s a necessary thing,” she said. “TCFoodDudes keeps the money here, local, instead of the third parties coming from out of the community. The money stays here.”

The pandemic has forced others to face questions about the future.

Fuse Fund, a new Richland-based investment fund based in The Parkway business incubator that shares its name, was on the verge of investing in its first two companies when the pandemic struck, said Marty Conger.

Conger retired as chief financial officer of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and leads the Fuse Fund board, which launched earlier this year to invest in local start-ups.

The fund’s investment committee asked its two targets — a nutrition company and a blockchain-based credit card processor — to refine their plans to reflect the changing business conditions.

“We put them through a ringer. But we think they have pivoted and have a pathway to success,” he said. Fuse Fund is moving ahead with both investments.

Fuse is encouraging businesses to think like entrepreneurs.

“If you’re just waiting for the world to return to normal, that’s a pathway to go out of existence,” he said.

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BANKING & INVESTMENTS PPP applications pushed lenders to their limits

By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

Talk was going around. Politicians in Washington were developing a coronavirus package with a generous program to save jobs at small businesses affected by the pandemic.

Eric Pearson, chief executive officer of Kennewick-based Community First Bank, recalls the talk. Nothing was official. The Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act hadn’t been signed into law.

Then a client called. He was watching the bill work its way through Congress to the president’s desk. The client intended to apply for the Paycheck Protection Program, a forgivable loan, to save his business.

With that, Pearson’s team realized what was coming.

In normal circumstances, Community First processes five to six loans a day. But it has hundreds of business clients. Most would apply for the PPP loans, which are guaranteed by the Small Business Administration.

“We were woefully unprepared,” Pearson recalled.

Community First wasn’t alone. Banks and credits unions with commercial divisions braced for applications, particularly during the frantic first round when applicants feared the initial $349 billion would run out.

They were right. Funds were exhausted in 13 days. The program was replenished with an added $300 billion. Applications for the second round are set to close Aug. 8 after Congress extended the original June 30 deadline.

For financial institutions, the harried days of early April demanded that every employee put in long hours and weekend shifts to process the deluge of applications.

For most, it was a shining moment to help new and existing customers secure the money they needed to keep employees on the payroll as the Covid-19 crisis forced nonessential businesses to close in Washington state and elsewhere.

Nationally, nearly 5,500 lenders pro-

cessed 5.6 million loans totaling more than $512 billion. In Washington, 95,000 entities were approved for $12 billion, according to the SBA. Nearly 500 Tri-City businesses representing nearly 20,000 local jobs received $150,000 or more, and about 2,200 received up to $150,000 to support about 12,000 jobs, according to information released July 6 by the U.S. Small Business Administration under the Freedom of Information Act. The company that publishes the TriCities Area Journal of Business received a loan in the latter category.

The recipients represent every aspect of the local economy: Agriculture, real estate, hospitality, fast food, coffee shops, brewpubs, law firms, manufacturers, contractors, churches and nonprofits.

Collectively, PPP loans supported about one in five of the 150,000 local civilian positions tallied by the Washington Employment Security Division in May. Community First Bank was the leading local lender in both categories, according to its analysis of the new data. Pearson said it had about two weeks to prepare for the SBA application portal to go live.

It sketched a plan to manage loan applications and enlisted tech vendors to help.

More than 150 clients inquired before the program opened. Double the number called after.

Commercial loan officers engaged with clients. Employees from HR, accounting, wealth management, loans and deposits carried out the labor-intensive task of processing applications and inputting them into a “buggy” SBA system.

Staff worked 12 to 14 days, including weekends. They processed 500 applications and funded nearly $90 million in loans in the first phase, collectively supporting roughly 14,000 local jobs. About a hundred more came in the second phase.

Pearson echoed another banker’s description of the program — that it was like running a successful restaurant in New York City and having all your patrons come on one night.

“For about two weeks it was absolute

1304 E. Hillsboro St., Pasco, WA (509) 545-8420 • skoneirrigation.com

Top Tri-City PPP lenders, borrowers Lenders

Number of loans

Community First Bank

530

Gesa Credit Union

279

Banner Bank

265

Bank of America NA

157

US Bank NA

151

Borrowers $5 million to $10 million Christensen Inc. Richland $2 million to $5 million Adams Tri-Cities Enterprises Kennewick

Goodwill Industries of the Columbia Kennewick

Agrilabor Inc. Kennewick

I.W. International Insulation Inc. Kennewick

American Electric Inc. Richland

Lampson International LLC Kennewick

Atkinson Staffing Inc. Kennewick

M&L Contractor LLC Pasco

Caldwell Industries Inc. Kennewick

Senske Lawn & Tree Care Inc. Kennewick

Campbell & Bruce Refrigeration Services Pasco

Total Energy Management & HVAC Services Richland

Delhur Industries Inc. Richland

Tri-Cities Community Health Pasco

Fowler General Construction Inc. Richland

Tri-City Orthopaedic Clinic PSC Kennewick

Source: U.S. Small Business Administration

mayhem,” he said. Knowing employees were helping preserve jobs lent urgency to the work.

“They were all motivated by the fact they were helping these small businesses,” he said.

Ben Rutledge, vice president of com-

mercial lending and services for Richlandbased Gesa Credit Union, said there was trepidation about risking its money on an SBA guarantee.

A decade ago, the SBA had a reputation for challenging guarantees when loans uPPP APPLICATIONS, Page A22

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

Banking & Investments

Banking & Investments

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The No. 1 threat to your investment success There is the obvious investment advice that certainly you’ve heard again and again: Set clear and realistic long-term goals.

Keep investing regardless of market fluctuations.

Diversify, don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

Select quality low-cost globally diversified investments.

Seek out a fiduciary professional to support the financial side of your life.

All great advice, especially during the uncertainty of Covid-19.

But I’m going to lay it all out there for you — what I think is the biggest threat to investment success.

That threat is YOU. Here’s why.

Like Michael Jackson’s famous song lyrics, “I’m starting with the (wo)man in the mirror.”

Walk into your bathroom and look in the mirror. That person staring back at you, is that person your financial friend or foe?

Your behavior is the biggest determinant of success. It is not the markets or the funds you pick, nor is it any global event that has occurred in the past, present or to come. You and your actions are what most influences longterm investment success.

You can be invested in the most perfectly crafted, low-cost, globallydiversified portfolio, but if you abandon your strategy before it has a chance to work (aka, the long term) you won’t be successful.

People abandon their strategy for a couple of reasons. For one, they lose heart because of declines and volatility, or they become fearful based on what’s happening around them. Sounds a lot like recent times, doesn’t it?

Here are a few reminders to help keep you going.

1. Over time, markets go up.

Since 1926 there have been roughly an equal number of bear and bull markets, varying in duration and severity.

Even so, between 1950-2019 the stock market rose on 54% of trading days.

Why? Because earnings continue to increase over time. They won’t increase daily, or even with every quarter, but they will rise over time because people who work at companies are incentivized toward growth, moving life forward.

2. Even though markets go up, it is not always a smooth ride.

From 1974-2019 a dollar invested in the S&P 500 would have turned into $154. All that despite major global events, many that we’ve already forgotten, like the oil embargo, high inflation, Black Monday, savings and loan crisis, conflicts with Iraq, the dot com crash, 9/11, and of course the subprime mortgage crisis leading to the Great Recession. Many of these events made for a roller coaster ride.

3. Think you can time the market?

Think again.

There are no academic papers that support the consistent success of that approach to investing. The only reasonable alternative is to remain invested through even the toughest of times, requiring patience and tenacity.

4. Performance, when it comes down to it, is determined by just a few really good days.

Between 1999 and 2018, if you miss the 10 best days, your performance was cut by about half. That’s just 10 days

in the span of nearly 20 years.

Performance also is driven at any given time by just a few strong performers. Trying to pick those winAngie ners is nearly Furubottenimpossible LaRosee versus being Avea Financial Planning broadly diversified.

GUEST COLUMN What can you do to protect your investments?

First and foremost, stay calm. I describe market cycles like the changing seasons. Anticipate winter but know that the promise of spring is right around the corner.

Get clear on your goals and assess what’s going on in your life. Has anything changed? That might be a reason to modify your investment strategy.

Market volatility, fear or greed are not good reasons to make sudden changes.

Watch the expenses on your investments. Often, you can replace higherfee funds with lower-cost options.

Much like the lottery (which should only be played for entertainment purposes), you can’t win if you don’t play.

You must be in the market and stay in to win.

Be informed. Read books or blogs, watch videos and listen to podcasts to arm yourself with knowledge.

On Episode 21 of my podcast “The Financial Side of Life,” I interviewed Sarah Stanley Fallaw, daughter of “The Millionaire Next Door” author Thomas J. Stanley. She continues his legacy by studying the “science of building wealth” and has identified six wealth factors: frugality, confidence, responsibility, planning, focus and social indifference. Learn more about these concepts and how they can apply to your life.

Although February and March were tough, the markets have largely come back. This gives you yet another chance to prepare yourself and make a plan for the inevitable ups and downs the rest of 2020 may bring.

You can remove your biggest threat by understanding your own behavior.

The next time you look in the mirror, you will undoubtedly see a friend looking back at you and be well on your way to long-term investing success. Angie Furubotten-LaRosee is a certified financial planner, speaker, podcaster and founder of Richland’s Avea Financial Planning, a feeonly, fiduciary financial advice and investment management firm for women in science, technology, engineering and math and education.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

Banking & Investments

Where’s the inflation and what should investors do about it?

Will the massive fiscal and monetary stimulus packages designed to save the economy actually lead to high inflation?

This is becoming a hotly debated topic. In this column, we’ll explore inflation, future expectations and how to protect your nest egg.

Inflation can be broadly defined as the increase in prices of goods and services over time. However, I like to think of it a little differently. I view inflation as the erosion of the purchasing power of a hard-earned dollar.

Putting it that way typically prompts a more visceral reaction: “Who or what is taking away my purchasing power!?”

A widely used inflation gauge is the

Consumer Price Index, or CPI. The latest CPI reading, taken in May, showed that on average, prices increased a mere 0.1% from the prior Anthony Smith year.

HFG Trust It has always been a bit of a GUEST COLUMN headscratcher to me how remarkably low and stable CPI is. Fortunately for those among us who like to dig deeper, the monthly CPI release is far from a black box calculation.

In May, price changes ranged from a 27% increase for uncooked beef roasts to a 38% decrease for fuel oil, with every other category’s price change falling somewhere in between. Luckily, the price of instant coffee declined 1.6%.

I’ll take all the wins I can get.

Stable prices are important to a smoothly functioning economy.

If prices are rising quickly, consumers will make every effort to part with their depreciating currency as soon as possible. This pulls future consumption into the current period, resulting in an increase in the quantity demanded, which brings about still higher prices and hoarding activity. This feedback

loop can be devastating to economies.

I came of age in the 1990s and have only known stable prices.

I have no interesting personal accounts of inflation to relate to others, but I listen—and I absorb the history, the pain and the lessons. In the 19 years from 1970-89, a dollar lost 70% of its purchasing power.

In contrast, a dollar only lost 35% of its purchasing power from 2000-19.

As investors approach retirement and increase exposure to fixed income securities, it’s natural to pay closer attention to inflation expectations and plan accordingly.

Lucky for us, there are some very powerful folks who not only pay very close attention to inflation, but they also have the tools to influence it as well. They are our central bankers. Our central bank, the Federal Reserve, or Fed, oversees the supply of money, and targets a 2% annual inflation rate.

In recent months, the Fed has injected trillions of new dollars into the American economy to cushion against the severe negative impacts from pandemic shutdowns. It might seem that if the supply of money increases substantially, then prices should increase substantially as well.

However, CPI has remained quite low since the last major money printing episode of 2008.

One of the fascinating things about inflation is that expectations matter.

Expectations influence our buying habits, which in turn impact inflation.

It’s a classic self-fulfilling prophecy. If we expect higher future inflation, we’ll ask for wage increases which will force our employers to raise prices, and so on.

Recall, however, that I have known only stable prices during my entire life as a consumer. Neither I nor anyone in the big spending 20- to 50-year-old age bracket wakes up each morning expecting prices to be higher. And for that reason, prices are very sticky, which has allowed the Fed to run the wheels off its virtual money printing press while prices remain stable.

Where is all the newly created money going if it’s not showing up in the prices of goods and services?

It’s showing up in asset prices, including stocks and real estate. In addition to injecting trillions of new dollars into our economy, the Fed has effectively endorsed speculative behavior.

And voila! We have elevated stock and real estate valuations even in the face of a sharp recession.

What are some factors that could ignite CPI inflation this time around?

First, some Fed officials have indicated a willingness to let inflation run hotter than its 2% target, so don’t expect policy tightening at the first signs of higher inflation.

Second, a quick rebound could absorb any deflationary slack in the economy and lead to higher prices.

Third, any reversal of the secular offshoring trend (i.e., bringing production uSMITH, Page A18

Banking & Investments

Mergers and acquisitions, a primer When businesses or professionals talk about engaging in mergers or acquisitions (M&A), what exactly might that entail?

Beau Ruff In a general Cornerstone sense, M&A is Wealth Strategies a broad term GUEST COLUMN to describe the various transactions available to gain control of, or consolidate, companies.

An acquisition is the scenario where a buyer seeks to purchase or acquire the ownership of a business or a piece of a business. A merger might be a structure for two businesses to come together, or it might be just a “merger” in name, but practically an acquisition strategy without the long-term goal of the company owners working together.

This column provides a primer to better understand the terminology and the options.

The purchase of an entire business is accomplished one of two ways. First, it can be a purchase of the assets of the business. So, if William wants to buy a sign company under an asset-purchase acquisition strategy, William would enter into an agreement to buy each and every asset of the sign company.

This would of course include the equipment and vehicles and the inventory. It also would include less visible assets of the sign company such as customer lists, the phone number, website and the company’s name. After concluding the purchase, William would own the entirety of the company. uRUFF, Page A18

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

Q&A

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REBEKAH DOBBS

STCU Commercial and Business Services Commercial Banking Manager Employees you oversee: 2 What is STCU’s footprint in the Tri-Cities?

We have locations in the Southridge area of Kennewick, Queensgate area of Richland and will be opening our Pasco location on Road 68 soon. We also have a Home Loan division and my team, the Commercial and Business Services group, will soon be moving to our new location on Tucannon, just off Steptoe.

How did you come to this kind of work?

Like most, I’m an accidental banker.

Two months after receiving my commercial pilot’s license, 9/11 happened. With no job and no hopes of getting one as a pilot, I had to move home and reset. The local bank was hiring for a teller, so I applied and, as they say, the rest is history.

My CEO said it best, we are in the business of making dreams come true.

We get to help our community members open their first savings account, buy their first car, their first home, and, my specialty, start and grow their business.

What is commercial lending?

Commercial lending covers all the potential needs of the business, commercial real estate loans, construction loans, equipment loans, operating lines of credit and credit cards. We offer an entire suite of deposit products and services to help your business grow and operate efficiently and effectively.

What are the most interesting projects you see happening in the Tri-Cities?

The most important project right now

is working together to get our community to Phase 2. It’s been great to see this community band together and support our business owners during this difficult time. Supporting businesses of all sizes during this time is crucial to reviving our local economy.

What is one characteristic that you believe every leader should possess?

Optimism. An optimistic, enthusiastic, positive leader can move an individual, a team, a business, a community, an industry further than any other trait. It cannot be faked and is incredibly contagious.

A “can do attitude” will always get you where you want to go.

What is the biggest challenge facing managers today?

Balancing keeping our teams safe and healthy and trying to maintain some level of “business as usual” is an opportunity for leaders to stretch and think outside the box. Leading teams virtually and holding effective and efficient meetings is a new skill most leaders are rushing to figure out.

What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time?

Connect with your team. Say “good morning.” Say “good night.” It really is the little things that have the most impact. Set the tone for your team.

Rebekah Dobbs

Who are your role models or mentors?

My parents really impacted me growing up. I grew up on a ranch in Eastern Oregon and there was always a lot to do and little for it to be done with. I learned to be resourceful, responsible and “get back on the horse.”

I also have a tremendous amount of respect and appreciation for our CEO Ezra Eckhardt. We first met when I was working at Sterling Bank and he was the president. I had just been hired to start a new department for the bank. He walked into my office, sat down, and said “Rebekah, if there is anything I can do to help you be successful, just let me know”.

It was a similar message when he hired me to start the Commercial and Business Services group for STCU here in the Tri-Cities. Over the years I’ve watched Ezra lead his teams through a recapitalization and a merger at Sterling, and now Covid-19 at STCU. He handles change, connects and communicates with his team and efficiently leads the organization to success.

News directly to your inbox Local and real estate news delivered monthly. Subscribe to our e-newsletter at tcjournal.biz

uDOBBS, Page A22

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Banking & Investments

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

Banking & Investments

Check fraud is helping drive up financial fraud We have all seen the news: card skimmers, check fraud and compromised accounts. With financial fraud on the rise, where does your financial institution stand in terms of losses, security and products to assist you in safeguarding your accounts and identity?

The American Bankers Association does a survey each year to determine the amount of fraudulent transactions against deposit accounts. In 2018 the total amount of fraudulent transactions was 25.1 billion, up from 19.1 billion in 2016.

The addition of EMV chips has slightly decreased the amount of debit card fraud to 44%. However, losses incurred by check fraud — the payment method targeted most often — increased to 47%, while losses attributed to electronic banking transactions trailed at 9%.

With recent data breaches and the presence of skimmers, businesses have become more conscious of the risk associated with fraud and identity theft.

Often, businesses do not consider checks to be as great of risk. However, as the numbers above show, the risk is greater.

Check fraud may not receive the media attention that credit/debit card, tax fraud and Social Security fraud do, but it is a big problem for U.S. companies.

Antoinette Burnside Community First Bank / HFG Trust

GUEST COLUMN

A study by the Association for Financial Professionals found 71% of businesses surveyed in 2015 experienced actual or attempted check fraud.

Technology is a big reason check fraud remains such a

significant crime.

Criminals can easily use a personal computer, software, and a high-quality color printer to produce realisticlooking checks that can often escape detection.

After all, businesses use the same tools to create legitimate checks for payment.

Additionally, because checks contain the following critical information criminals can mimic legitimate checks which helps them elude detection: • Business name • Address • Phone number • Bank name and address • Bank account and routing numbers • Signature There are many steps one can take to lessen their exposure to fraud. Be-

low are a few to consider: • Protect your checks.

• Monitor your bank account for fraudulent transactions, including check washing where the dollar amount has been altered.

• Consider enrolling in a check verification program such as Positive Pay Turn on notifications that alert you to transactions such as deposits and withdrawals that exceed set limits.

• Reduce the number of checks you write by enrolling in cash management services and utilizing ACH transactions to pay vendors and employees.

• Download an app that allows you to turn your debit card on and off as needed, keeping it safe from skimming when not in use.

• Turn on texting services to advise you when dollar amounts are exceeded, along with the transaction type and geographic location.

Criminals are being creative and aggressive in committing fraud.

Protect your business by implementing these safeguards on your account.

It takes a lot less time to implement these safeguards than it does to close an account that has been compromised. Antoinette Burnside is assistant vice president and product manager for Kennewick-based Community First Bank and HFG Trust.

