Congratulations to the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business (TCAJOB) on being named the Regional Chamber’s Member of the Month for April 2021.

TCAJOB has been a member of the Chamber since opening in 2001 – making this year the celebration of their 20th anniversary! TCAJOB distributes local, relevant information to thousands in our area.

Right after the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order was announced, TCAJOB pivoted one of their largest events – the Senior Times Expo - to a successful drive-up event, continuing to serve our community’s senior population. Since March 2020, TCAJOB has been able to host two additional popular drive-through events for over 400 seniors. The last of which was just in April!

Congratulations to Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business, April Member of the Month. 

The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce recently conducted a Public Opinion Survey regarding the Horse Heaven Wind Project which elicited 2,220 responses over a two-week period. The survey aimed to help determine local sentiment about the proposed project and to identify issues of greatest interest and concern to the region.

The results show overwhelming opposition to the project, with 78 percent of respondents expressing that the Horse Heaven Wind Project is not worth the personal, environmental, and economic impacts on the community (view results below), Survey data also reveals community concerns regarding the level of impact that specific Horse Heaven Wind Project outcomes (such as viewshed, turbine disposal, wildlife, etc.) will have on the region.

Scout Clean Energy is seeking permit authorization through the Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) for the Horse Heaven Wind Project. The project includes up to 244 turbine locations, two solar arrays, and battery storage systems covering 24 miles of viewshed along the Horse Heaven Hills in Benton County.

The Regional Chamber has taken a position opposing the Horse Heaven Wind Project and has sent a letter to Governor Inslee and EFSEC, urging them not to advance the project. 

Congratulations to Gravis Law on being named the Regional Chamber's Member of the Month for March 2021!

Since they were founded in 2013, Gravis Law has grown rapidly – now counting fourteen offices in five states across the nation. CEO Brett Spooner has been an important member of the Chamber for many years, serving on our Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and Regional Affairs Committee. If you attended our last luncheon, you may remember that Gravis recently upgraded their membership to the top tier, Visionary level. 

Gravis has stepped up in multiple ways throughout the pandemic. In January, Gravis purchased ten CO2 monitors to donate to local restaurants, coffee shops, and wineries to help them open indoors and comply with the restrictions in place. Gravis employees also donate their time to multiple non-profits in the community, including Benton Franklin Legal Aid and Domestic Violence Services of Benton and Franklin Counties — offering pro bono work to those in need. 

The firm has also shown their dedication to diversity and inclusion through their FAIR initiative. FAIR, which stands for Fairness Accountability Inclusion and Reform, seeks out, acknowledges, and takes action to address disparities across the legal system. Gravis encourages staff to participate in quarterly FAIR challenges that focus on combating systemic injustice.

Congratulations to Gravis Law, our March Member of the Month.

Scout Clean Energy is seeking permit authorization through the Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) for the Horse Heaven Wind Project. The project includes up to 244 turbine locations, two solar arrays, and battery storage systems covering 24 miles of viewshed along the Horse Heaven Hills in Benton County.

The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce is conducting a public opinion survey to help determine community sentiment about the proposed Horse Heaven Wind Project to identify issues of greatest interest and concern to the region.

The three-question survey will be open for two weeks: Thursday, March 25 – Thursday, April 8. Let your voice be heard! Please take the survey & share it with others. 

Wind Energy/Project Information Resources:

Today we celebrate International Women's Day! Thank you to all of the ladies on the Regional Chamber Board of Directors and Staff.

Congratulations to Campbell & Company​ on being named the Regional Chamber's Member of the Month for February 2021!

Due to COVID-19 Restrictions, the 2021 Bridging Partnerships Small Business Symposium has been canceled. Plans are already in place for the 2022 event, which is scheduled to take place April 13th and 14, 2022 at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick.

Businesses are encouraged to register and attend the virtual Alliance Northwest government contracting conference, to be held March 11, 2021.  This event will be held on a professional virtual platform that allows for networking and quality training for small businesses. For information, go to https://alliancenorthwest.org or contact local PTAC Counselor, Jody O’Connor at jody.oconnor@tricityregionalchamber.com.

The Regional Chamber is distributing 100 cases of free hand sanitizer to small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The sanitizer was donated by UniFirst Corporation and Tri-Cities Battery.

Each case contains 24 8 oz. bottles of sanitizer. The cases will be given away "first-come, first-served" at the Chamber office (7130 W. Grandridge Blvd., Ste. C, Kennewick, WA 99336) from Monday - Thursday from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm (lunch break between 12 - 1 pm). Limit of one case per business. ​