With the unprecedented COVID-19 impacting the region, our health care providers are in need of our help.  Critical health supplies are in demand at the four regional hospitals (Trios, Lourdes, Kadlec, and Prosser Memorial) and across the health care industry.  TRIDEC, Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce and Visit Tri-Cities, partnered to help gather the needed supplies.

All our local health care providers have a critical shortage of these items and global supply chains have ceased to exist.  As the Tri-Cities community has come together to meet this urgent need, a central, easy to access location was needed. The members of the Tri-Cities Business and Visitor Center volunteered to be that central donation point while helping to communicate the need to the business community and the public at large.

During the three-day event (Monday, March 23 - Wednesday, March 25, 2020), we collected over 26,000 units of personal protective equipment for our emergency responders and healthcare workers.  The Tri-City community came out strong in support of this effort.  We are grateful to everyone who donated. 

A special thank you to the following businesses who provided large donations: CSS Farms, Kennewick School District, LIGO Hanford Observatory, O’Brien Construction, Pasco High School Bulldog Booster Club, and Spectrum. 

“We were asked by members of our board from the healthcare community to get the word out to the business community and ask them to donate any excess supplies,” said Karl Dye, President of TRIDEC.  “We had no idea what the response would be, but this is incredible!” he added.  “It shows the level of connection and commitment to our community that we all share.”

“Our community is amazing, thank you! The health care teams across our region are so grateful for the support. It is truly inspiring. We would also like to express our appreciation to the business community for launching this effort, and for our EMS partners for being the ongoing community collection site,” said Jim Hall, Director of Executive and Community Relations.

While we received over 26,000 units of PPE, there still is a need for this equipment as the Tri-Cities healthcare community continues to experience shortages.  The demand for PPE has created a severe shortage of PPE across the world.  The supply cannot keep up with the demand.

If you have any of the below items that you are willing to donate, Benton and Franklin County Emergency Management will be accepting ongoing donations Monday – Friday from 9:00am-3:00pm at 1011E. Ainsworth Ave, Pasco, WA 99301.

Personal Protection Equipment in Need:

• Masks – Surgical and N95
  
• Face Shields/Goggles
• Thermometers (Home Use and Touchless/Infrared)
  
• Finger Oximeter – Home Use
• Hand Sanitizer
  
• Isolation Gowns

Stay home. Stay healthy. Wash your hands. And remember social distancing.

The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with STCU, is launching a free webinar series for businesses owners to stay informed of important business topics during the COVID-19 pandemic.   

“Ask the Experts: Responding to COVID-19" is planned as an 11-week program, with at least one webinar scheduled per week. The webinar will be viewable on Zoom and Facebook Live. Each webinar will be archived and uploaded at tricityregionalchamber.com. 

The first webinar is scheduled for Monday, March 30 from 11 am – 12 pm. The topic is “Navigating Open Enrollment and the Insurance Marketplace.” The speaker is Victoria Wink, Benefit Account Manager at Basin Pacific Insurance + Benefits. More information, including the Zoom conference call info, can be found at tricityregionalchamber.com/asktheexperts.

The “Ask the Experts: Responding to COVID-19" series is one of the resources launched by the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce in order to help the Tri-Cities business community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, the Chamber launched the Tri-Cities: Open for Business initiative,  featuring a comprehensive website featuring special service offers, food and drink pickup options, small business resources, and much more, in order to help Chamber members get the information they need during this crisis. The website, which is updated daily, can be found at TCOPENFORBUSINESS.com.

The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce has postponed their Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon originally scheduled for March 18, 2020 at Three Rivers Convention Center. The postponement is due to an overabundance of caution relating to the COVID-19 outbreak in Washington.

“We are disappointed to share this news, however, in light of the rapidly evolving situation we believe this is a prudent decision,” said Lori Mattson, IOM, President & CEO of the Regional Chamber. “We will continue to monitor the situation and evaluate upcoming Chamber gatherings on a case-by-case basis. An announcement will be made once we determine an appropriate date to reschedule the Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon. Thank you for your patience and understanding.”

The Chamber’s Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon will be rescheduled for a later date in 2020.

Congratulations to Dermatology Solutions on their beautiful new home. Check it out at 8503 W. Clearwater Ave., Ste. B in Kennewick.

Congratulations to Yakima Federal Savings & Loan on their beautiful new location. Visit it at 3100 Duportail St. in Richland.

Congratulations to Wendy's on their brand new Pasco location! Visit it at 5706 North Road 68.

Congratulations to Water 2 Wine Cruises on their beautiful new space! Check it out at 591 Stevens Dr. in Richland! 

Congratulations to New U Women's Clinic and Aesthetics on their ribbon cutting! Check out their home at 35 S. Louisiana St., Ste. A120 in Kennewick!