A17

Businesses can apply for PPP loan forgiveness

Businesses that received Paycheck Protection Program loans through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES Act, can apply to have the loans forgiven under a loan forgiveness program signed into law by President Donald Trump on June 5.

The PPP Flexibility Act defines terms to convert loans into gifts.

The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, has posted a loan forgiveness application to its website.

SBA also published a new EZ version of the forgiveness application that applies to borrowers that: • Are self-employed and have no employees; or • Did not reduce the salaries or wages of their employees by more than 25%, and did not reduce the number or hours of their employees; or • Experienced reductions in business activity as a result of health directives related to Covid-19; and did not reduce the salaries or wages of their employees by more than 25 percent.

The EZ application requires fewer calculations and less documentation for eligible borrowers. Both applications give borrowers the option of using the original eight-week covered period or an extended 24-week covered period. These changes will result in a more efficient process and make it easier for businesses to realize full forgiveness of their PPP loan.

The EZ forgiveness application is posted at bit.ly/PPPloanforgiveEZ. The full forgiveness application is posted at bit.ly/PPPloan_forgive.

A18

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

RUFF, From page A15 The second way to accomplish the acquisition of an entire business is to purchase each and every evidence of ownership (i.e., stock or LLC interests).

For simplicity, the second way is generally understood as a stock purchase.

Continuing the example above, William could instead enter into an agreement with the owner to buy all his or her stock to William. This would automatically transfer the sole ownership of the company to William along with all of the assets owned by the company — to include all the assets outlined above.

William may wish to buy only a portion of the business as well. For example, he might buy only the banner graphics portion of the business. This

would likely be structured as an asset purchase usually combined with the seller’s promise to not compete.

Let’s fast forward and assume William purchased the company 10 years ago.

In those 10 years, William has turned the sign company into a highly successful company where the annual revenue has soared from $200K a year to over $2 million a year.

A national branding company (XYX Inc.) that is publicly traded wants to acquire William’s sign business.

William is intrigued by the offer to sell but is concerned about the tax associated with the sale. After all, William has grown the company so much that the tax hit could be huge.

Banking & Investments A potential solution would be for XYZ to “purchase” William’s shares with its own stock rather than cash.

This is a stock-for-stock transaction that would be a type of merger that could qualify as tax-exempt.

After the transaction, William would not own the sign company stock, but would own XYZ stock valued at the sale price of the business.

Then, William can choose when to sell the stock on a stock exchange allowing him to choose when he must pay tax (tax would presumably be imposed at the time William sold his shares in the national branding company).

And, if William is worried about the potential fluctuation in the price

of XYZ shares, he can work with his financial advisor to implement a collar strategy to effectively mute the volatility of a position.

What if instead, another local sign company approached William seeking to combine their businesses with the hope that the resulting company would be more profitable by leveraging each other’s talent and infrastructure while reducing redundant operating costs?

William could structure it the same as discussed in the preceding paragraph, but the eventual sale of William’s stock would be much more complicated without a publicly-traded option.

Accordingly, William might rightly demand some amount of cash up front and the rest paid in stock of the resulting corporation. This transaction might also qualify for a portion of the purchase to be tax-free (perhaps taxdelayed is better terminology as the tax is due at the sale of the stock).

There are specific rules that govern the amount of cash that William can receive and still qualify for this type of preferential tax treatment.

In either of the previous two examples, the deal could be structured so that William is involved (which might then look more like a merger) of so that William is no longer involved (which might then look more like an acquisition even though termed a “merger”).

These transactions can be very sophisticated with various tax and legal ramifications. Of course, anyone attempting to engage in these transactions should work with competent counsel.

For those who merely have a passing interest, this column should suffice. Beau Ruff, a licensed attorney, is the director of planning at Cornerstone Wealth Strategies, a full-service independent investment management and financial planning firm in Kennewick.

SMITH, From page A14 home) could pressure cost structures.

Recent supply chain disruptions have led many industry executives to reconsider logistics strategies.

There are choices available to investors looking to defend against inflation.

Real estate, gold, inflation-linked bonds and companies with strong pricing power are examples of investment options that could serve to limit the harmful impacts of inflation on your investment portfolio over time. Protect your purchasing power! Anthony Smith is a chartered financial analyst and portfolio manager in the Kennewick office of HFG Trust.

He is a Tri-City native and University of Washington graduate.

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

Tri-City region’s population continues to climb

By Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

Pasco and Richland were among the state’s top 10 cities for population growth, and Benton and Franklin counties each grew about 2 percent in the past year.

Benton County, the state’s 10th largest county, grew 1.9%, adding 3,900 people, and Franklin County, the state’s 14th largest county, grew 2.2%, adding 2,080 people.

That’s according to the latest population tallies released by the state.

The state total population topped 7.6 million residents, according to annual April 1 estimates prepared by the Office of Financial Management. The state released the data June 29.

Though year-over-year data shows modest growth in Benton and Franklin counties, the area’s growth over the past decade shows an explosive uptick, with Benton County up 17.4% and Franklin

uBUSINESS BRIEF Controversial new overtime rules now in effect

Updates to Washington’s rules that spell out what type of workers don’t have to receive overtime pay took effect July 1.

The rules establish the criteria for certain workers to be considered exempt from getting overtime pay and other protections under the State Minimum Wage Act. The state Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) announced the changes last December after a lengthy public process.

It involved numerous public hearings and taking comments and input from more than 2,400 people.

The July update is primarily to the part

County, up 24%.

The Covid-19 crisis did not have a discernible impact on the 2020 estimates because most population change occurred before the crisis began, OFM said.

Strong population growth continued in Washington, with the state adding 109,800 people over the last year, a 1.5 percent increase.

Migration continues to be the primary driver behind Washington’s population growth.

From 2019-20, net migration (people moving in minus people moving out) to Washington totaled 83,400, which was down by 6,700 from last year.

Net migration accounted for 76% of the state’s population growth, with natural increase (births minus deaths) responsible for the other 24%. of the rules known as the “job duties test.”

In general, it helps determine which workers are considered executive, administrative, and professional employees, as well as computer professionals and outsides salespeople. Workers who fit into these categories based on the duties they perform, and earn more than the required salary threshold, can be considered exempt.

Washington currently uses two job duties tests to determine if an employee could be classified as exempt but starting July 1 the state will use a single test aligned more closely with federal standards. The test for each exemption spells out what duties an employee must perform to be classified as exempt, regardless of the employee’s job title or job description.

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A19

2020 State Total

7,656,200 Franklin Yakima Benton

Walla Walla

2020 population

Numeric change 2019-20

Percent change 2019-20

Percent change 2010-20

Benton County

205,700

3,900

2

17.4

Kennewick

84,960

1,290

1.5

15

Richland

58,550

1,700

3

22

West Richland

15,710

370

2.4

33

Prosser

6,220

75

1.2

9

Benton City

3,560

40

1.1

17.2

Franklin County

96,760

2,080

2.2

24

Pasco

77,100

1,810

2.4

29

Connell

5,500

0

0

31

Mesa

495

0

0

1.2

Kahlotus

165

0

0

-15

Yakima County

258,200

2,250

0.88

6.2

Yakima

95,490

1,050

1.1

5

Walla Walla County

62,580

380

0.6

6.5

Walla Walla

34,400

160

0.47

8.4

Source: Office of Financial Management

Under the rule changes, the state will base the salary threshold on a multiplier of the state minimum wage. That threshold will increase incrementally until it reaches 2.5 times the minimum wage in 2028.

The change will not impact most salaried workers this year because Washington employers will continue to

Graphic by Vanessa Guzmán

follow the federal standard for the rest of 2020. That’s because the federal requirement that a salaried worker needs to earn at least $684 per week to be exempt from overtime is still slightly more favorable to employees than the new state threshold.

Employers will have to meet the state threshold beginning Jan. 1, 2021, when it exceeds the federal level.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

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A22

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

PPP APPLICATIONS, From page A11 went bad.

PPP applicants initially didn’t have to meet the usual creditworthiness standards to qualify for the loans. Although the goal is to forgive most if not all loans, Gesa was concerned.

“You had lenders needing to decide if they were going to get into the game, could we trust the SBA to honor their guarantee.

When we started funding loans, we were apprehensive to do that,” he said.

Gesa proceeded with the first and second rounds. If there’s a third, it won’t take part.

“It was very crazy,” he said.

Gesa processed loans ranging from $7,000 and up. Its average PPP loan in the first round was $70,000, he said.

Despite the misgivings, Rutledge said PPP was a positive experience. Gesa wanted to help small businesses in crisis.

“People in our institution and all finanDOBBS, From page A15

How do you keep your employees motivated?

I think you always need an element of “fun.” Work hard, stay focused, and don’t forget to have a little fun – oh, and celebrate the wins – all of them. You usually work just as hard for the little ones as you do the big ones.

How do you measure success in your workplace?

Is the team happy and successful? If they are, everything else is probably in line. Members are getting great service, business is coming in, goals are on track,

Banking & Investments

cial institutions stepped up. You had bankers working 15 hours a day to get these done,” he said.

Sue Horton, president of Spokane-based Wheatland Bank, heard the misgivings about the SBA guarantees. She didn’t share them.

“We concluded our government is trying to help business,” she said.

Wheatland issued 665 PPP loans totaling $75 million, with nearly $15 million in its Pasco branch. The average Tri-City loan was for $113,269.

Wheatland, with a focus on commercial and agricultural banking, embraced PPP. When rival banks shut down their portals, it aided distraught customers, winning some over as new clients.

Wheatland required PPP borrowers to have dedicated accounts for tracking purposes. By early July, 56 percent of its Tri-City customers had spent all their PPP funds. Seventy-one of 127 had reached the

loan “forgiveness” threshold.

Financial Institutions aren’t eligible for PPP money, but the program is helping offset other Covid-19 losses.

When the Federal Reserve slashed interest rates, it repriced variable rate loans like the agricultural lines of credit that are a mainstay of Wheatland’s business. PPP fees balance out those losses.

“We’re going to have a record year this year because of this,” she said.

The industry is bracing for the other shoe to drop. PPP recipients have until October 2021 to apply for loan forgiveness. At present, it is a complicated process, akin to filing a tax return.

The Independent Community Bankers of America and other entities are lobbying Congress to allow most borrowers to sign statements instead.

“If the goal is really for everything to be forgiven, why put all these people through all this work?” Horton said.

Columbia Bank, with local branches in Richland and Pasco, funded nearly 4,400 businesses with PPP loans totaling nearly $1 billion.

That represents about 70,000 jobs, said David Moore Devine, executive vice president and chief marketing and experience officer for the Tacoma-based institution.

Moore Devine said the bank knew the government would build a program to support businesses. But the nature of the program and the rules that changed daily until the application portal opened were a challenge.

“Businesses want a degree of certainty.

When rules and guidelines change, that can be difficult,” he said.

But the long days and spirit of camaraderie underscored the importance of the work.

“It’s the kind of thing that unifies a culture. We are really motivated by helping our community,” he said.

individuals feel value in the work they are doing.

never completely balanced. Some days your work gets the best of you, other days your family will. My strategy has always been to give whatever I’m doing 100% of my energy and attention. When at work, work. When with family, be with family. Focus on what’s in front of you.

What’s your best time management strategy?

Have a plan, write it down, review it daily and adjust as needed. If I get buried in something and feel like I’m spinning my wheels, I’ll leave it and come back to it later. Sometimes it’s best to step away, regroup and try again.

What do you like to do when you are not at work?

Hang out with my family. We love being outdoors, hiking, biking, boating, skiing, etc. If the sun is out, we probably are too.

Best tip to relieve stress?

Exercise. It’s amazing what a run or a row can do. Depending on the situation, it can clear my mind or help me really dig in and focus on a problem I’m trying to solve. Either way, I always feel better when I’m done.

What do you consider your leadership style to be?

Coach and pacesetter. As a producing manager it’s important I lead by example.

There isn’t anything I ask of my team that I’m not also doing myself. I set the course and invite them to join me, managing themselves and reaching out as needed.

How do you balance work and family life?

I love being a working mom, but I’m not going to lie, it can be a struggle. It’s

What is your favorite podcast?

Why was it meaningful to you?

I’m not sure if I can claim a favorite, there are a lot of good ones out there.

However, a podcast I really enjoy is “How I Built this with Guy Raz.” Guy interviews and uncovers the stories behind some of the greatest companies.

It’s interesting to learn why they started, how they did it and what made them successful. Aside from getting a glimpse into the driving factors behind these companies, it’s also interesting to see that every company’s journey is different and there’s more than one way to build a successful business.

uBUSINESS BRIEF Economic injury loan program reopens

The U.S. Small Business Administration has reopened the Economic Injury Disaster Loan and EIDL Advance program portal to all eligible applicants experiencing economic impacts due to Covid-19.

The program offers long-term, lowinterest assistance for small businesses or nonprofits.

The loans can be used to cover payroll and inventory, pay debt or fund other expenses. Additionally, the EIDL Advance will provide up to $10,000 ($1,000 per employee) of emergency economic relief to businesses experiencing temporary difficulties and these emergency grants do not have to be repaid.

Go the SBA disaster assistance website at SBA.gov/Disaster for details.

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

A23

TOURISM Right on schedule, food follows wine at Kennewick’s Columbia Gardens

By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

The Port of Kennewick used wineries to woo tourists and hungry crowds to an industrial stretch of Columbia Drive.

Now food is following, all part of the port’s plan to use its wine-themed tourism to spark development and reconnect Kennewick to its downtown waterfront.

“The tourism focus was the driving factor for transitioning the neighborhood,” said Tana Bader-Inglima, the port’s deputy director.

Five food trucks and a farm stand have joined four wineries at Columbia Gardens Urban Wine & Artisan Village, east of the cable bridge.

Beus Brothers Farm Market is the latest and most unexpected addition.

Brothers Curt, Kevin and Kyle Beus leased a gravel area opposite the food trucks in late June. The brothers set up a tent and trailer as well as cooling shed to support the farm stand, which is a sister to their similar stand in the parking lot of Griggs Ace Hardware in Richland.

They expected to stay open until late fall, when the last of the harvest wraps up.

Curt said the family sells local produce as well as lamb, chicken, Thanksgiving turkeys and other meat they raise in the area. The farm stand season will run through Christmas tree sales in the fall, he said.

Curt said the stand is chiefly an outlet — and showcase — for Northwest produce, meats and gourmet items.

“We’re not buying stuff from California,” he told the port commission during a routine business meeting in June. “We’re

trying to promote local agriculture, local artisan foods.”

The Beus Brothers Farm Market helps cement the port’s dream of bringing visitors to the area along Duffy’s Pond.

The port designed Columbia Gardens as a catalyst to bring wine tourists to an area that been cut off from the river on the theory food and other tourism-friendly activities would follow.

Bartholomew Winery and Monarcha Winery moved in during the first phase.

Both produce wine on site, taking advantage of a custom wastewater system installed by the city of Kennewick to support the project.

The second phase brought two tasting rooms, Gordon Estates and Cave B Estate Winery, and room for six food trucks.

Swampy’s BBQ, led by Ron Swanby, moved in last year and takes up two spots, one for the truck and other for the permanent smoker.

2020 saw the additions of Don Taco, Ninja Bistro and Ann’s Best Creole & Soul Food. Rollin’ Fresh Ice Cream is a regular as well, though it has relocated to nearby Clover Island.

Ninja and Ann’s both hail from Richland. Ninja Bistro debuted at John Dam Plaza while Ann’s has a brick-and-mortar restaurant at the Richland Airport.

Photo by Chad Utecht The Port of Kennewick’s tourism focus at Columbia Gardens Urban Wine & Artisan Village has paid off with the arrivals of five food trucks, four wineries and now, a farm stand, Beus Brothers Farm Market.

Photo by Wendy Culverwell

The individual trucks set their own days and hours. Links to their sites are available through portofkennewick.org on the Columbia Gardens and Clover Island pages.

There is more to Columbia Gardens than food, wine and farm produce. Visitors can pick up food and stroll along the walkway by the cleaned-up pond, which is alive with herons, ducks, geese and

other waterfowl, all in the long shadow of the cable bridge. The trail links to the Sacagawea Heritage Trail and Clover Island.

A mix of public and private development is expected to follow at Columbia Gardens. The port owns other parcels in the area, including the 6.7-acre former manufactured home park called “The Willows” and the 3.2-acre Cable Greens.

Now accepting applications

Go to tcjournal.biz/yp

Deadline is Aug. 1, 2020

A24

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

Tourism

Covid-19 hits tourism hard in the Tri-Cities Hospitality is big business in the TriCities. It just misses landing in the top five sectors, as ranked by employment levels in Benton-Franklin Trends data.

The data behind this indicator show that in 2019, hospitality employment levels averaged slightly over 10,000 in the two counties. That placed hospitality sixth. As a share of the labor force in the two counties, hospitality has consistently held that position over the past decade.

Economists put two industries into this sector: accommodations and food services. The latter is typically much larger than the former, encompassing full-service restaurants, limited-service restaurants, bars, coffee shops and food

service contractors and caterers.

But hospitality doesn’t equal tourism.

Whether leisure or group, tourism consists of activities spent D. Patrick Jones in an area by Eastern those outside Washington the area. It can University include day-tripGUEST COLUMN pers and it certainly includes those who spend a night or two in local lodging facilities. Those who spend the

night might be in the Tri-Cities on business, but these visitors are not considered tourists, but they fall into the category of “travel and tourism.” So, looking at the accommodations and food sector data only will overcount tourism.

Perhaps the largest factor clouding any equivalency between tourism and hospitality spending comes from food services. Over the past few decades, we’ve all developed a greater interest in dining out — in our hometowns. From data either labor or retail sales, there is no way to separate local from visitor spending.

On the other hand, a key component of tourism, shopping, isn’t a part of the hospitality definition. Nor is the (smaller) sector covering activities in the arts, entertainment and recreation. Nor is transportation, whether ground and air, part of the hospitality sector. The absence of these sectors from the hospitality sector implies an undercount of tourism.

Simply, our country’s economic data system doesn’t have a line item for tourism, at least at the state and local level.

For several years, the keepers of gross domestic product, or GDP, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, or BEA, added a “satellite,” or supplemental, account for tourism. Estimates by the BEA of the share of national GDP taken up by tourism fall usually around 3%.

For those tracking tourism’s economic dimensions, one has to make judgments about shares of certain sectors to include.

How much of restaurant sales, for ex-

ample, are to locals and to those outside the county? Dean Runyan Associates, or DRA, a national service provider to the tourist industry, publishes an estimate of annual spending, at the state and county level.

The data shows the steep growth over the most recent five-year period, 2014-18.

DRA reported a gain from $539 million to $672 million, or a cumulative 25% increase. Interestingly, both the state and the Tri-Cities grew these dollars at the same rate. These last five years represent an increase greater than doubling over the prior five-year interval, when cumulative growth amounted to 11%.

Yet DRA’s reports come with a significant delay. In this era of Covid-19, most of us want to know what the situation looks like now. And governmental data typically doesn’t offer anything close to “real-time” looks at a local economy — with one exception — unemployment claims. Nationally and statewide, these are issued weekly.

In Washington, the Employment Security Department publishes two series on unemployment claims: initial and continuing. This column will look at continuing because it provides a real-time snapshot. In contrast to initial claims, continuing claims counts everyone on the rolls the week before, those added and those who departed.

