Tri-Cities Legislative Council advocacy trip to Olympia

​On February 22nd, a group of nearly 40 representatives from the Tri-Cities traveled to Olympia to champion our local priorities. We engaged with legislators not only from the Tri-Cities region but also from other corners of the state. They were all eager to hear about our top issues.
 
First on our agenda was the advancement of Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Research and Development. We focused on securing additional funding for this state-of-the-art technology. Additionally, we actively sought support for expanding manufacturing jobs and Target Urban Areas (TUA). State Representative Barnard has worked tirelessly to help us advance these goals.
 
Furthermore, we emphasized the development of an agricultural symbiosis industrial park and the production of green fertilizers. Our session priorities were further complemented by our efforts to garner support for establishing a Hospitality Center of Excellence at Columbia Basin College.
 
During our visit, we were fortunate to receive insights from Derek Sanderson, the Washington State Director of Agriculture, and Chris Green, the Assistant Director for the Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness at the Department of Commerce. Both speakers shared valuable messages with us.
 
In the end, our visit was a resounding success. We had the opportunity to make our voices heard and pave the way for positive change.