The accompanying chart shows the uJONES, Page A26

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

Tourism

A25

Crow Butte ready to welcome campers — when Phase 2 comes

By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

One good thing happened when Crow Butte Park in southern Benton County closed to campers because of the Covid-19 crisis.

No one was camping in early June when a storm blew through. Lightning struck an irrigation pump and 14 large trees blew down in the campground.

Normally, all 52 campsites would have been occupied, as they typically are during the March 15 to Oct. 31 camping season.

Visitors were in the day-use area, but camp hosts shooed them out. The damaging storm caused no injuries, to the relief of the Port of Benton, which has managed the 275-acre property on the Columbia River since 2001.

Remote and wild, Crow Butte is routinely ranked as a favorite Northwest destination for RVers and campers. It has a swimming beach, boat dock, fishing, hiking trails and spacious camp sites with full RV hookups. It’s a getaway that lives up to its reputation.

RVs account for about two-thirds of overnight guests. Tent campers account for the remaining third.

The unwelcome closure had another benefit too, said Miles Thomas, director of economic development and government affairs for the port.

It gave workers added time to finish repairs to the antiquated irrigation and sewer systems and to tackle overgrown trees and shrubs. The combination contributed to Crow Butte’s tired and overgrown appearance.

The port spent $25,000 to repair the caretaker’s house and office, $50,000 to repair the collapsing sewer lines and $40,000 on the irrigation system.

Thomas suspects even more trees would have fallen in the June storm if workers hadn’t tackled the overgrowth.

When it reopens, visitors will find a grassier park and tamed trees.

The pandemic may have delivered benefits, but it’s an unwelcome visitor.

The port wants to reopen the campground, Thomas said. But it won’t do it until it’s allowed under Washington’s Safe Start program.

It reopened Crow Butte to day visitors, hikers and fishers, which were allowed under Phase 1, Benton County’s status in early June. Guests are asked to keep a safe distance and to wear face masks.

Visitors need to wear masks around park staff, which includes two couples who serve as paid hosts at the campgrounds.

The playground is closed, as is the campground.

They will stay closed until Benton County meets the state’s goals for managing coronavirus to warrant moving to Phase 2.

Phase 2 allows businesses to open on a limited basis. It also expands on outdoor recreation to allow camping, visits to beaches and some sporting activities.

It is unclear when Benton and Franklin counties will graduate from the current status – a modified version of Phase 1. The two have some of the state’s highest infection rates.

There have been requests to allow RVers whose campers have their own bathrooms and showers and don’t need access to communal restrooms. It decided against the RV-only plan.

“We feel that we need to wait and follow the guidance through the state so we can confidently open the park to all patrons safely,” Thomas said.

Until it reopens, the port is forced to cancel campsite reservations and refund payments, which come to about $16,000 a month.

Courtesy Port of Benton Above: The Port of Benton is eager to show off updates to the Crow Butte Park campground west of Paterson on the Columbia River.

It can’t until Benton County moves to Phase 2 of Washington’s Safe Start program. Below: Robert Jackson of the Port of Benton maintenance team works on the Crow Butte Park irrigation system.

The park generated $230,000 in 2019.

Salaries, insurance and maintenance cost about $200,000. There were 6,243 dayuse visitors, 1,141 overnight campers and 1,706 moorage visitors last year.

RVers pay $35 a night to camp while tent campers pay $20. Day visitors are asked to pay $5. Thomas said the port is developing a web-based payment system to reduce the need for cash at the park.

The Port of Benton runs Crow Butte under a state law that encourages public ports to support recreational and tourism activities in areas where other public and private agencies aren’t able to do so. The Army Corps of Engineers set up Crow Butte Park in 1970s as part of the McNary Dam project.

The Washington State Parks Department ran it until a budget crisis forced it to consider closing it. The port took over under its lesser-known mission to support recreation and tourism areas in underserved areas.

Situated about 14 miles west of Paterson on Highway 14, Crow Butte is surrounded by farmland and a sparse population that doesn’t attract investment.

The park itself has such poor cellphone coverage that the port recently equipped hosts with satellite phones so they can field calls about reservations.

Follow the park’s status @crowbuttepark on Facebook.

Call 509-940-7326 or email res@portofbenton.com for more information.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

Tourism 10 sectors in the greater Tri-Cities area with the highest number of claims as of June 27.

How has tourism fared in the Covid-19 pandemic? If we use the surrogate of accommodation and food services, despite its shortcomings noted earlier, not too well. It ranks as the hardest-hit among all sectors. As of June 27, the Tri-Cities count of continuing claims totaled over 11,400, implying that the hospitality secContinuing Claims for Unemployment Benefits for Benton & Franklin Counties, as of June 27, 2020.

Source: EWU Institute for Public Policy & Economic Analysis, based on data from ESD

tor made up 18% of the unemployed.

On a relative basis, the economic pain felt by this sector is now even larger than the peak of the continued claims, which occurred in mid-May in the two counties.

Then, unemployed in the hospitality sector made up about 13% of the total. Other sectors have simply come back to life a bit faster.

Now that the two counties have moved up a notch in the phased opening process, it is a likely that especially the food services sector will experience a pickup in employment. But a cautionary note: in many locales across the country, including Spokane, where restaurants re-opened, they are again shutting as the coronavirus roars back. D. Patrick Jones is the executive director for Eastern Washington University’s Institute for Public Policy & Economic Analysis. Benton-Franklin Trends, the institute’s project, uses local, state and federal data to measure the local economic, educational and civic life of Benton and Franklin counties.

uBUSINESS BRIEF Vit plant’s Analytical Laboratory finishes startup testing

Workers have finished startup testing at the Analytical Laboratory in Hanford’s Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant, known as the vit plant.

The achievement meets a U.S. Department of Energy contract milestone for the Bechtel National Inc.-led team and supports DOE’s 2020 strategic vision priority for significant construction project milestones. Completing construction and then startup testing of facilities for Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste moves the Hanford site one step closer to treating millions of gallons of waste in underground tanks.

The plant’s commissioning team will now ensure workers are trained, systems and equipment are operational and written procedures are in hand to support future lab operations.

The laboratory’s key function is to determine the correct glass formulation “recipe” for each incoming batch of waste and confirm that vitrified glass produced by the Low-Activity Waste Facility meets regulatory requirements and standards.

During operations to treat tank waste using the Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste approach, laboratory chemists and technicians will analyze about 3,000 samples each year. Samples also will be taken throughout the vitrification process to confirm production of a high-quality glass product and good process controls.

Sen

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JONES, From page A24

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A26

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

Tourism

A27

Friends of Badger Mountain readies new vineyard trail for fall debut

By Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

The local nonprofit that built public trails on Badger and Candy mountains is preparing to open a new trailhead as it presses for a 20-mile through-trail linking Amon Basin and the Yakima River by way of Little Badger, Badger, Candy and Red mountains.

Friends of Badger Mountain, which marked its 15th anniversary in June, will celebrate by opening its newest trail this fall. The Red Mountain Vineyard Trail should open by Thanksgiving, said Sharon Grant, a member of the board and spokeswoman.

The newest trail follows a recent win for local hikers: The city of Richland completed its drawn-out project to replace the uneven steps at the trailhead to Badger Mountain Centennial Preserve this spring.

The project was partially completed in April 2019, leaving a steep gap in the path. For the next year, most visitors detoured around the closed section.

Heartier souls scrambled the steep hillside beside the closed trail.

Badger Mountain made its debut in 2005, thanks to a partnership between the all-volunteer conservancy-minded nonprofit and Benton County. The team followed that up with a new trail network on Candy Mountain in 2017.

More than 310,000 people used the two mountains in 2019. Four out of five hikers live in the Tri-Cities, according to a survey by Richland park rangers.

Friends of Badger Mountain has long had Red Mountain in its sights. Unable to secure a corridor across its privately owned ridgeline, it lowered its focus to the vineyards below.

The Red Mountain Vineyard Trail will carry the ridge-to-ridge trail through vineyards of the popular wine grape growing area. Hedges Winery in Benton City built its first section.

The final “ridge” is Little Badger Mountain, which is in the city of Richland.

The 3.5-mile trail will extend from the Sagebrush Trail on the eastern boundary Badger Mountain through the “saddle” to Little Badger, which boasts Richland’s highest elevation.

Friends of Badger Mountain planned to begin raising the $500,000 in January to buy the remaining 21 acres to complete the trail.

That is on hold because of the Covid-19 crisis although donations can be made online through friendsofbadger. org/little-badger-mountain.

The city of Richland set aside $200,000 in lodging taxes to support the project.

No paywall at tcjournal.biz

Photo by Melanie Hair The city of Richland finished work on new steps at the trailhead for Badger Mountain Centennial Preserve. Friends of Badger Mountain is working to extend the trail to Amon Creek on one side and the Yakima River on the other.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

Tourism

The cheery champion of Tri-City tourism finds good news in sea of bad

By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

Michael Novakovich is by nature and by profession an optimist.

As president of Visit Tri-Cities, his job is to champion the people, places and things that draw tourists to the MidColumbia, to fill its shops, bars, restaurants and hotel rooms.

Visitors spent more than $560 million in Benton and Franklin counties in 2018, according to the bureau’s most recent annual report.

The Covid-19 pandemic has battered few industries more than the ones that rely on tourism spending. The Tri-Cities Airport reported a 95% decline in passenger traffic in April and 87% in May. Novakovich knows of at least five local hotels, mostly corporate-owned Motel 6 properties, that simply closed when Washington’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy order hit in March.

More than 70% of hotel workers in the U.S. have been laid off or fur-

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loughed, according to the American Hotel & Lodging Association, which calculates the loss in tax revenue alone at nearly $17 billion to states and local taxing entities.

Tourism supported 165,000 jobs in Washington in 2019, or 3.5% of the state total, according to the Washington Tourism Alliance. The alliance calculates leisure and hospitality job losses may account for as much as half the 1.2 million unemployment claims filed in Washington in mid-May. “Obviously, tourism everywhere is adversely impacted in a pretty significant way,” Novakovich said. Locally, $25 million worth of meetings, conventions and sporting events that were scheduled for Tri-City venues have been canceled because of the pandemic.

But Novakovich, the optimist, sees cause for optimism.

The convention marketing team rebooked $8 million of the business, rescheduling some events for later in 2020 and others for future years.

To a coworker, family member or friend.

Please recycle your publication when you are finished reading it.

“The sales teams have had some success at multiyear bookings,” he said.

Visit TriCities is working through the Wa s h i n g t o n Michael Tourism AlliNovakovich ance’s Discover Wa s h i n g t o n campaign which will push in-state travel. The Tri-Cities has a starring role as a premier outdoors destination packed with wineries, science and fine dining.

In another promising development, the Tri-Cities will host the 2021 North American edition of the Travel Bloggers Exchange (TBEX), which brings 400 to 600 travel writers to town for five days of familiarization tours.

Novakovich called it an “incredible” opportunity to draw attention from writers who reach millions of readers.

Novakovich said he’s encouraged by hotel occupancy rates, which began inching up in May as area residents took “staycations” from staying at home.

Some essential business travel has continued. Anecdotally, the return of fishing is helping.

Still, hotel occupancy rates were off by half in June compared to a year ago.

That was before early July, when Washington state allowed Benton and Franklin counties to enter a modified

version of Phase 1 of the state’s Safe Start program. The modified phase allows the resumption of some business activities, including al fresco dining when social distancing requirements can be met.

Novakovich is eager to see the MidColumbia come to grips with the pandemic. High infection rates could give it a reputation as an undesirable travel destination, something he called “concerning.”

“If we sit in this spot longer than we already have, it’s going to be painful to attract business to the Tri-Cities,” he said. “We’ve got to have safe operating businesses. We have to reopen and restart our economy.”

Visit Tri-Cities pushed hard for the move to a modified Phase 1 and to building consumer confidence that it’s safe to visit local businesses.

It joined the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce, Tri-City Development Council, Benton-Franklin Health District and other entities to form the Open and Safe Coalition.

The coalition is pushing Tri-Citians to wear masks and take other steps to curtail the spread of coronavirus. Businesses that take the open and safe pledge to adhere to health department recommendations are highlighted on electronic maps and have added access to masks, sanitizers, touchless thermometers and other protective gear.

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

Tourism

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Vintage boat cruises into new life as bar at Richland Yacht Club

By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

The little runabout was so perfect, Roy Keck couldn’t help himself.

When the like-new 1962 Dorsett El Dorado the color of harvest gold came up at auction, the boating enthusiast had to have her.

The 15-foot fiberglass beauty had fewer than 90 hours on its Mercury 50 engine.

The original owner garaged it in the Yakima area for decades. It only hit the auction block when the owner’s heirs settled his estate.

Keck, a retired Energy Northwest executive who serves on the Port of Benton Commission, is a boat lover who has held every position there is at the Richland Yacht Club.

He was captivated by the boat.

“I bought this boat about five years ago because it was in pristine condition,” he said. “The last thing I needed was another boat. But I couldn’t pass it up.”

He bought it and hauled it to his machine shop/man cave at the Richland Airport.

He’d developed an industrial shop at

uBUSINESS BRIEFS State launches free Covid-19 counseling program Washington has launched Washington Listens, a support program and phone line to help people manage elevated levels of stress due to the pandemic.

People who call the Washington Listens support line will speak with a support specialist and get connected to community resources in their area. The program is anonymous.

The Washington Listens support line is 1-833-681-0211. It is available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. TTY and language access services are available by using 711 or their preferred method.

Resources and self-help tips are available at walistens.org.

the airport with his son after he retired about 13 years ago. Most space is leased to tenants but the Kecks retained room for a personal shop where they restore old cars and spend time with friends.

The boat lingered for several years. But in time, the Kecks dove in and retooled it as a tribute to Roy Keck’s wife following her illness and death several years ago.

They sliced a bartender-sized hole in the center, installed counters and legs and turned it into a service bar.

On a Saturday in June, they hauled it to the Richland Yacht Club, where the boat, now named Lil’ Miss Becky Lee after his wife, occupies pride of place in the club’s $1.7 million clubhouse.

Dorsetts were widely produced in the 1960s and played an outsized role in the booming recreational boating market.

Their swoopy stylings and company logo were right at home in an era that birthed the original Star Trek television series and the Sean Connery-era James Bond films.

Surviving Dorsetts tend to be run-down and unseaworthy. YouTube has many videos highlighting old boats and restoration efforts. But the one from Yakima was al-

Red Cross needs volunteers to help with wildfire relief

The American Red Cross is seeking local volunteers to help with relief efforts for what is expected to be a busy wildfire season.

It is seeking volunteers to help place victims in emergency lodging, including hotels and shelters, and health care workers, including doctors, nurses and paramedics. It is also seeking volunteers to help shelter pets of people forced to leave their homes.

Go to redcross.org/volunteer for information.

Mayors weigh in on State of the Tri-Cities

Kennewick Mayor Don Britain, Pasco Mayor Saul Martinez, Richland Mayor Ryan Lukson and West Richland Mayor Brent Gerry will discuss their priorities and initiatives as well as the

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Courtesy Roy Keck The Lil’ Miss Becky Lee began life as a 15-foot Dorsett El Dorado runabout and is now the bar at the Richland Yacht Club.

most flawless.

“It was a perfect barn find,” Keck said.

Lil’ Miss Becky Lee rests on legs instead of a hull, but her key features are all there. The Mercury is perched on the transom. The lights and fixtures work. The distinctive Dorsett windshield, designed to pivot so passengers could scramble onto the deck, is in place too.

The boat is on loan to the yacht club at 350 Columbia Point Drive.

The club is dedicated to the enjoyment of boating and safety education. It boasts a 176-slip marina at Columbia Point and has about 400 members.

With the boat now resting comfortably near the river, the Kecks are teeing up another project. They’re restoring a 1935 Hudson Terraplane – an old school gangster car they plan to power with a Corvette engine and drive train.

toll the pandemic is taking during the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce’s State of the Cities virtual luncheon. It’s from noon to 1 p.m. July 22.

Attendance is free but registration is required.

enue Service between March 25 to July 15 need to restart their payments.

The IRS reports taxpayers who had installment agreements, offers in compromise or payments in private collection and skipped any payments from March 25 and July 15 should start paying again to avoid penalties and possible default on their agreements.

Taxpayers who can’t pay or who have questions should contact the IRS. Go to irs.gov/payments for information.

Go to /bit.ly/StateoftheCities to sign up.

Taxpayers need to resume payments by July 15

Taxpayers who took advantage of the People First Initiative tax relief and did not make payments to the Internal Rev-

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

When it comes to coronavirus, protect your health and your wallet Scammers look to capitalize on the news of the moment, especially if the headlines can instill fear and motivate people to act. The ongoing outbreak of the coronavirus is no exception.

While scientists and medical professionals are working overtime to find ways to test for and stem the spread of the virus, the Federal Trade Commission warns that bad actors are working hard to use this as an opportunity to deceive consumers and steal their money or sensitive information.

Just as you can protect yourself from the virus, you can also keep these opportunistic scammers at bay.

How it works:

• Scammers may set up websites to sell bogus coronavirus products — from face masks to vaccines to cure-alls — and use fake emails, texts and social media posts to get you to share payment or sensitive personal information.

• You may come across emails or social posts claiming to promote awareness and prevention tips, including fake information about cases in your neighborhood.

• Scammers may use this as a way to tout an alleged can’t-miss investment opportunity — say in face masks or a cure.

• You may get donation requests claiming to raise money to help victims.

• Stimulus payment scams: Scam-

mers are using phone calls, e-mails, and texts with false information about stimulus payments (economic impact Jason Erskine payments) AARP from the federal government.

GUEST COLUMN The scammers want your money and will try to obtain personal information such as your Social Security and/or bank account number.

What you should know:

• Know that there is currently no vaccine available for coronavirus.

• Any advertised investment opportunity that claims to ride the wave of economic activity due to the virus is probably an opportunity to lose money to a scam.

• Your best resources for information on the virus are the ones you know and trust — but first verify that the resource is who you think it is.

• The IRS emphasizes that they will not call, text, email, or contact you on social media asking for personal or bank account information — even related to the economic impact payments.

What you should do: • Don’t click on email links from sources you don’t know. It could download malware on your device.

• Ignore any online offers for vaccinations or treatments. If a vaccine or treatment is developed, you will hear about it in the news, not on an online ad or sales pitch.

• If you receive a communication claiming to be from a government agency like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, close the email and then visit the agency’s website directly at cdc.gov.

• Engage your inner skeptic when confronted with donation requests. Before giving, check out charity watchdogs, like give.org or charitynavigator.org.

• To check on how and when you will receive your economic impact payment, go to irs.gov.coronavirus. Most eligible persons will automatically receive payments but some who are not required to file an IRS tax return will need to fill out a form. Instructions are provided at irs. gov/coronavirus.

When it comes to fraud, vigilance is our No. 1 weapon. You have the power to protect yourself and your loved ones from scams. If you can SPOT a scam, you can STOP a scam. Please share this alert with friends and family. Jason Erskine is communications director for the AARP Washington State Office.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

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Bill aims to support next generation of hydropower As I have said in the past and will continue to vocalize in our nation’s capital: Hydropower is truly the lifeblood of the Pacific Northwest. From the Grand Coulee Dam, the largest power producing hydroelectric dam in North America, to the dams along the Columbia and Snake rivers, Central Washington has come to rely on the clean, affordable, and reliable power these dams produce. We should be encouraging innovation and expansion of hydropower as the United States moves toward a clean energy future.

These critical water infrastructure projects provide countless benefits to our communities, local economies, and robust agriculture industry. I have been proud to defend and fight for our dams in Congress, and I will continue to support advancing hydropower technology.

I recently joined Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Washington) to introduce the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act, a bill that aims to expand hydropower as a clean and renewable energy source and support innovation for the next generation of hydroelectric technology.

The legislation will update federal renewable purchase requirements to — finally — include hydropower as an essential renewable resource. Additionally, it will modernize the licensing process for hydroelectric projects, expedite licensing for hydropower projects that protect or enhance environmental resources, and requires a report that identifies ways Congress can reduce market barriers to the development of emerging hydropower technologies.

Our local scientists and researchers, including those at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland and others throughout our district, continue to discover new and innovative technologies that increase fish passage and improve the overall operation of our dams. I will continue to encourage and support the scientific research and development that will transform our new and existing hydroelectric dams and structures into the next-generation of hydropower.

I have strongly advocated for the inclusion of water infrastructure — which includes dams — in any comprehensive infrastructure package that comes before Congress. Most recently, I led a bipartisan letter with Rep. Jim Costa (D-California) urging for water infrastructure to be prioritized. Not only do water infrastructure projects provide clean energy and vital irrigation, but they also spur economic development

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and create highquality jobs.

The House recently passed H.R. 2, an infrastructure package that simply did not address the Dan Newhouse needs of Central Congressman Washington.

GUEST COLUMN Not only did the legislation not include funding for water infrastructure projects, but it focused far too heavily on urban areas — leaving rural com-

munities like ours in the dust. House Democrats also blocked a bipartisan amendment I introduced with Reps.

Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Washington), Doug Lamborn (R-Colorado), Kim Schrier (D-Washington) and Denny Heck (D- Washington) that would clarify jurisdiction over federal pumped storage project development by ensuring the Bureau of Reclamation has oversight when two or more reservoirs are involved. This amendment would have provided regulatory relief to those building and operating water infrastructure projects throughout the West and beyond. Unfortunately,

House Democratic leaders prevented its consideration.

Between the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act and a strong federal investment in water infrastructure projects across the country, the United States will be well-positioned to produce and support clean and renewable hydropower, bolstering our energy independence and providing reliable and affordable power to American families. U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, RSunnyside, represents Washington’s 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

BUSINESS PROFILE

Virginia bike shop chain plants offshoot in Richland

By Jeff Morrow

for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

Charles Conte Jr. decided late last year it was time to move to the Tri-Cities, where his wife Susan’s family lived.

In January, the family moved from Virginia, where Charles had been a key player in his father’s bike shop chain, Conte’s Bike Shop. He intended to work for a local nonprofit.

“Susan was born and raised here,” Charles said. “Her parents live in the TriCities, and that was the driving force for us to move here — to be close to Susan’s family.”

Charles, however, decided against working for a nonprofit.

“I thought long and hard about what made me happy,” he said.

Bicycles. Bicycles make him happy.

So the Contes opened Reborn Bike Shop at 1341 George Washington Way in Richland at the Uptown Shopping Center on May 14.

Charles said the Tri-Cities is perfect for his store.

“The infrastructure is here. There are plenty of bike trails,” he said. “The government has done a wonderful job with the greenways.”

Reborn — which operates in a 2,500-square-foot building — sells new bikes, as well as pre-owned and others on consignment. Trade-in options also are available.

The bike shop offer warranties for all its

bikes.

“We have bikes for as little as $35, up to a few thousand dollars,” Charles said.

The store also sells wheels, tires and tubes, parts, accessories, helmets, shoes, clothing and car racks.

It also offers bike service and repairs with free estimates and professional bike fittings, with three service bays.

Reborn also rents bicycles. The daily rental rate for a hybrid is $30, while road and mountain bikes rent for $50 a day.

There also are weekly rates.

Opening a new store during a pandemic may be an unusual move by a business owner.

But bicycles were deemed essential as transportation during the Covid-19 outbreak.

Charles said the shop’s staff has been doing a great job making sure all inventory in the store is disinfected.

“We’re doing this with the safety of the staff and clients in mind,” he said.

Charles knows the bicycle business.

His father, Charles Conte Sr., opened his first bike shop in the Virginia area back in 1957.

Over the years, the Conte’s Bike Shop chain has been a popular and successful business, expanding to its current footprint of 14 stores in Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Florida.

Charles was a big part of his father’s success.

“I started in my father’s business when I was 13 years old,” said Conte, now 54.

there are an estimated 5,200 bicycle retailers in the United States, that’s elite company.

So this is the background Conte brings to the Tri-Cities.

“Where I come from, it’s tough,” he said.

“I ran one of the largest stores in the company in Arlington, Virginia, with 7 million people around the region. There is a demand for high-end customer service.

Courtesy Reborn Bike Shop “Here at ReSusan and Charles Conte Jr. opened Reborn Bike Shop born, we’re not at 1342 George Washington Way, in the Richland Uptown Shopping Center, in May. just another real solid choice.

“I was servicing pre-owned bikes. He alWe’re experts in the business.

We give relowed me to sell bikes to clients.” ally good information.”

Most of the family — he has five sisters It starts, Charles said, with customer and one brother, David, who runs the famservice. ily business — is involved in the company.

One of the first things he did was to hire The National Bicycle Dealers AssociaTony Tran as his lone full-time employee. tion ranked Conte’s among America’s Best Tran, better known among the local bikBike Shops of 2019 and it’s been ranked uREBORN, Page A35 among the best for 10 years. Considering

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

BUSINESS PROFILE

A33

Kennewick health-focused meal delivery service redefines midday lunch run

By Laura Kostad

for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

While Tri-City businesses have been reorganizing to continue serving customers and weather the fallout from Covid-19 stay-home orders, one pair of young entrepreneurs have leveraged the austere conditions to launch their dream business.

Redefined Meals, a weekday lunch service, delivers healthy meals prepared fresh from scratch that morning to desks and doorsteps, liberating busy parents and those working from home from the pesky question, “What’s for lunch?”

“We want to redefine the way people eat or consume their food,” said Layton Brown, who started Redefined Meals with his wife, Giselle, this spring.

“One purchase, and lunch is taken care of (for the week). Everything is going to be healthy and align with whatever your diet is. It’s like laying out your outfit for the morning—you wake up and you know what you’re going to wear,” he said.

Redefined prepares a five-day meal package each week, based on what produce is locally available and in-season, for a flat rate of $60 ($12 per meal), plus a $15 delivery fee that covers the deliveries.

A sample of recent menus included shaved asparagus salad with avocado, curried cauliflower, arugula chickpea salad with cilantro lime dressing, tri-color potato salad, and gluten-free pizza mini bites with side salad.

Customers can sign up and specify any allergies or dietary restrictions on Redefined’s website as late as 11:59 p.m.

Sunday for the following week’s delivery.

They also can bypass the delivery fee and pick up meals at Red Mountain Kitchen in downtown Kennewick.

Same-day ordering for individual meals is possible, but customers are advised to call for availability. Meals are typically delivered between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Cold-pressed 16-ounce juices are available to those who pick up their orders. Flavor options include celery, pineapple/ginger, celery/lemon/green apple, and carrot/beet/ginger.

Redefined also offers a Sunday brunch box ($45) for a picnic with friends or family, a surprise gift for a loved one, or for unabashed weekend snacking.

T h e brunch box includes a half pineapple, sliced strawberries and kiwi, orange wedges, cherry tomatoes, as well as rainbow carrots, celery sticks and cucumber sticks accompanied by a raw almond cilantro dip. Vegan matcha pancakes with creamy homemade chocolate spread and superfood peanut butter oat bites round out the smörgåsbord.

All of Redefined’s meals are 100 percent organic, plant-based, gluten-free, dairy-free and contain no added or refined sugar.

This focus is echoed in their mission statement: “Redefined is a lunch delivery

service with a mission to inspire our community to eat healthy sustainable food that’s good for our well-being and the planet. We use organic, locally-sourced ingredients, prepared freshly, and delivered to you in eco-friendly packaging.”

Redefined sources its fresh ingredients from local Alvarez Organic Farms in Mabton and Schreiber Farms in Eltopia.

The company was born in the Browns’ home kitchen, with friends and family serving as guinea pigs and first customers in the early days. It doesn’t yet have a brick and mortar address or even a food truck.

Currently, Redefined operates entirely out of Red Mountain Kitchen in Kennewick, a commercial kitchen that caters to culinary entrepreneurs. Red Mountain includes cooking stations and room for its member businesses to store their ingredients and supplies without the overhead costs that come with outfitting one’s own kitchen.

“We would love to have our own restaurant,” Layton said, but added that in the near future, he and Giselle are looking to introduce a breakfast menu to their offerings.

Operating solely on a delivery model

Courtesy Redefined Meals Layton and Giselle Brown

hasn’t stopped the Browns from sharing with fellow Tri-Citians their commitment to a truly farm-to-table ethic.

Despite the resurgence in recent years of locally-owned and -operated eateries serving up unique cuisine and menu options in Tri-Cities, the Browns still see a need for more healthful dining choices featuring locally-sourced food.

“There (are) a lot of people in the TriCities that are trying to eat healthy, and so we’re just trying to get the Tri-Cities the highest quality ingredients as possible,” Layton said.

Both Layton and Giselle grew up in Tri-Cities and come from entrepreneurial families.

Layton’s grandmother bought the TriCity Bible Bookstore over 30 years ago when it was at its original location in downtown Kennewick. His mother still manages it today. “(Grandma) is 90 years old and I still ask her for advice on things about owning and running a business,” Layton said. His brother, too, owns and operates a landscaping business.

In addition, Giselle’s mother ran her own restaurant in Mexico before the famuREDEFINED MEALS, Page A35

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020 REBORN, From page A33

Courtesy Redefined Meals Redefined Meals prepares healthy five-day meal packages for delivery or pickup.

REDEFINED MEALS, From page A33 ily immigrated to the U.S. “Giselle is a really good cook and there would have been no way (Redefined Meals) would have been possible without her,” Layton said.

Life experience informed the couple’s vision for Redefined Meals.

Layton recounted working for a fertilizer and chemical company and how it prompted him to educate himself about and pursue organically-grown food.

Later, after he met Giselle and they were married, they began to conceive of Redefined Meals while living for two years in the Czech Republic.

While there, the Browns befriended a pair of organic grocers who ran a store down the street from their apartment.

It offered an opportunity to experience farm-to-table eating firsthand.

Upon returning to the Tri-Cities, Layton recalled, “We both were working full time and loved taking lunches together.

We would go to Fresh Leaf Co. and Graze, and that was pretty much it … We really wanted to try different things.

“So, then we started brainstorming what we would want as full-time working people in the Tri-Cities. We thought we would want our lunch brought to us, so that we could go eat it in the park or

be out in nature, or wherever you want.”

Having lunch delivered saves time for customers, especially those on a set lunch break, who instead of spending their allotted time going out and getting a meal can enjoy or make better use of their time with a meal delivered ready-to-eat.

“We’ve had way more subscriptions than we thought we would,” Layton said.

He continued, “I feel like this is what I want to do … I feel really blessed for this opportunity to be able to open … I’m so thankful. I would love to do way more meals.”

Currently, Redefined’s team consists of just Layton and Giselle, who prep all of the food and make the daily deliveries.

As their customer base continues to grow week by week, they are feeling the pressure to hire more help.

“We are looking for a delivery driver, someone who could do our farm pickup and food prep,” Layton said. “We would definitely love to hire some people who are health-conscious and really want to change the world and make it a better place.”

Redefined Meals: redefinedmeals. com; 509-366-0169; Facebook; Instagram.

ing community as Dr. Tony Tran, the bike doctor, has worked locally (at Kennewick Schwinn and Markee’s) for 37 years until he decided to step away from the business, Charles said. “He was kind of burned out,” he said.

But Charles was able to convince him to work at Reborn.

Tran has certifications on most of the top bicycle brands, including Cannondale, Giant, Schwinn, GT, Trek and Diamondback.

Tran is a great addition, Charles said.

“At any bike store, you need to have someone who knows the service end of the business. You deal with older products, but also the new technology,” Charles said. “You better know how to service the customer.”

So far, Charles said, the business is off to a strong start.

“It’s about 50-50 service and sales for revenue,” he said. “Business is good. Customers are going to our website. They’re buying, selling, consigning. They’re also talking to their neighbors about us. Word of mouth is getting out there. Clients are helpful, through (reviews in) Google and Yelp.”

That’s good because while the bicycle business overall really started to take off in March, there were some problems with the supply chain.

A May 18 article in the New York Times stated that people, trying to avoid public transportation, were buying more bicycles.

The pandemic forced factories that make bicycle parts to shut down at the

A35

beginning of the year in Asia. That stalled production of new bikes.

Now the global supply chains are struggling to meet demand.

“We’re looking at a gap of five to eight months for products,” Charles said.

“Mainly bicycle tires, tubes, baby seats. A lot of things in the business are either out or hard to get. In pre-owned bikes, even that market is tight.”

Still, with his years of experience and his connections, Charles said he is confident he can find what a customer is looking for.

The store appears to have plenty of inventory, and Susan said they have more in storage.

And this is just the start. Charles said he eventually would like to do what the family business did on the East Coast: expand.

He has plans to open Reborn Bike Shop stores elsewhere in the state as well in Oregon.

But first things first. The Contes want to get the Richland store up and running well.

He’s confident it will do well.

“I didn’t study my competition when this started because of my experience,” Charles said. “I knew this was going to work.”

Store hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Reborn Bike Shop: 1342 George Washington Way, Richland; 509-371-9483; rebornbikeshop.com.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

uNEW HIRES • Danielle Connor has been hired as the Port of Benton’s director of finance/auditor. She graduated from Central Washington University with Danielle Connor a bachelor of science in accounting and a master’s of professional accountancy. She is a certified public accountant and has more than 12 years of experience in accounting and systems implementation.

Her experience spans public accounting at a regional firm, Peterson Sullivan LLP in Seattle, to working as the fiscal manager

for the northeast region of the state Department of Natural Resources, to serving as the controller for a large multi-entity manufacturing company in Northeastern Washington. She most recently served as a financial consultant and project manager assisting with systems implementation for Epicor Software. The port contracted with Clifton Larson Allen to recruit for this position.

• Tiara Pajimola has been hired as a client service coordinator at Fulcrum Wealth Management Group of Richland, a private wealth Tiara Pajimola advisory practice

of Ameriprise Financial Services. She has extensive experience with client service roles in the veterinary care and health care services industries. Her responsibilities as client service coordinator will include scheduling, client information updates, upholding the company’s client service model and general service needs.

• Brian Leavitt has been hired as Kennewick School District’s next K-12 student services director. Leavitt, who recently worked as executive director of learning supports in the Pasco School District, started July 1.

He had worked in Pasco since Brian Leavitt 2008, joining that

district as an assistant principal of Pasco High School. He also served as Pasco’s director of employee relations, principal of New Horizons High School and director of career and college readiness.

Jack Anderson, the former K-12 student services director, became assistant superintendent of secondary education on July 1 at Kennewick School District.

From left: Drs. Nathan Vicknair, Niki Mohammadi, Carissa Burke, Carlos Ramirez Rincon

• Trios Health’s residency class of 2023 includes four internal medicine residents: Drs. Carissa Burke, Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine; Niki Mohammadi, Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences; Carlos Ramirez Rincon, American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine; and Nathan Vicknair, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. The 36-month Trios Health Internal Medicine Residency Program includes inpatient and outpatient experiences. One-on-one training is provided by faculty who work at Trios Health and in the community.

• Meier Architecture Engineering has hired Pat Fuller as the electrical group manager. He has more than 25 years of experience in the electrical engineering field. He has worked extensively in the data center, food and beverage, nuclear, and pulp and paper industries. Fuller has more than 10 years of project management experience in construction and design/ build projects, as well as more than 15 years of experience in electrical, including medium voltage, and instrumentation and control systems design. He holds a bachelor of science degree from Washington State University.

• Neal Ripplinger has been hired as the new executive director at the Prosser Economic Development Association.

He started July 6 and replaces Neal Ripplinger Deb Heintz who recently retired. Ripplinger spent the past 18 years running his own insurance agency in Grandview.

uGRANTS • The Three Rivers Community Foundation donated $40,000 to the Knights Community Hospital Equipment Lend Program, or KC Help, to support its work.

For more than 20 years, KC Help has provided in-home medical equipment to residents across Benton and Franklin counties, at no cost.

• The Mid-Columbia Libraries received a $3,000 federal CARES Act grant to buy hand sanitizer, face masks, sneeze guards and other personal protection equipment. The grant through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act passed through the Washington State Library.

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020 uAWARDS & HONORS • Two LifePoint Health employees in the Tri-Cities have been recognized as 2020 Mercy Award winners. The award recognizes employees from each of LifePoint Health’s hospitals who profoundly touch the lives of others and best represents the spirit and values on which the company was founded.

Aggie Mowry, a registered nurse who has worked at Trios Health for nearly two years, has been recognized as the hospital’s 2020 Mercy Award Aggie Mowry winner. Mowry has a particular spot in her heart for patients dealing with pregnancy loss and was part of starting “Gone Too Soon,” a pregnancy loss support group through Chaplaincy Grief Care. She also is certified in perinatal loss care. Each May, she organizes the Little Hearts Remembrance program, a memorial service to honor and remember babies lost during the past year.

Last year, Mowry traveled to Uganda on a medical mission she organized and volunteered in hospitals and clinics and spoke with mothers about pregnancy loss. Prior to leaving for Uganda, she collected 130 pounds of donated baby blankets that filled three large suitcases.

The donations were made anonymously through Amazon, volunteers at various churches in the Tri-Cities, 4-H groups and a local mother who lost her baby, among others.

Bill Mitch, a Lourdes Health pharmacist, was recognized as the hospital’s 2020 Mercy Award winner.

He has worked at Lourdes for more Bill Mitch than 30 years and goes out of his way to make his work family and co-workers feel special, including cards on Mother’s Day and for their birthdays.

He gives the employees a gift card for National Pharmacy Tech Day. Each Christmas season, he can be spotted riding around town on his motorcycle in his

Santa suit. As Santa, he visits kids who are part of Lourdes’ Children’s Day program, an intensive mental health treatment program for children to develop skills for coping with emotional and behavioral problems at school and home, to help them feel the Christmas spirit.

Each hospital winner will be considered for LifePoint’s 2020 companywide Mercy Award. The companywide winner will be announced this summer and honored during a ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee, in October.

• Gesa Credit Union has been selected as Washington’s best-in-state credit union by Forbes and Statista, a market research firm. They identified the credit unions based on an independent survey of more than 25,000 consumers. Respondents were asked a variety of questions regarding their banking relationships and were asked to rate credit unions on criteria such as overall satisfaction, trust, digital services and financial advice. This was the eighth year in a row Gesa has received this honor.

• Blaine Tamaki, Bryan Smith and Vito de la Cruz of Tamaki Law were selected as 2020 Super Lawyers honorees. Super Lawyers is a ratBlaine Tamaki ing service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

Tamaki Law has an office in KenBryan Smith newick.

• The Arts Foundation of the Mid-Columbia restructured its board of directors to serve as a resource to help other arts organizations Vito de la Cruz throughout the Mid-Columbia accomplish their goals.

The current board of directors is led

by President Yichien Cooper, a member of the board since 2017.

The Washington State University Tri-Cities teacher founded the Asian Awareness Yichien Cooper Art and Culture exhibition in 2009 and is the president of the World Chinese Arts Education Association.

As a former member of the Richland Arts Commission she oversaw the development of public art and beautification projects.

Other officers and members of the AFMC board include Emma Barnes, vice president, gallery administrator at Allied Arts Association’s Gallery at the Park since 2018; Walter Timmons treasurer, a manager at Banner Bank in Kennewick; Dennis Cresswell, secretary, publisher of the Entertainer newspaper; Nisha McSwane-Franco, a community activist, author, publisher and reviewer who writes under the pen name Stella Williams; Madison Rosenbaum, a graphic designer and photographer; and Lisa McCoskey. owner of Blossoming Lotus Art. Past President Pam Ransier serves on the AFMC Advisory Board, along with Cesar Franco and Paul Anguino.

Emilie Cooper is the foundation’s youth liaison.

• Michael J. Mahoney and Jason H. Pratt were elected directors at the Baker Boyer Bancorp annual shareholder

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meeting on May 21. Mahoney is senior managing director at Falcon Point Capital LLC and lives in the San Francisco Bay area. He also serves on the President’s Advisory Board and Investment Committee for Whitman College. Pratt of Seattle is director of supportability for the Windows Commercial Business at Microsoft. He has been at Microsoft for 21 years, and has worked in various roles at Microsoft’s Redmond headquarters, as well as its international subsidiaries in France and Japan.

• Spokane-based Wheatland Bank, which has a branch in Pasco, has received its 53rd consecutive five-star rating from BauerFinancial Inc., the highest available from the bank rating firm. Its enduring performance placed Wheatland Bank in the category of “Exceptional Performance Bank,” which is reserved for banks that have earned Bauer’s highest rating for at least 10 consecutive years.

uCERTIFICATIONS • Kaitilin Newman, a paraplanner at Fulcrum Wealth Management Group of Richland, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Kaitilin Newman Financial Services, has earned her chartered retirement planning counselor designation.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

Getting Through the Pandemic: You’ve Got Resources

Member SIPC

As we go through the coronavirus pandemic, with its constant threat to personal health and its devasting impact on the economy, it can be hard to find a silver lining. But if there is one, it’s that government agencies, private businesses and nonprofit organizations have contributed, in one way or another, to helping relieve some of the stresses – financial, physical or emotional –that many of us are feeling.

So, it’s important for you to know what T.J. WILLINGHAM types of help are out there.

Here are some of the key areas in (509) 735-1497 which resources are available: Unemployment – The CARES Act, a major piece of the recent economic stimulus packages, expanded several aspects of unemployment insurance, including eligibility, amount and duration.

To learn more about unemployment insurance flexibility during the COVID-19 outbreak, and to find a link to your own state’s unemployment insurance office, visit: https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/unemployment-insurance. You might be able to collect some benefits even if you’re still working. Specifically, if your hours have been reduced, you could receive part of your unemployment benefits as short-time compensation. Your company’s human resources area can let you know if you’re eligible.; Banking/Credit Cards/Consumer and Student loans – Many financial institutions are offering loan modifications, fee waivers or new lending products to help consumers during this time. To see what’s available, contact your own bank or credit union. Credit card issuers and other consumer loan providers are also offering programs to help borrowers; to learn more, visit these creditors’ web sites or call their customer service lines. And, as part of the CARES Act, borrowers can stop making payments on federally held student loans through Sept. 30, 2020.

Health care – Losing employment often means losing health insurance. If you’ve recently lost your coverage, you may be eligible to participate in the special enrollment period to sign up for an Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance plan. Depending on your income, you may be eligible for subsidized health insurance.

To see if you qualify for the special enrollment period, or for Medicaid or CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program), go to https://www. healthcare.gov/screener/. If you don’t qualify for Medicaid or CHIP and can’t afford health insurance, you may be able to get free or lowcost services at a community health center. To find one near you, go to https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/.

Mortgage – Another provision of the CARES Act allows you to apply for suspension or reduction of your mortgage payment for a limited time if you have a federally backed mortgage (FHA, VA, USDA, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac). You’ll need to contact your own mortgage service provider to request this relief.

Utilities – Many gas, electric and water service providers are temporarily suspending disconnections of customers unable to pay their bills due to the effects of the pandemic. Also, some utilities are suspending late fee charges. Contact your local utilities to determine the benefits for which you may be eligible.

Telecommunications/Internet – Numerous broadband and telephone service providers (https://www.fcc.gov/keep-americansconnected#pledges) have agreed to temporarily stop terminations and waive late fees for customers facing financial struggles arising from the pandemic.

And some providers (https://www.fcc.gov/keep-americans-connected/above-and-beyond) are also offering other benefits, such as free internet service to students and teachers and increased broadband speeds for customers working remotely.

These are challenging times, to say the least. But by availing yourself of the appropriate resources, you may well be able to make your life easier.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

Tri-Cities Cancer Center CEO announces retirement

By Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

www.edwardjones.com

Joy Behen

6115 Burden Blvd., Ste. A, Pasco

509-542-1626

Dustin Clontz

1060 Jadwin Ave., Ste. 325, Richland

509-943-1441

Shelley Kennedy, CFP® 767 Williams Blvd.

Richland

509-946-7626

Harry Van Dyken

2735 Queensgate Drive Richland

509-627-6537

T.J. Willingham

1020 N. Center Parkway, Suite F, Kennewick

509-735-1497

Ryan Brault, CFP®

3616 W. Court St., Ste. I, Pasco

509-545-8121

Jay Freeman, AAMS 16 W. Kennewick Ave., Ste. 101, Kennewick

509-783-2041

Terry Sliger

1329 Aaron Drive Richland

509-943-2920

Carson Willingham 1020 N. Center Parkway, Suite F, Kennewick

509-735-1497

Tara Wiswall

6855 W. Clearwater Ave., Suite C, Kennewick

509-783-2042 Paid Advertising

Chuck DeGooyer, the longtime leader who was instrumental in establishing the Tri-Cities Cancer Center more than 25 years ago, will retire at the end of the year.

DeGooyer, who has served as chief executive officer of the cancer for seven years, announced his plans to step down on July 1. His last day is Dec. 31, 2020.

DeGooyer helped form cancer as a partnership of the hospitals in Kennewick, Pasco and Richland in 1994. He spent the next 10 years as an executive with the American Cancer Society before returning to the cancer center in 2013.

“Chuck has made an indelible mark on cancer care in the Tri-Cities, providing vision, leadership and inspiration to the entire cancer Chuck DeGooyer center organization,” said Reza Kaleel, chair of the Cancer Center board of governors. “We are grateful for Chuck’s dedication to guiding the organization the past seven years.”

DeGooyer said he and his wife, Michelle, look forward to spending more time with family and their grandchildren in particular.

“I’ve been a part of this amazing organization for close to two decades in total. I’m proud of all that has been accomplished in building this center into a world-class facility where our community can receive the cancer treatment and support they deserve close to home,” he said in a press release issued by the cancer center on July 1.

The Tri-Cities Cancer Center provides clinical and other services to patients who have been diagnosed with cancer. It is undergoing a dramatic reorganization following the sales of two of its founding hospitals and their subsequent departure from the organization.

Lourdes Health and Trios Health both withdrew after the formerly nonprofit health organizations were purchased by a for-profit health operator.

The Kennewick Hospital District board, which sold its Trios assets after filing for bankruptcy, and Lourdes received payments from the cancer center when they withdrew.

The move left Kadlec Regional Medical Center as its only-not-for profit member.

The board of directors said it is looking for a successor who can work through defining the center’s future structure.

It has engaged an independent consulting group to advise it on its next steps.

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

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Rebound and Recovery website aims to help small business bounce back We’ve all learned new terms and acronyms in the last few months, from “flattening the curve” and “social distancing” to WFH (working from home) and PPE (personal protective equipment).

It’s remarkable how quickly Covid-19 has upended our lives and inserted itself into our daily rhythms.

If you run a business, social distancing and PPE are especially meaningful right now. Whether your business kept operating throughout the “stay home” order or reopened as part of Phase 2 or Phase 3 of the governor’s Safe Start plan, you need to create a safe environment for employees and customers.

That means reconfiguring break rooms and placing floor stickers to guide foot traffic and limiting the number of people allowed into a store at one time. It also means supplying employees with face masks and face shields, disposable gloves and hand sanitizer.

Lots and lots of hand sanitizer.

For small business owners who were already juggling multiple responsibilities, it’s a lot to take on.

That’s why the Association of Washington Business (AWB) created a website, at reboundandrecovery.org, to make it easier for employers to find the tools they need to welcome back employees and customers.

The website features a PPE portal to connect Washington businesses with the

manufacturers and distributors of personal protective equipment, including hand sanitizer, gloves and face masks.

Kris Johnson The portal Association of highlights Washington Business Washingtonbased manuGUEST COLUMN facturers and suppliers, making it easy for small businesses to locate the items they need to keep operating. By focusing on “Made in Washington” products, the site also helps support Washington jobs and industry.

In addition to the PPE Connect portal, the site includes a tool kit to help small businesses prepare their physical spaces for reopening and to assist in communicating health and safety protocols with employees and customers.

The tool kit has downloadable, customizable templates that small business owners can use to create everything from a Safe Work Plan and store signage to social media content and physical distancing floor stickers.

The website is the result of AWB’s Rebound and Recovery Task Force, a group of three dozen business leaders from diverse industries and locations

throughout the state, along with state Department of Commerce Director Lisa Brown and Employment Security Commissioner Suzi LeVine.

The task force was led by co-chairs Michelle Hege, chief executive officer and president of DH, a Spokane-based public relations, advertising and branding agency; and Tim Schauer, CEO of MacKay Sposito, an infrastructure and development consulting firm based in Vancouver.

The website, including the PPE Connect portal, was built by SiteCrafting, a Tacoma-based full-service digital agency.

Since its launch at the end of May, the website has seen strong demand. In just the first week, the site was visited more than 7,000 times and 1,500 people used the PPE Connect portal to connect with manufactures and distributors of PPE. By the middle of June, the site had more than 21,000 visits and more than

3,000 email requests for PPE. Like so many things, the Rebound and Recovery website was developed to meet an urgent need during a time of crisis. When the task force was assembled in April, it had just one goal: To safely reopen as many businesses as possible, as quickly as possible.

Now, as we move into summer, the situation is still fluid. Instead of flattening the curve, we’re talking about different phases of reopening and guarding against a second wave.

We have begun to rebound from the initial crisis, but we’re still working from home wherever we can. We’re still practicing social distancing. And we expect to be in the recovery phase for a long time. Kris Johnson is president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s chamber of commerce and manufacturers association.

NEWS TIPS?

We want to hear from you Email tips to info@tcjournal.biz.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION Dutch Bros adding coffee stand on the way to Duportail Bridge

Public records

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July 2020 Volume 19 | Issue 7 | B1

2 new businesses plus bakery expansion pause opening plans

By Robin Wojtanik

for Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

Three businesses are anxious to open their doors in Richland’s Parkway, following months of construction and delays due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Moniker, a high-end craft cocktail bar, will serve as the anchor tenant, occupying about half of the building at 702 The Parkway. Wine Social, a wine bar offering retail sales, and Ethos Bakery’s second location, will lease space in the building too.

Work on the new building, bankrolled by investors with Prospere Ventures and built by Booth & Sons Construction, began in late summer 2019 following demolition of a former World War II-era building that was home to many businesses in its time, including The Brass Door restaurant. It is south of Frost Me Sweet Bistro & Bakery, near the fountain, straddling The Parkway and George Washington Way. Prospere investor Casey Stratton said he remains “quite impressed with the timeline,” for construction, considering the challenges presented by erecting a 5,500-square-foot commercial building during a pandemic.

The original project was valued at $700,000, according to the building permit issued in 2019. A second permit issued in January for tenant improvements in the 2,500-square-foot Moniker space

Meagan, Erin and Tyler Stevens

Photo by Robin Wojtanik

Moniker, a high-end craft cocktail bar, will serve as the anchor tenant at 702 The Parkway in Richland. Also moving in are Wine Social, a wine bar offering retail sales, and Ethos Bakery’s second location. was valued at $250,000.

Stratton declined to share overall costs for the construction, saying that investors “made decisions that were not (return on investment)-driven as an effort to create a Richland downtown we want to live in.”

As the project wraps up, Stratton said his group of six investors is “always looking to acquire more property on or around The Parkway.”

Moniker The craft cocktail bar Moniker is nearly complete and had targeted a mid-July opening. Owners now say it’ll likely be later this summer. They’re excited about moving into a modified Phase 1 of the state’s staggered reopening plan, saying

it’s a nice way for businesses to open up in a safe way. The phase allows restaurants to offer outdoor seating at 50% of existing outdoor capacity.

On a recent Saturday, the Moniker team was making and photographing cocktails in anticipation of its eventual opening.

The menu will showcase seasonal, rotating cocktails, as well as limited wine and beer options, and small plates of food with a Pan-Asian flare.

The business is headed up by newcomers to the restaurant industry, Tyler and Erin Stevens, who are married, and Tyler’s sister, Meagan Stevens. Each has a role, with Tyler, a self-described “cocktail nerd” focusing on drinks, Meagan on

food and Erin managing the back of the house.

They plan to highlight in-person experiences, serving up memorable cocktails smoked under glass, served in unique drinkware or topped with egg white foam.

They likely won’t offer to-go options.

“This is not an experience that takes itself out very well,” Tyler said. “We can probably figure out ways to deliver something that’s really exciting to people in a takeout format, but we would have to compromise on things that we were really excited to bring to the community.”

At full capacity, Moniker will seat about 40 people in 1,500 square feet. The Stevenses say this is “not typical” because it will feature more furniture pieces and benches than traditional tables and chairs.

Moniker plans to offer five cocktails at a time that will pair with the tapas prepared by Meagan.

“An encyclopedia (menu) could detract uPARKWAY, Page B2

Benton County rethinks admin building layout

By Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

Benton County has revised its designs for the new Kennewick office building that will house administrators with the Covid-19 pandemic in mind.

Instead of leaving the second floor unfinished for future growth, the county is finishing it to accommodate its information technology and accounting departments.

The changes add nearly $700,000 to the cost of the 40,000-square-foot building now under construction at the 7122 W. Okanogan Place.

County commissioners agreed in June to add $684,000 to the budget. The updates push the cost to $14.5 million, from the original $13.6 million. The project is funded through the county’s capital projuADMIN BUILDING, Page B10

Courtesy TCA Architecture and Planning Jackson Contractor Group Inc. of Walla Walla will build the Pasco Fire Department’s new headquarters and fire station after submitting the winning bid of $7.5 million. Construction on Fire Station 84 at 4929 W. Court St. begins in July.

Pasco tees off on its next fire station project in July

By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

Jackson Contractor Group Inc. of Walla Walla expects to break ground in July on the Pasco Fire Department’s long-anticipated new fire station and headquarters.

Jackson submitted the winning bid of $7.5 million to build the 21,800-square-

foot Fire Station 84, administrative offices and storage at 4929 W. Court St. The project is expected to be completed in February 2022.

The 16,663-square-foot building will house eight administrators and includes a station with four equipment bays and support facilities for personnel, such as living and sleeping quarters and a preparation area.

The station will be home to a medic, ladder, rescue and water tender. It will sleep up to six with a minimum staffing of four.

The 5,100-square-foot storage building will house five added bays for fire trucks and other apparatus. Jackson gave the lowest of four bids.

The Pasco City Council voted unani-

uPASCO STATION, Page B10

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

PARKWAY, From page B1 from the experience,” Erin said.

They may rotate through menus fairly quickly once open, as they have already prepared a year’s worth while waiting to open their doors.

Drinks be priced at about $12 each, with about seven small plates available at a time.

“We are passionate but don’t want to be exclusive,” Erin said. “We want to build community in this space.”

When Moniker opens, it plans to operate Thursdays through Sundays to start.

At full capacity, the family expects to hire up to eight staff members.

“We want people to have this be their full-time, sustainable job,” Erin said.

Wine Social Two longtime veterans of the hospitality industry with a strong belief that “people deserve to be served” are poised

to open Wine Social on the south side of the building.

Owners Marc and Kaitlin Newman are ready to put their decades of experience to work in the new wine bar.

“We’re excited about all things Washington wine,” Marc said.

The couple moved to Richland from New York.

“We feel there’s no other place globally where you can find wines like this, with the elegance that is offered,” Marc said.

A military veteran, Marc previously managed The Kitchen at Barnard Griffin in Richland and recently realized his dream of a wine brand with the release of a Red Mountain vintage called The New Man. He believes there’s something to be said about the atmosphere and service that comes with your enjoyment of a beverage, rather than the drink itself.

“Bud Light tastes the same wherever you go. It’s the experience,” he said.

Real Estate & Construction The Newmans want their customers’ experience to be “super comfortable” with elegant lighting, in a “sleek, modern” space.

Marc and Kaitlin They want the Newman wine bar to attractive for all social interactions, whether a book club, date night or business meeting.

Price points of the “globally inspired and regionally sourced” wines are described as “approachable and attractive” and will be offered by the glass.

“I want to be a place where people can stick around for two or three glasses without breaking the bank,” Marc said.

Charcuterie will be the only food of-

fered, but guests may enjoy meals on site from neighboring businesses, including Moniker and Ethos.

About a third of the 1,500-square-foot space will be dedicated to a private event space for meetings or for private gatherings.

At full capacity the establishment could seat 100.

“Less is more,” Marc said. “We want it to be a return-worthy experience.”

Retail wine sales, including sparkling wines, also will be offered, hoping to attract customers as the Parkway area becomes increasingly walkable and inviting to rivergoers, farmers market shoppers and those visiting other neighboring businesses, including those planned for the nearby Park Place development across busy George Washington Way. Originally targeting a May opening, the couple now hopes to welcome customers in September.

“We want this community to thrive,” Kaitlin said. “We want to keep our 20-somethings here, and we’ve got to offer them these amenities.”

The Newmans are likely to hire up to five people and expect to be open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, but will adjust operating hours based on market demand.

Ethos Bakery & Café The owners of Ethos Bakery & Café are excited to expand to a second Richland location.

Co-owner Angela Kora said The Parkway cafe will include a full-scale coffee shop with all the breads and pastries found at the 2150 Keene Angela Kora Road café, as well as grab-andgo soups and sandwiches.

It’s a similar format to what they’re offering from a booth at the Pasco Farmers Market.

During typical operations, the Parkway Ethos will offer seating up to 20, as well as outdoor tables.

Kora and co-owner Scot Newell want to keep Ethos as a “third place” that encourages community and conversation, with the first and second places being home or work.

Without an on-site kitchen at The Parkway, food will be prepared at the Keene Road location. Only espresso and coldpressed juice, called Ethos Elixir, will be produced at The Parkway.

Kora and Newell still are deciding on an official name for the new location, but it will definitely include Ethos in the title, they said.

As the region works to emerge from Covid-19 restrictions, the Ethos entrepreneurs are waiting.

“A best case scenario would be opening in the middle to end of August, but I think a more realistic date is early September,” Kora said.

They plan to be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day.

Real Estate & Construction

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

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Dutch Bros adding coffee stand on the way to Duportail Bridge

By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

Dutch Bros Coffee, the popular Oregon coffee chain with a dedicated fan base, will open its seventh local stand in Richland, where it has a deal to buy land on the road leading to the new the Duportail Bridge.

Bruce Barnes, a Pasco-based Dutch Bros franchisee, will buy a 42,000-square-foot site for the Tri-Cities’ seventh Dutch Bros Coffee on the north side of Stevens Drive, east of Wellsian Way from the city of Richland.

The Richland City Council is expected to sign off on the $336,000 deal in August or September. The council approved a preliminary land swap in July on the recommendation of its economic development commission.

Barnes, operating through BTKM Enterprises LLC, will apply for building permits within 90 days of closing the land deal. Construction will take up to 270 days. The timeline means the newest Dutch Bros will open sometime after the new bridge opens.

The city retains the right to buy back the land if Barnes does not follow through on his plans.

A spokeswoman for Dutch Bros said the company won’t confirm the new location because the sale is still pending.

According to city records, the new

uBUSINESS BRIEFS Benton REA lands $5M USDA loan

Benton Rural Electric Association received a $5 million loan through a U.S. Department of Agriculture program to provide loans and grants to expand economic opportunities.

Benton REA was one of three entities in Central Washington to share in $1.6 billion in rural electric loans awarded in 21 states.

Benton REA services 14,000 customers in Benton, Lewis and Yakima counties.

Recipients may use money to improve electric transmission and distribution lines and to mitigate the economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Photo by Wendy Culverwell Bruce Barnes, the Tri-City franchisee for Dutch Bros Coffee, has agreed to buy land at Wellsian Way and Stevens Drive on the approach to Richland’s Duportail Bridge for the seventh local location for the popular Oregon-based coffee brand.

Dutch Bros will be south of U-Haul and Ala Cart Golf Course at the intersection where Stevens Drive becomes Duportail and heads west about a mile from the new Yakima River crossing.

The $38 million Duportail Bridge is on track to open this fall. It will provide a direct connection between central Richland and the Queensgate area and south Richland. Notably, it will relieve traffic on Interstate 182, routing it right past Dutch Bros.

Mandy Wallner, marketing special-

Reclamation helps CID line irrigation canal

The Columbia Irrigation District in Kennewick will line about 850 linear feet of its Lateral #2 canal after receiving a water efficiency grant from the Bureau of Reclamation.

The grant of $61,320 will support the $122,640 effort to reduce seepage and prevent potential canal failures.

Reclamation awarded $163,500 to Washington projects that bolster water efficiency.

The Lake Chelan Reclamation District received $75,000 and Kittitas Reclamation District received $27,184.

ist for the city of Richland’s economic development department, said Barnes wanted to site a Dutch Bros in central Richland.

However, the city was hesitant to waive rules that limit drive-thrus in the central business district to allow Dutch Bros to go ahead. The company’s stands generate heavy traffic.

Staff found city-owned land at Wellsian and Stevens that will have enough traffic once the bridge opens to justify the investment. It swapped sites with a

neighboring property owner to create a safe distance between the traffic signal and the drive-thru entrance and exit.

“It was a perfect storm,” Wallner said.

Dutch Bros and the city entered a purchase and sale agreement in late 2019.

The city planned to vet it through the Economic Development Commission in March, but the discussion was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, which restricted noncritical business.

Wallner said she’s encouraged that Barnes is pressing ahead with the plan, calling it a hopeful sign that the economy is poised to recover.

The newest Dutch Bros will employ 20 to 40 people. Income is projected at $120,000 to $150,000 a month, according to documents presented to the Richland Economic Development Commission.

Dutch Bros, based in Grants Pass, Oregon, is a privately-held company noted for its colorful, windmill-themed coffee stands, loyal fans and its support of worthy causes. There is one existing Dutch Bros in Richland, three in Kennewick and two in Pasco. Prosser and Sunnyside have one each.

Rob Ellsworth of SVN | Retter & Company is representing the buyer in the land deal.

No paywall at tcjournal.biz

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

Paid Advertising

Real Estate & Construction

Kenmore Team Building 9025 W. Tucannon Ave., Kennewick

Karen and Lance Kenmore completed the $2.5 million development of a new office to house the Kenmore Team group of businesses, including residential and commercial sales, property management, construction and an agriculture division in June.

The two-story Kenmore office at 9025 W. Tucannon Ave. in Kennewick features a daylight basement.

The building has two conference rooms for client meetings, a classroom for agent training, a maintenance shop for construction services and suites for property managers as well as individual and shared

office space for agents.

Stephenie Monson of Valiant Design in Kennewick designed the project.

Project manager Sean Riding and superintendent Chris Killinger of Elite Construction and Development of Pasco oversaw construction.

The new office was designed to keep up with rapid growth.

“The building allows us to foster the growth of our unique team approach to real estate and integrate and evolve the latest technology with our building to better serve our clients,” the Kenmore Team said.

Honesty and integrity in everything we do.

Congratulations Elite Construction!

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Real Estate & Construction

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

Paid Advertising

WoodSpring Suites Tri-Cities 1370 Tapteal Drive, Richland

The developers of WoodSpring Suites Tri-Cities hope to open the 122-room extended stay hotel at 1370 Tapteal Drive on Aug. 1, subject to Benton County’s status under Washington’s Safe Start program.

Elevators may not be available until Benton County achieves Phase 2 status, which allows limited reopening of business.

The hotel is developed for Richland Hotel Holdings LLC by Bellevue-based West 77 Partners, which owns and builds WoodSpring Suites-flagged properties.

“At WoodSpring Suites, we believe you should

not have to choose between a good value and a good night’s sleep. That is why we ensure every aspect of a stay is a straightforward, no-hassle experience in a comfortable, clean well-equipped room – all at a reasonable rate. Thoughtfully designed with the extended stay guest in mind, our rooms provide you with everything you need to be productive or relax and unwind – including a kitchen, dining and workspace area,” the company said.

Wasatch DC Builders NW of Bellevue is the general contractor.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

Real Estate & Construction

Paid Advertising

STCU Pasco branch 5677 Road 68, Pasco

STCU plans to open its new Pasco branch at Road 68 and Sandifur Parkway soon.

The Pasco branch is the third Tri-City branch for STCU. Its Southridge Financial and Home Loan Center opened in Kennewick in late 2018, followed in early 2019 by the Queensgate branch.

STCU membership is open to anyone who lives, works, attends school or worships in Washington and north Idaho.

G2 Construction of Kennewick was the general contractor for the 4,600-square-foot branch, which occupies a 1 1/2-acre Pasco site at 5677 Road 68.

The financial center features a drive-thru and 24hour ATMs. Designed by ALSC Architects of Spokane, which also designed the credit union’s Southridge location, the Pasco facility has water-efficient xeriscape landscaping.

Benton City native Yubrahan Mendoza is branch manager at Pasco. Assistant manager is Laura Vieyra, who was raised in Pasco.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

Real Estate & Construction

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Pasco City Hall modernization 525 N. Third Ave., Pasco

We’re proud to be part of this project!

The city of Pasco has completed a $1.8 million facelift to accommodate staff needed to support the growing city.

The renovations at City Hall began in early January 2019 after the police department moved to a new building. The remodel began in the old police space and moved throughout the building, giving offices a refresh and creating a one-stop spot on the first floor for building

permits and other public-facing activities.

The project included updates to the electrical system, as well as the heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems.

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Southridge Church 3315 S. Sherman St., Kennewick

Southridge Church, which began as King of Kings Lutheran Church in 1988, has built a 11,880-square-foot church in the Southridge neighborhood. The new building comes with a new name, Southridge Church.

Meier Architecture and Engineering of Kennewick designed the church as a modern take on classic Lutheran design, which features high ceilings in worship spaces and strong acoustics. The cupola is 40 feet above the sanctuary floor.

The $3.5 million church features a fellowship hall, nave and warming kitchen.

The congregation moved from its former building at South Edison Street and South Fifth in June.

Booth & Sons Construction of Kennewick was the general contractor.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

ADMIN BUILDING, From page B1

PASCO STATION, From page B1

ects fund.

The original architectural and engineering designs were completed before the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic inspired a review of space needs.

The revised plan leaves 2,600 square feet of vacant space on the second floor to accommodate future growth.

The new building will serve as the Kennewick quarters for many of the county’s nonjudicial functions, now housed in the justice center. The addition will free space in the secured justice center for courts and legal activities.

Banlin Construction LLC of Kennewick is the general contractor.

The additions extended the construction schedule by up to 35 days with completion set for summer 2021.

mously to award Jackson the contract on June 15, saying it was pleased the bid came in below the engineer’s estimate of $9.2 million.

Jackson’s bid covers several items on the city’s wish list—a fifth equipment bay in the storage building and utility connections to city services.

The project is subject to Washington state’s commercial prevailing wage for Franklin County. Rates vary by trade, but prevailing wages for carpenters, for example, run between $47.37 and $52.35 per hour depending on the type of carpentry required. Rates for dozens of job types are posted at the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries website.

Jackson asked for bids from subcon-

Real Estate & Construction tractors in early June, including small, woman-owned, disadvantaged, minority, veteran and disabled veteran businesses, according to a posting on the state Office of Minority & Women’s Business Enterprises.

The new Station 84 will replace a station currently serving the Riverview area at 1208 Road 48. The city acquired that station in an annexation asset transfer in 2016.

No groundbreaking is planned because of restrictions on gatherings due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The city is replacing the Road 48 station and Station 83 to keep its goal of six-minute response times.

It purchased land between roads 48 and 52 in 2017 to support the Fire Station 84 project. HQ Station 84 will oc-

cupy 4.7 acres. The city issued general obligation bonds in November to pay for its newest fire station, based on a projected cost of $11 million.

The wood-framed one-story HQ Station will face Court Street. Designs show a dedicated driveway for emergency vehicles to pull on to Court Street and a second driveway that loops through parking areas to the storage building and the apparatus bay rear doors.

TCA Architecture Planning of Seattle is the architect. David Robison of Strategic Construction Management Inc. is the city’s representative.

Two Pasco firms are playing leading roles as well. Harms Engineering Inc. is the civil engineer and White Shield Inc. is the geotechnical engineer.

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

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PUBLIC RECORD uBANKRUPTCIES Bankruptcies are filed under the following chapter headings: Chapter 7 — Straight Bankruptcy: debtor gives up non-exempt property and debt is discharged.

Chapter 11 — Allows companies and individuals to restructure debts to repay them.

Chapter 12 — Allows family farmers or fishermen to restructure finances to avoid liquidation for foreclosure.

Chapter 13 — Plan is devised by the individual to pay a percentage of debt based on ability to pay.

All disposable income must be used to pay debts.

Information provided by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Spokane.

CHAPTER 7 Armando Rivera, 2105 N. Steptoe St., #107, Kennewick.

Benjamin & Madalyn Madrigal, 1207 Putnam St., Richland.

Carmelita Modelo, 3003 Queensgate Drive, #158, Richland.

Alonzo Sanabria, 2831 Monarch Lane, Richland.

Daniel & Karri Schuetze, 34403 N. Firewood Road, Benton City.

John Carlyle, 7602 W. 21st Ave., Kennewick.

Nicholas Calahan, 93617 E. Valencia Drive, Kennewick.

Irma Knisley, 625 Birch Ave., Richland.

Mark & Kassandra Tallman, 1220 Del Mar Court, Richland.

Shane & Hailey Hughes, 1431 Kimball Ave., Richland.

Leanne Selix, 3225 W. 21st Ave., Kennewick.

Sophia Magana, 450 E. 15th Place, Kennewick.

Diane Hilton, 2303 Duportail St., Richland.

Lynsey Bowen, 3404 S. Yew St., Kennewick.

Gary Fisher, 926 S. Highland Drive, Kennewick.

Cesar Galaviz Dominguez & Elvia Galaviz, 6626 Chapel Hill Blvd., Apt. B-104, Pasco.

Jesse Zavala II & Joselynn Zavala, 1519 Marshall Ave., Richland.

Sarah Owen, 510 14th St., Lot G1, Benton City.

Kyle Connor, 530 N. Edison St., Apt. L-202, Kennewick.

Leigh McDonough, 1409 W. 27th Ave., Kennewick.

Jesus Romero Jr. & Agustina Moreno, 185 Englewood Drive, Richland.

Eriberto Gutierrez, 1902 S. Rainier St., Kennewick.

Karl & Bonnie Johnson, 1404 Willow Way, Benton City.

Sarita Moncada, 2917 W. 19th Ave., #23, Kennewick.

Daina Espinosa, 9 N. Waverly Place, #204, Kennewick.

Sarah Childress, 2111 W. 12th Ave., Unit B, Kennewick.

David Clark, 4003 Valencia Drive, Pasco.

Roque Arriaga, 9315 Chapel Hill Blvd, Apt. F-6104, Pasco.

Ernesto Razo, 9108 Angus Drive, Pasco.

Doug & Judawn Merritt, 1922 Benson Ave., Prosser.

uTOP PROPERTIES BENTON COUNTY 4305 Highview St., Richland, 3,400-squarefoot residential home on 0.34 acre. Price: $534,000. Buyer: Timothy & Lacie Ehrhart.

Seller: Luis Galvan.

Undetermined, 75 acres of agricultural land dedicated to hops. Price: $750,000. Buyer: Wyckoff Farms Inc. Seller: Elmview Trust Fund Et Al. 6416 W. Tenth Ave., Kennewick, 3,000-squarefoot residential home on 1.65 acres. Price:

$570,000. Buyer: Taylor & Allison Atkinson.

Seller: Pamela Bieren.

4036 W. 47th Court, Kennewick, Singlefamily residential home on 0.36 acre. Price: $539,900. Buyer: Eric & Mary Elsethagen. Seller: Riverwood Homes Washington LLC. 4330 Mt. Everest Court, West Richland, 2,250-square-foot residential home on 1.2 acres. Price: $505,000. Buyer: Sean & Misty Keehn. Seller: Ricardo & Jennifer Melendrez.

540 Lodi Loop, Richland, 2,700-square-foot residential home on 0.3 acre. Price: $502,000.

Buyer: Andre Siberry. Seller: Edward Salko, Jr. 1902 Tamarack, West Richland, 2,900-squarefoot residential home on 0.71 acre. Price: $570,000. Buyer: Amanda Bishop & Jason Daniel. Seller: William & Deborah Ayers.

519 Ferrara Lane, Richland, 2,200-squarefoot-residential home on 0.4 acre. Price: $865,000. Buyer: Joe & Kim Palomarez. Seller: Hasmik & Jason Wilkinson.

1408 Willow Way, Benton City, 2,000-squarefoot residential home on 10 acres. Price: $1,000,000. Buyer: Pro Made Construction LLC. Seller: Landmark Homes of Washington.

638 Melissa Street, Richland, 2,200-squarefoot residential home on 0.28 acre. Price: $530,000. Buyer: Nam Kim & Cnanmi Choi.

Seller: Sheena & Stephen Kanyid.

2224 W. 51st Ave., Kennewick, Single-family residential home on 0.48 acre. Price: $680,000.

Buyer: Stephen & Deborah Banda. Seller: Prodigy Homes Inc. 4719 Jodie St., Richland, Single-family home on 0.24 acre. Price: $509,485. Buyer: Joshua & Sarah Taylor. Seller: New Tradition Homes Inc. FRANKLIN COUNTY Undisclosed location, 2.6 acres of undeveloped and commercial land. Price: $825,000. Buyer: SRB Real Estate Management. Seller: Christian Fuel Investments LLC.

Undisclosed location, 212 acres of farm land.

Price: $3,100,000. Buyer: BK Properties LLC. Seller: J & B Flora Revocable Trust.

11260 Woodsman Drive, Pasco, 2,350-squarefoot residential home. Price: $524,000. Buyer: Manuel Garcia et al. Seller: Mark & Melissa Fields.

8512 Whipple Ave., Pasco, 2,800-squarefoot residential home. Price: $655,000. Buyer: Jacqueline & Paul Francik. Seller: Nicolas & Mary Gonzales.

6413 Eagle Crest Drive, Pasco, 2,300-squarefoot residential home on 0.53 acre. Price: $647,000. Buyer: Shyan & Myla Din. Seller: Jackson Ventures LLP.

uBUILDING PERMITS KENNEWICK Country Squire Company, 2913 W. John Day Ave., $13,000 for a commercial reroof.

Contractor: Silver Bow Roofing.

Yakima Federal Savings Bank, 3350 W. Clearwater Ave., $44,000 for a commercial reroof. Contractor: Palmer Roofing Company.

Nellis Properties, 902 S. Washington St., $40,000 for a commercial reroof. Contractor: Palmer Roofing.

William Wang, 8620 W. Gage Blvd., $19,000 for a commercial reroof. Contractor: Royal Roofing.

City of Kennewick, 6941 W. Grandridge Blvd., $7,000,000 for a new 13,000-square-foot fire station. Contractor: Total Site Services LLC. PASCO Bali & Neera Singh, 2805 E. A St., $349,000 for a new commercial building. Contractor: TO. Oxarc Inc., 1530 Dietrich Road, $5,000 for

uPUBLIC RECORD, Page B12

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

a commercial addition. Contractor: Romm Construction.

CDB Properties LLC, 1418 E. Saint Helens St., $982,000 for new commercial construction.

Contractor: Bagley Landscape Construction.

Jubilee Foundation, 3713 E. A St., $4,156,000 for new commercial construction. Contractor: To be determined.

City of Pasco, 4920 W. Court St., $1,951,000 for new commercial construction as part of a new fire station. Contractor: To be determined.

Port of Pasco, 4306 Stearman Ave., $524,000 for a new commercial building. Contractor: Port of Pasco.

Kenyon Zero Storage, 5812 Burlington Loop, $392,000 for a commercial addition. Contractor: Engineered Product A Pape.

Pasco School District #1, 1801 E. Sheppard St., $27,000 for a commercial addition.

Contractor: To be determined.

Yuriy Dubinets, 3705 Atlanta Lane, $13,6000 for new commercial construction. Contractor: Owner.

RICHLAND City of Richland, 3102 Twin Bridges Road, $920,000 for new commercial construction at the city landfill. Contractor: Booth & Sons Construction.

BENTON COUNTY Petra Atilano, 92806 W. Good Road, $6,900 for a new commercial addition. Contractor: Owner.

Wyckoff Farms, 166301 W. Lemley Road, $12,000 for a commercial addition. Contractor: Bleyhl Farm Service.

Washington State Patrol, 143302 E. Law Lane, $52,500 for a commercial remodel. Contractor: Banlin Construction Company LLC. FRANKLIN COUNTY Virgil Burns, 241 Fanning Road, $29,000 for a commercial remodel. Contractor: Owner.

uBUSINESS LICENSES KENNEWICK DIRECTV LLC, 1010 N. Saint Mary’s St., San

Antonio, Texas.

Masby Painting Services, 4517 Moline Lane, Pasco.

Ward‐Henshaw Construction Co. Inc., 505 N. Baker Drive, Canby, Ore. Champion Concrete Pumping, Inc., 26769 W. Highway 53, Hauser, Idaho.

Columbia Basin Consulting Group LLC, 1030 N. Center Parkway.

Rubenstein’s, 11303 E. Montgomery Drive, Spokane Valley.

Better Books, 4504 W. Fourth Ave. Silk Road Environmental LLC, 1200 Kresky Ave., Centralia.

A Special Touch, 2020 W. 19th Ave. Mr. Asphalt & Son’s LLC, 103001 W. Old Inland Empire Highway, Prosser.

True Dermatology, 4309 W. 27th Ave. Cuello Sports Link, 1112 W. 40th Ave. Flynn Merriman Mckennon, P.S., 8203 W. Quinault Ave, Suite 600.

Krueger Sheet Metal Co., 731 N. Superior St., Spokane.

Perfect Touch House Cleaning, 2602 W. First Ave. Touching Spirit, Healing Soul Psychotherapy LLC, 6818 W. First Ave. Fatherhood Academy, 5040 W. Clearwater Ave. Action Materials Inc., 10710 S. Cheney Spokane Road, Cheney.

Red Lion Inn & Suites, 5616 W. Clearwater Ave. Arnulfo Aarnies Construction, 1015 N. Road 55, Pasco.

Platinum Homes / Wealth X Real Estate, 601 S. Huntington Place.

RZ Medical LLC, 8378 W. Grandridge Blvd.

Trek Construction, 5608 McKinley Court.

New Look Flooring & More, 904 Sanford Ave., Richland.

Off the Deep End LLC, 1709 Crab Apple Circe, West Richland.

Columbia Basin Belt and Rubber LLC, 4605 S. Ledbetter St. JSR Construction LLC, 118101 W. King Tull Road, Prosser.

Roofing Plus, 4008 Joshua Drive, Pasco.

JB’s BBQ, 1622 Heidi Place, Richland.

EB Teamwork PLLC, 3006 S. Quincy Place.

River City Athletics Warehouse, 206 N. Benton St.

Powers Tattoo Company, 5600 W. Clearwater Ave. AKG Remodeling LLC, 1108 W. Entiat Ave. Elm Home Repair and Maintenance, 6114 Skeena Lane, Pasco.

MFC LLC, 1017 N. Pierce Drive, Moses Lake.

Istanbul International Market, 3321 W. Kennewick Ave. Landen Smith Design LLC, 10251 Ridgeline Drive.

Patriot Auto Glass LLC, 6223 W. Deschutes Ave. Itty Bitty Couture, 1609 W. 24th Ave. Renegade Construction, 90 S. Verbena St. KBR Homes LLC, 516 W. Deschutes Ave. C&P Construction, 1327 N. 24th Ave., Pasco.

SCC Developments LLC, 309 N. Delaware St. Drury Digital Media, 7306 W. Seventh Ave. Soda Bomb, 4819 W. 20th Court.

Rad Racing, 420 W. Columbia Drive.

Kettle Corn Factory, 6009 Bayview Lane, Pasco.

Elektrik Performance & Mobility, 1706 W. 30th Ave. NC Cleaning Services LLC, 43901 N. River Road, Benton City.

Balancing Act Physical Therapy, 1706 W. 30th Ave. From the Ashes, 1034 W. 15th Place.

Tri‐Cities Pressure Washing LLC, 8303 Camano Drive, Pasco.

Ikon Fitness LLC, 309 N. Van Buren St. Sanchos, 460 N. Arthur St. Laughing Llama Bakery, 408 S. Kansas St. Snails by Mail LLC, 3887 W. Seventh Ave. Brothers Electric Consortium LLC, 6343 W. Brinkley Road.

Prestige Valuation Services LLC, 7812 Babine Drive, Pasco.

Discover the Data, 7143 W. Third Place.

Lashes With Kilee LLC, 4504 W. 26th Ave. Cat Endurance, 8800 W. Second Ave. The Pit Bull Pen, 2405 S. Ledbetter St. Caroline Hayden, 2138 N. Vermont Loop.

Clean Day Commercial Cleaning, 2618 W. Sixth Ave. Tri-Cities Adult Hockey Club, 419 W. Entiat Ave. CBDC, 7233 W. Deschutes Ave. Helpful Hands Delivery Service LLC, 1010 W. 15th Place.

Orasio Arias Landscape Services, 5255 S.

Auburn Place.

Wave Quantum Inc., 418 N. Kellogg St. Resilience Therapy LLC, 1030 N. Center Parkway.

Knights Welding, 4432 W. Clearwater Ave. 509 Labs, 204 E. Second Ave. Westhaven Townhomes HOA, 101 N. Morain St. Teto Eco Wash LLC, 1034 W. Park Hills Drive.

Eastside Equestrian Center, 2600 S. Washington St. Expressions Lash Lounge, 401 W. First Ave. Sev7n, 4018 W. Clearwater Ave., Suite D. Danielle Torres Photography, 302 W. Canyon Lakes Drive.

Rainier Apartments, 1707 W. Sixth Avenue.

Premier Mobile Detailing, 2105 N. Steptoe St. Bambam Grill, 415 S. Rainier St. PASCO Custom Welding & Ornamental Iron LLC, 118 N. Gum St., Kennewick.

Nature Like Construction, 8517 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick.

Kettle Corn Factory, 6009 Bayview Lane.

AE Express Trucking LLC, 1512 E. Columbia St., Unit B. Graceful Serenity Adult Family Home, 309 N. 22nd Ave. Columbia River Primary Care and Aesthetics¸3501 Road 68, Suite 104.

Little Big Therapy, 6215 Devon Court.

Firehouse Subs #17700, 4845 Broadmoor Blvd.

CFCF Enterprises Inc., 6119 Burden Blvd., Suite C. Hydrototonix Water LLC, 102 S. Third Ave. Quality Ag Repair LLC, 9312 Palomino Drive.

Multiservicios Express LLC, 108 N. Fourth Ave., #106.

City Sparkle Cleaning LLC, 1816 N. 12th Ave. VIPS Construction LLC, 5115 Flores Lane.

The Original Design LLC, 6705 W. Park St. Safeway Electric, 1474 Miller Drive, Colton, Calif.

Water of Love, 202 N. Third Ave. G&E Vending, 4807 Lucerna Drive.

John’s House Improvement & Services Corp., 10909 Shady Lane.

uPUBLIC RECORD, Page B13

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020 Columbia Basin Appraisals LLC, 4109 W. Riverhaven St. DAP Properties LLC, 3221 King Ave. Double A Plumbing LLC, 3221 King Ave. Valley Cabinet Shop Inc.¸22502 S. Ward Gap Road, Prosser.

CZ Bookkeeping, 4114 Sahara Drive.

911 Facility Maintenance, 3007 N. Vassault St., Tacoma.

Product Value Solutions LLC, 3507 Churchhill Downs Lane.

RSB LLC, 1315 N. Oregon Ave. Bradley’s Auto Sales LLC, 1124 E. Columbia St. CAN Plumbing LLC, 1701 W. 14th Ave. Simak Trucking LLC, 4014 Phoenix Lane.

M&O Contracting LLC, 610 W. Lewis St. OJV Hair Studio, 6413 W. Court St., #6421.

Pro-Go Transportation LLC, 4514 Moline Lane.

New York Barber Shop #3, 2508 W. Sylvester St., Unit D. A&R Professional Painting LLC, 709 Hanson Loop, Burbank.

AGA Star + Construction LLC, 3321 W. First Place, Apt. 3, Kennewick.

Fusion Home Building LLC, 1060 Cayuse Drive, Richland.

Northwest Gas Pipe, 1613 S. Palouse Place, Kennewick.

Prestige Contracting Inc., 5125 Old Route 36, Springfield, Ill. Rojo Dezigns, 9313 Cadboro Drive.

Swire Pacific Holding Inc., 155 Avery St., Walla Walla.

Washington Fleet & Auto Repair, 2920 Travel Plaza Way, Unit B. NCM Builders, 22911 SE 281st Place, Maple Valley.

A Shinetastic Clean, 2400 Boulder St., Richland.

HR Quality Construction LLC, 504 E. 13th Ave., Kennewick.

Pacific NW Contractors Inc., 105 W. Washington Ave., Yakima.

Advent Care LLC dba Instead Senior Care, 8113 W. Quinault Ave., Suite 100, Kennewick.

Sycamore Landscaping, 17 W. 24th Ave., Unit C-4, Kennewick.

Barclay Dean Architectural Products LLC, 22029 23rd Dr. SE, Suite 101, Bothell.

Lourdes Wilson House, 224 N. Seventh Ave. Kirit Mistry-Uber, 2634 N. Fourth Ave. Best Buy Health Inc., 7601 Penn Ave. S., Richfield, Minn.

Nice N’ Shiny LLC, 164 N. Columbia Way, Wallula.

Chen’s PM&T LLC, 2120 E. Lewis St. SoSo Trucking, 5810 Ramus Lane.

The Biz Talk Magazine¸1529 Columbia Park Trail, Richland.

Bevco Construction LLC, 3901 Pintail Drive, Suite B, Springfield, Ill. Robert H. Auchmoody/Lyft, 5008 Latimer Court.

McDonald Millwork & Cabinets, 801 N. 61st Ave., West Richland.

Nukreation LLC, 5615 Tieton Lane.

Blue Bridge Enterprises LLC, 420 Road 37.

Heath Doyle-Lyft, 2539 S. Underwood St., Kennewick.

Flex Into Fitness, 1620 62nd Place.

Pillar Contracting LLC, 2231 Sevilla Court, Richland.

Tri-Cities Gutters LLC, 518 1/2 W. Columbia Drive, Kennewick.

Obsolete Solutions LLC dba The Park Company, 2805 E. Ainsworth Ave., Unit T-241.

Home Boys, 15906 E. Sprague Ave., Veradale.

Pacific Alarm and Fire Inspections, 314 N. Montana Court, Kennewick.

Kovals Granite LLC, 90 Wellsian Way, Richland.

Premier Construction, 318 E. 45th Ave., Kennewick.

Brian Griffith-Lyft, 2 Rose Court.

Diversions LLC, 1988 E. Gunther Ave., Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Superior Framing Tri-Cities LLC, 33 Valleyview Circle, Richland.

D and V Machine, 802 N. 28th Ave. Servpro of Tri-Cities West, 7500 W. Yellowstone Ave., Kennewick.

All Star Automotive Group, 2715 W. Sylvester St. El Oasis, 1315 E. Lewis St., Suite A. ES&A Signs & Awnings, 89975 Prairie Road, Eugene, Ore. Prodigy Homes Inc., 8458 W. Gage Blvd., Suite A, Kennewick.

Draid M. Rashad-Uber, 2100 Bellerive Drive, #50, Richland.

Kenneth Alexander-Uber, 3615 W. Fourth Place, Kennewick.

Pioneer Landscaping & Fencing Services

LLC, 617 S. Elm Ave. TCS General Construction LLC, 1541 N. 15th Ave. OMG Kitchen Cleaning LLC, 110 S. Fourth Ave. New York Hair Academy, 2508 W. Sylvester St., Unit D. Tri-City Truck Parts, 3275 Travel Plaza Way. Tacos Sahuayo, 104 S. Oregon Ave. AllNorth Services LLC, 4106 Phoenix Lane.

Pro Fire, 104 S. Tacoma Ave. Clear Rate Communications Inc., 2600 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy, Mich.

Western Luna Boutique, 628 N. Cedar Ave. Waste Management of Washington Inc., 8101 First Ave. S, Seattle.

Alpha Structural Engineering PLLC, 6306 Landsdowne Court.

Rooted Tarot, 4615 Kubota Lane.

Prime IT Services, 4910 Guemes Lane.

Pressure’s On Corp., 928 S. Tenth Ave. Tipsy’s Tavern, 414 W. Lewis St. Network Marketing Tax Advocates LLC, 202 N. Third Ave. The Pasco UPS Store, 5426 Road 68, Unit D. Mariscos El Camaron, 1410 E. Lewis St. Penske Truck Leasing Co. LP of Washington, 4225 E. B St. Bella-Life Club, 507 N. Fourth Ave. Geoengineers Inc., 17425 NE Union Hill Road, Suite 250, Redmond.

Tri-City Family Expo, 1845 Leslie Road, Apt. H-92, Richland.

Antonia House Keeping, 100 N. Irving Place, Apt. A-102, Kennewick.

All American Propane, 50 Summit St., Othello.

Northwest Pipe Insulation Inc., 281 E. Santiago Drive, Meridian, Idaho.

K.M.S. Rustic, 1908 Road 32.

Allied Plumbing and Pipes LLC, 246 W. Manson Highway, #124, Chelan.

Double A Construction LLC, 181 Travis Lane, Kennewick.

Jim Purswell’s Pump Co. Inc., 63 Able Road, Touchet.

Pegasus Corporation, 921 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham.

Juana Cruz, 409 W. Waldemar Ave. Yaquis Plastering Inc., 911 N. Volland St., Kennewick.

JM Framing, 2021 Mahan Ave., Space G-8, Richland.

Accuwal Constructions LLC, 4815 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick.

G & B Construction, 522 N. Yost St., Kennewick.

Cruz’s Auto Detailing, 33 E. B Circle.

The Tiki Pirate LLC, 9018 Cheshire Court.

Roberto’s Lawncare, 3318 Pinnacle Lane.

Najera Business Consulting, 9330 NE Vancouver Mall Drive, Vancouver.

All American Propane, 1617 S. Keys Road, Yakima.

Draftco Designs LLC, 5412 Robert Wayne Drive.

Handy Hands Construction Development, 1560 N. Dallas Road, Benton City.

Dark Horse Transportation LLC, 3115 King Ave. Precise Janitorial, 196 Bitterroot Drive, Richland.

3 Brothers Construction LLC, 165 Cedarwood Court, Richland.

River North Transit LLC, 160 Varick St., Floor 4, New York, N.Y. Be Creative Consultants, 28005 Dallas Road, Richland.

Norris Flooring LLC, 2008 S. Ione St., Kennewick.

Mercado Janitorial Services, 1707 S. Dayton Place, Kennewick.

Bat by GLP, 1342 Dakota St., Walla Walla.

Skittlez Barber Shop, 524 W. Clark St. Hard Wood Handyman, 804 Smith Ave., Richland.

Pacheco Samuel Roldon¸1739 W. Cartmell St. Roy’s Flooring & Painting LLC, 6005 Bayview Lane.

Absolute Proactive Protection LLC, 5910 Mandra Lane.

G&C Cornerstone Flooring, 914 S. Cleveland St., Kennewick.

Advanced Custom Cabinets Inc., 250 W. Anton Ave., Coeur d’Alene Farias Handyman, 8918 W. Arrowhead Ave., Kennewick.

Columbia Construction Services LLC, 3319 W. Third Ave., Kennewick.

I Do It LLC, 21903 W. Meacham PR NW, Benton City.

NNZ Inc., 1406 W. Orchard Ave., Selah.

BR Operation LLC dba Solomons MFG LLC, 19818 74th Ave. NE, Arlington.

JSR Construction LLC, 118101 W. King Tull Road, #1, Prosser.

TKSC Properties LLC, 8842 W. Seventh Place, Kennewick.

NO, 1648 Foxglove Ave., Richland.

KarenKay, 1313 E. Tenth Ave., Kennewick.

MDU Utilities Group, 8113 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick.

Advanced Wireless & Logistics Inc., 7029 26th St. NW, Gig Harbor.

Mariano Refugio Alonso-Uber, 4104 Fernwood Lane.

Mariano Refugio Alonso-Lyft, 4104 Fernwood Lane.

Albas Excavating, 1140 Forsell Road, Grandview.

The Works General Contracting LLC, 1610 S. Ely St., Suite B, Kennewick.

Gesa Credit Union, 4824 Broadmoor Blvd.

New Leaf Landscaping TC LLC, 4902 Truman Lane.

Trek Construction, 5608 McKinley Court.

Desert Heat, 707 W. Court St. Burger King, 4501 Road 68.

Vargas Pro-Floors Installation LLC, 8416 Wembley Drive.

Glowing Smiles, 320 N. 20th Ave. Fairway Staffing, 1315 N. First Ave. Amigo Phone Repair, 402 W. Lewis St. Color Effects Painting LLC, 1603 Judson Ave. Natalie’s Cleaning Services, 4815 Porlier Lane.

Whittsway Delivery Service LLC, 4203 Duroc Lane.

Cortes Upholstery, 504 S. Oregon Ave. Amigo Repair, 6403 Burden Blvd., Suite B. Brilliant Cleaning, 5115 Flores Lane.

Trucking A&JS LLC, 2515 E. Alvina St. Roll-Out Carpet, 3320 W. Opal St. Motez Trucking, 2010 Road 72.

Despacho Contable Rios, 6413 W. Court St., #6417.

McKinstry Co. LLC, 5702 Industrial Way. Lara’s Tacos LLC, 518 W. Lewis St., Suite 522.

2912 YFC Framing, 1114 W. Tenth Ave., Apt. U-103, Kennewick.

Hill’s Home Services LLC, 31404 E. Kennedy Road NE, Unit 10, Benton City.

Taqueria El Rancho, 8425 Chapel Hill Blvd.

Numerica Credit Union, 4845 Broadmoor Blvd.

Dickson Appraisal Services, 7815 Cassiar Drive.

Oertel Law PLLC, 4426 Kubota Lane.

Nels Shoppe, 5908 Thistledown Drive.

Sherry Pratt van Voorhis Landscaping, 1908

B13

W. Northwest Blvd., Suite A, Spokane.

River North Transit LLC, 160 Varick St., Fourth Floor, New York, N.Y. JPH Express LLC, 4703 Santa Rosa Court.

J & J Kelly Construction Inc., 1802 Road 76.

Garza Ground Work LLC, 5110 Truman Lane.

Ray’s Produce Inc., 219 S. First Ave. Diamond Home Services, 4308 Brahman Lane.

Tile to the Max LLC, 415 S. Koren Road, Spokane Valley.

Adirondack Chairs NW, 30640 Hill Court, Hermiston, Ore. Evergreen Fabrication Inc., 19502 N. Yale Road, Coldbert.

Linkus Enterprises LLC, 3205 N. Commercial Ave. Supreme Landscaping, 2721 W. Sixth Ave., Kennewick.

Tyson’s Painting and Remodeling LLC, 1514 W. Fourth Ave., Kennewick.

Visalia Investments LLC¸106 N. Tenth Ave. The Brothers General Contractors LLC, 8918 W. Arrowhead Ave., Kennewick.

Wendy’s, 5706 Road 68.

Bazan Concrete LLC, 1208 E. Fourth Place, Kennewick.

Nava Plastering LLC, 1123 E. Eighth Ave., Kennewick.

Cervantes Cleaning LLC, 315 N. Waldemar Ave. Aloha Garage Door Co. Inc., 412 S. Roosevelt St., Kennewick.

Felix Mercedes, 2291 S. 38th Ave., West Richland.

The Tire Guy LLC, 4710 W. Hood Ave., Kennewick.

Mr. Appliance of Kennewick, 4801 Laurel Drive, West Richland.

Nutricion Nueva Vida, 1920 W. Bonneville St. Merit Resource Services, 1906 N. 20th Ave. Professional Ag Services Inc., 1102 N. California Ave. JSM Transport LLC, 3421 King Ave. 6th Ave Storage, 1029 S. Sixth Ave. Fourth Street Rentals, 712 N. Fourth Ave. Perception Salon and Barbering¸ 4525 Road 68, Unit D. Creatividades Consuelo, 310 W. Columbia St. The Mechanic, 132 W. Lewis St. Republic Rustic Woodworks LLC, 1316

uPUBLIC RECORD, Page B14

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020

Stevens Drive, Richland.

Carolina’s Cleaning, 42 Nuclear Lane, Richland.

Frame Technical Services LLC, 3680 W. Van Giesen St., West Richland.

Marathon Pipeline LLC, 8523 N. Freya St., Spokane.

Quality Carpentry & Associates LLC, 2105 N. Steptoe St., #148.

Greenacres Landscaping & Maintenance, 604 W. 11th Ave. MG Fencing LLC, 415 S. G St. RTB Professional Technicians LLC, 21616 192nd St. Court E., Orting.

Grand-E Construction, 1300 Totten Ave., Richland.

Oxi Klean Carpet & Floor Care, 177 Clearwater Ave. NE, Salem, Ore. AGM Construction, 626 S. Everett St., Kennewick.

Torchstar Education Inc., 1060 World’s Fair Park Drive, Knoxville, Tenn.

Gemini Corps LLC, 8210 W. Bruneau Place, Kennewick.

Kentro LLC, 457 Pasco Place NE, Renton.

Proficiency Construction LLC, 803 S. Third

Ave., Connell.

Allstar Glass Company, 11420 E. Montgomery Road, Spokane Valley.

AJC Realty LLC¸7911 N. Webber Canyon Road, Benton City.

Elite Lawn Care, 677 Hanson Loop, Burbank.

Sue Arnoldus¸3916 W. Riverhaven St. Maria Toscano Luz, 5242 Outlet Drive, #5242.

AJ’s Custom Detailing, 2313 W. Sylvester St., Suite B-7.

Strategic Construction Management Inc., 2346 S. Young Court, Kennewick.

John’s Construction Services, 3600 Umptanum Road, Ellensburg.

Dura-Clean, 3309 W. Ella St. Atomic Home Health LLC, 6204 Westport Lane.

Dona Donas, 1128 Lincoln Drive.

Atwood Construction & Maintenance, 1124 E. 23rd Ave., Kennewick.

T-O Engineers Inc., 121 W. Pacific Ave., Suite 200, Spokane.

Vanity Studio, 516 W. Lewis St., Unit B. Artistic Landscape Services LLC, 5512 Taft Drive.

Platinum Kitchen & Bath LLC, 6520

Comiskey Drive.

Aaron Michael Smith IT LLC, 5624 Taft Drive.

DM Services, 203 W. Columbia St. Daisy’s Sweet Treats LLC, 7907 Spieden Drive.

Forever Beauty, 310 W. Columbia St., Suite 7.

Ninja Clothing Company and Packaging, 3315 W. Court St. The Moore Mansion, 200 Road 34.

At the Moore LLC, 200 Road 34.

Dorma USA Inc., 6319 112th St. E., Puyallup.

Del Rio Detailing LLC, 903 Conestoga Way, Grandview.

NVST LLC, 530 S. Beech Ave. JMP Washington Consulting LLC, 6512 Westport Lane.

Valentina Fisher, 5601 Hartford Drive.

Kerri Lyn Dodge, 4711 Desert Plateau Drive.

Ricky’s Auto Tint, 1212 N. Fourth Ave. Les J Cleaning Services, 3324 W. 19th Ave., #169, Kennewick.

Hissam Aviation LLC, 8831 Road K NE, Moses Lake.

J Madrigal Concrete, 303 Walla Walla St., Umatilla, Ore. WF General Contractors LLC, 62 Country

Lane, Newport.

Knudsen Engineering LLC, 100 Hiline Road, Suite 325, Pocatello, Idaho.

Sparkle Housekeeping Services, 1325 S. Date St., Kennewick.

Pro Excavation LLC, 20904 S. Williams PR SE, Kennewick.

Paynes Group and Associates LLC, 4678 Burton Road, Thomasville, N.C. Class A General Contractor LLC, 1408 Brooks Lane, Toppenish.

Lazy Boys Painters LLC, 1803 S. Huntington Place, Kennewick.

Fine Fences LLC, 1830 Snipes Pump Road, Sunnyside.

Vitas Construction, 1810 W. 32nd Ave., Kennewick.

R&G Drywall LLC, 121 N. Douglas Ave. Brian Properties, 4216 Holland Lane.

Kay’s Care LLC, 6018 Majestia Lane.

RJ’s Landscape, 1940 Forest Ave., Richland.

OM Stone Inc., 1299 NE 25th Ave., Hillsboro, Ore. Kennewick Man Lawn & Pest, 4005 S. Olympia St., Kennewick.

Date Tech LLC, 914 S. Maitland Ave. Riverside Steel Erectors LLC, 6458 S. 144th St., Tukwila.

Dad’s Handyman & Wood Works LLC, 141 Main St., Burbank.

True Star Logistics LLC, 9910 Gamay Drive.

Northwest Erectors & Metal Buildings, 28004 S. 887 PR SE, Kennewick.

Stinson & Associates, 5005 Meadow View Drive.

Interpath Laboratory Inc., 515 W. Court St. Washington Crane & Hoist Co. Inc., 1334 Thornton Ave. SW, Pacific.

Olsson Industrial Electric Inc., 1919 Laura St., Springfield, Ore. Junior Quality Painting & Roofing, 1916 N. 12th Ave. Barajas Auto Body LLC, 700 W. Columbia St. H Painting, 1916 W. Hopkins St. Prime Concrete LLC, 3821 W. Wernett Road.

Illest Alumni Entertainment, 8414 Oliver Drive.

Danika Mills Photography, 6102 Dorchester Court.

Crafty Nook, 4207 Antigua Drive.

Arc Lens Media, 8504 Queensbury Drive.

Tri Construction LLC, 3821 W. Havstad St. Exclusive Styles, 9116 Oliver Drive.

Snake River Rendezvous LLC, 1828 W. Lewis St. Affordable Locksmith, 9115 Percheron Drive.

Columbia Basin Cleaning Services, 712 W. Clark St. Ahlers Custom Framing Inc., 2411 Road 60.

Desert Hawk Transport LLC, 4704 John Deere Lane.

River Valley, Appraisal Services, 6603 Louisville Drive.

Sky Hi Inc., 414 W. Lewis St., Building 1.

SAC Wireless LLC, 540 W. Madison St., 16th Floor, Chicago, Ill. Cloy Computer Repair, 8117 Cariboo Drive.

Squid & Crow LLC, 6111 Entiat Court.

Ideal Option PLLC, 1500 W. Court St. Northwest Golf Cars, 1701 W. Kennewick Ave., Kennewick.

Virtel Flooring Services, 1114 W. Tenth Ave., Apt. B-201.

Mogul Tech, 12411 E. Gibbs Road, Suite 172, Mica.

Laurel’s Fashion Boutique, 4103 Atlanta Lane.

Murillo’s Mobile Tire Service, 504 N. 18th Ave. Buzzini’s Custom Painting LLC, 4706 Phoenix Lane.

Gascav Masonry LLC, 4108 Atlanta Lane.

Commercial Lighting Services, 5508 Polk Court.

Clear View Cleaning, 6315 Devon Court.

Monson Ranches Snake River Storage LLC, 5020 N. Capitol Ave. Dove Homes LLC, 3221 King Ave. Pratt and Company, 8309 W. Tenth Ave., Kennewick.

Eminent Roofing Inc., 4821 W. Park St. Mountain View Enterprises, 417 S. Dennis St., Kennewick.

Jerry’s Construction LLC, 200802 E. Game Farm Road, Kennewick.

HJK Creative LLC, 10 Ivy Lane.

T&Y Auto Mobile Detail, 3142 Primrose St., West Richland.

Pro-Tech Services, 5421 W. Richardson Road.

TK Construction, 1409 Onyx Ave., West Richland.

Suburban Propane LP, 620 SE Eaton Blvd., Battle Ground.

HeatGuy LLC, 5215 NE 282nd Ave, Camas.

Jackson Hewitt Tax Services, 1828 W. Court St.

uPUBLIC RECORD, Page B15

TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020 Vision Enterprises, 209411 E. Terril Road, Kennewick.

JA&L Carpet Cleaning, 1709 S. Auburn St., Kennewick.

Pik-A-Pop #5, 110 S. Elm Ave. STCU, 5677 Road 68.

Pearamor, 8815 W. Rio Grande Ave., Kennewick.

Multicosas Barats, 310 W. Columbia St., Suite 4.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, 420 S. 20th Ave. Green Life Fitness, 1322 N. 20th Ave., #1322 Therapeutic Associates Pasco Physical Therapy, 4824 Broadmoor Blvd.

David’s Garage Doors, 319 W. Clark St., #311.

Pacific Netting & Fabrics Inc., 11013 W. Court St. TheFashionChance.com, 5516 Remington Drive.

TylerDrummer, 6110 Riverhawk Lane.

Be Beauty, 6415 Burden Blvd., Suite A. Nishati Wellness Auto Injury, 2508 W. Sylvester St. E. Maryann’s Housecleaning, 1936 N. 17th Ave. KB Concrete Services LLC, 6021 Stutz Lane.

J’s Painting, 8206 Wenatchee Court.

Riverview Construction LLC¸ 4518 Nixon St. Priority Medical Supplies, 5811 Saddle Creek Lane.

Green View Landscaping and Irrigation LLC, 59 Nuclear Lane, Richland.

NC Cleaning Services LLC, 43901 N. River Road, Benton City.

Off the Deep End LLC, 1709 Crab Apple Circle, West Richland.

MFC LLC, 1017 N. Pierce Drive, Unit A, Moses Lake.

Elm Home Repair & Maintenance LLC, 6114 Skeena Lane.

Cruz’s Auto Detailing, 605 W. Clark St. Court Street Mini Mart, 3720 W. Court St., Building 1.

GPI, 5804 Road 90, #109.

Legion Construction LLC, 520 W. Entiat Ave., Kennewick.

Superior Tree Services LLC, 2121 N. Commercial Ave. KG Masonry LLC, 3517 Tierra Vida Lane, Pasco.

Auntie Raerae’s Custom Creations, 8016 Quadra Drive.

Brockamp & Jaeger Inc., 15796 Broadwalk Ave., Oregon City, Ore. Veronica’s Fresh Produce, 528 W. Clark St. Store2Door Express Personal Shopper, 8016 Quadra Drive.

Adams Carpet & Flooring, 5610 W. 57th Ave., Spokane.

Verathon Inc., 20001 N. Creek Parkway, Bothell.

Next-Gen Pro-Builders LLC, 15008 Manor Way, Lynnwood.

Creation Home Services LLC, 1716 N. 18th Drive.

Nandos Cold Brew LLC, 5114 Bilbao Drive.

Parker Family Concessions, 1120 Lincoln Drive.

Miranda’s Flowers LLC, 100 Helm Drive.

Mr. Asphalt & Sons LLC, 103001 W. Old Inland Empire, Prosser.

Premier Mobile Detailing, 2105 N. Steptoe St., #84, Kennewick.

Little Moments Daycare, 2604 Spruce St. Prieto Landscaping LLC, 3526 E. A St. Champion Concrete Pumping Inc., 26769 W. Highway 53, Hauser, Idaho.

SM Auto Shop LLC, 2601 W. Lewis St. Razor Landscaping, 2816 S. Olympia St., Kennewick.

Lucy Talks LLC, 1117 W. Park St. Pivotal Construction LLC, 8615 Tottenham Court.

The Body Shop PLLC, 7910 Salmon Drive.

Meraki, 3411 W. Court St., #3411.

Prestige Valuation Services LLC, 7812 Babine Drive.

JH Kelly LLC, 1620 E. Salt Lake St. Treacy Reavis Consulting, 1109 E. 19th Ave., Kennewick.

Good as New LLC, 1710 W. King St., Grandview.

Butter and Chocolate LLC, 212 W. Kennewick Ave., Kennewick.

Visible Service LLC, 1 Verizon Way, Basking Ridge, N.J. Systematic Wood Designs LLC, 909 W. Main St., Walla Walla.

Craig Estate Sales Inc., 1728 Citrus Ave., Richland.

Community Health Plan of Washington, 800 W. Court St. Gutierrez Welding & Trailer Repair LLC, 4712 N. Capitol Ave. Our Family Garden, 47305 S. 2066 RP SE,

Kennewick.

A+ Quality Insulation Inc., 2325 W. Lewis St., #101 United Framing LLC, 2226 S. Zillah Place, Kennewick.

Skillflux LLC, 5727 W. 12th Ave., Kennewick.

Nacho’s Lawn Care, 23 N. Irby St., Kennewick.

Yakima Clean Team, 3104 W. Nob Hill Blvd., Yakima.

Mod Housing LLC, 427 S. Cedar Ave. Ambience Anew, 427 S. Cedar Ave. Zagros Transport, 1406 E. Adelia Court.

CH Landscaping LLC, 402 E. Tenth Ave., #24, Kennewick.

Hunter Specialists LLC, 17112 S. Clodfelter Road, Kennewick.

Heritage Memorials and Restorations, 1365 Dalles Military Road, Walla Walla.

Professional Landscaping LLC, 2906 W. Seventh Ave., Kennewick.

Lawngenics, 1031 Wright Ave., Richland.

Cemetery Tim the Headstone Whisperer, 3510 W. Nob Hill Blvd., Suite B, Yakima.

Roofing 101 LLC, 3120 139th Ave. SE, Suite 500, Bellevue.

3 Sisters Cleaning LLC, 115 Adair Road, Burbank.

Hart Crowser Inc., 3131 Elliott Ave., Suite 600, Seattle.

WEST RICHLAND MC Construction Tri-Cities LLC, 6303 W. 11th Court, Kennewick.

Affordable Landscaping, 1125 Thayer Drive, Richland.

Industrial Construction of Washington LLC, 84609 N Yakima River Drive.

ADT Commercial LLC, P.O. Box 310702, Boca Raton, Fla. Yakima Medical Consultants, Inc., 622 S. 36th Ave., Yakima.

Para Brothers LLC, 1082 Chinook Drive, Richland.

Triple J Landscaping, 410 S. Douglas Ave., Pasco.

Operation We Care Tri Cities, 331 S. 41st Ave. Three D Heating and Air, P.O. Box 971, Stanfield, Ore. Netc Construction LLC, 203106 E. Bowles Road, Kennewick.

Northwest Fiber, LLC, 135 Lake St. S., Kirkland.

Roofing 101 LLC, 2801 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix, Ariz.

Ch Landscaping LLC, 402 E. Tenth Ave., Kennewick.

Professional Landscaping LLC, 2906 W. Seventh Ave., Kennewick.

3 Sisters Cleaning LLC, 115 Adair Road, Burbank.

Aarons Construction Company LLC, 4815 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick.

Affordable Landscaping, 1125 Thayer Drive, Richland.

Eyecare Associates of West Richland, 473 S. 38th Ave. Day-To-Day Home Care LLC, 1205 W. 43rd Court, Kennewick.

Nacho’s Lawn Care, 23 N. Irby St., Kennewick.

Lightspeed Networks, Inc., 921 SW Washington St., Suite 370, Portland, Ore. G H Construction, 320 Greenbriar East, Richland.

HGS, 1800 E. Seventh Ave., Kennewick.

R.P.C. LLC, 14115 E. Trent Ave., Spokane Valley.

NGC General Construction LLC, 4811 Antigua Drive, Pasco.

Off the Deep End LLC, 1709 Crab Apple Circle.

United Framing LLC, 2226 S. Zillah Place, Kennewick.

Guadalajara Style Mexican Food, 8623 Oliver Drive, Pasco.

JP Gunsmithing, 4103 Boulder Lake Court.

Beck Cabinet Company, 3247 W. Industrial Loop, Coeur D’Alene, Idaho.

Niphaporn Schlachter , 3919 Peppertree Court, Pasco.

uJUDGMENTS The state can file lawsuits against people or businesses that do not pay taxes and then get a judgment against property that person or business owns. Judgments are filed in BentonFranklin Superior Court. The following is from the Franklin County Superior Court Clerk’s Office.

Ram General Contractor LLC, unpaid Department of Labor and Industries taxes, filed June 18.

B15

uLIQUOR LICENSES

Application: Assumption.

BENTON COUNTY

El Jazmin #3 LLC, 430 W. Columbia St., Unit A, Kennewick. License type: Direct shipment receiver - in Washington only; grocery store beer/wine. Application: New.

NEW APPLICATIONS Lep-Re-Kon Harvest Foods #7, 471 Wine Country Road, Prosser. License type: Grocery store – beer/wine; spirits retailer. Application type: New. Pacificnorthwestwines.com, 4278 W. Van Giesen St., Suite C, West Richland. License type: Direct shipment receiver – in/out; Beer/ wine specialty shop; Beer/wine specialty shop growlers. Application type: New. A Tipsy Chick’s Favorite Picks, 701 Sixth St., Prosser. License type: Beer/wine specialty shop; Wine retailer reseller-specialty. Application type: New. Prosser Mini Mart, 1232 Meade Ave., Prosser.

License type: Grocery store – beer/wine.

Application type: Assumption.

Porter’s Real BBQ, 1092 George Washington Way, Richland. License type: Direct shipment receiver – in Washington only; Beer/wine restaurant - beer. Application type: New. APPROVED Chukar Cherry Company, 320 Wine Country Road, Prosser. License type: 327, domestic winery < 250,000 liters. Application: In lieu.

Lawrelin Wine Company, 318 Wellhouse Loop, Richland. License type: 327, domestic winery < 250,000 liters. Application: Change of corporate officer.

Four Feathers Wine Estates, 101 Benitz Road, Suite F, Prosser. License type: 328, domestic winery > 249,999 liters. Application type: Assumption.

The Olive Garden Italian Restaurant, 1420 N. Louisiana Ave., Kennewick. License type: 424, Spirits/beer/wine restaurant lounge+.

Application type: Added/change of class/in lieu.

uMARIJUANA LICENSES BENTON COUNTY NEW Mother Nature, 15505 N. Webber Canyon Road, Suite H, Benton City. License type: Marijuana producer tier 3; Marijuana processor.

Application type: Assumption.

APPROVED Sunnyside Northwest, 41305 N. Griffin Road, Suite D, Grandview. License type: 392, marijuana producer tier 3. Application type: Assumption.

Chiefin’ Cannabis, 102003 E. Badger Road, Suite A, Kennewick. License Type: 391, marijuana producer tier 2. Application type: Assumption.

Green Point, 32508 W. Kelly Road, Suite A, Benton City. License type: 392, marijuana producer tier 3.

uBUSINESS UPDATES MOVED

FRANKLIN COUNTY

Porter’s Real BBQ moved from Richland’s Parkway to 1092 George Washington Way in Richland.

The Trios Health Internal Medicine Residency Clinic has moved from 216 W. 10th Ave. to the Trios Care Center at Vista Field at 521 N. Young St.

NEW APPLICATIONS

CLOSED

Court Street Mini Mart, 3720 W. Court St., Pasco. License type: Grocery store – beer/wine.

Swanky Babies closed at 6403 Burden Blvd., Suite D, in Pasco after a decade in business.

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TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS | JULY 2020