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Ben Franklin Transit (BFT) is implementing changes to its fixed-route services beginning Sunday,
June 14, with most of the changes taking effect on Monday, June 15. The service changes are outlined in the agency’s 2026 Annual Service Plan, which the BFT Board of Directors approved in January. Highlights of this year’s changes include the introduction of Route 66, which will provide service to the new Pasco Aquatic Center Monday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., with buses running every hour. Route 67 will begin a Sunday-only Aquatic Center variant that will run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. every hour. While these routes will begin on June 14 and 15, they will use the roundabout at Road 108 and Sandifur as a turnaround until the opening of the Aquatic Center on June 27. The new Route 64X will provide weekday-only service to Amazon warehouse facilities in Pasco, departing 22nd Avenue Transit Center at 6:30 a.m. Monday through Friday and offering a direct connection for employees. “The new Pasco Aquatic Center is going to be a very vibrant part of our community, and we are excited to get families there quickly and inexpensively to enjoy this new facility,” said BFT CEO Brian Lubanski. “Our partnership with Amazon will benefit employees by getting them to work on time for morning shifts while easing congestion and parking issues.”
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Since 1963, the Tri-City Development Council (TRIDEC) has advocated for the funding and policies necessary to support the U.S. Department of Energy’s missions at the Hanford Site and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). Each year, TRIDEC works closely with Washington’s congressional delegation and key congressional committees to communicate the funding needs of both Hanford cleanup and PNNL’s nationally important research & development programs.
Recently, TRIDEC has heard questions from its members, and from the public, regarding the potential for reduced federal funding in Federal Fiscal Year 2027 (beginning on October 1, 2026), and what that could mean for local jobs and the ongoing work at Hanford and PNNL. While those concerns are understandable, it is important to recognize that proposed budgets are only the beginning of the federal appropriations process. Significant reductions have been proposed in prior years, yet Congress has consistently demonstrated strong bipartisan support for both Hanford and PNNL. Most recently, both the President’s Budget Request and the House-passed bill for Fiscal Year 2026 proposed reductions to Hanford funding. However, the final appropriations bill approved by Congress increased Hanford funding by $277 million—nearly 9.4 percent above the previous year. Similarly, while some programs supporting PNNL faced proposed reductions, Congress ultimately maintained strong funding for many of the laboratory’s core mission areas. The Tri-Cities also benefits from the exceptional leadership of Washington’s congressional delegation. Senator Patty Murray, Senator Maria Cantwell, and Representative Dan Newhouse have long been among the strongest advocates for Hanford cleanup and PNNL. Senator Murray’s positions as Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Vice Chair of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee provide her with a particularly influential role in shaping federal funding decisions. During her visit to the Tri-Cities on May 6, 2026, Senator Murray reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring that federal funding remains strong. The Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations process is still in its early stages, and final funding levels will not be determined for several more months. While TRIDEC will continue advocating aggressively for the resources needed to support Hanford and PNNL, history provides strong reasons for confidence. Time and again, Washington’s congressional delegation has successfully secured the funding necessary to protect local jobs, advance Hanford cleanup, and strengthen PNNL’s contributions to national security, scientific discovery, and technological innovation. TRIDEC remains committed to working alongside our federal partners and congressional delegation to ensure these critical missions continue to receive the support they need in Fiscal Year 2027 and beyond. 3 Rivers Community Foundation today announced the launch of the 2026 Meet the Moment Campaign, a community fundraising effort supporting nonprofits serving Benton and Franklin counties.
The campaign, running through September 30, is supported by a matching challenge from an anonymous donor to help raise $75,000 for responsive local grantmaking. Originally launched in 2025, Meet the Moment was created to help nonprofits address urgent and emerging community needs through flexible funding support. Grants from the fund are distributed locally before the end of the year. “Last year’s campaign showed the power of collective generosity in our community,” said Abbey Cameron, CEO of 3RCF. “Meet the Moment allows us to respond where support is needed most while strengthening the nonprofit organizations serving our region every day.” Campaign details: https://www.3rcf.org/press/meet-the-moment-returns-for-2026/ Washington State University Tri-Cities Cougar Tracks and the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce have partnered to launch the Resilient Business Builders Network, a new initiative that will provide training, networking opportunities and professional development for entrepreneurs, small business owners and nonprofit leaders across the Tri-Cities.
The initiative is designed to help organizations adapt to changing workforce and economic conditions while strengthening the region's long-term economic vitality. “Cougar Tracks exists to be the workforce training partner for this region — not just for one industry, one career stage or one kind of organization, but for all of us,” said Cougar Tracks Director Michelle Hrycauk‑Nassif. “This joint undertaking with the Tri-Cities Regional Chamber is how we bring that commitment to life in a way that is collaborative and directly connected to the Tri-Cities community.” Under the partnership, Cougar Tracks will develop and deliver seasonal programming, while the Tri-City Regional Chamber will provide workforce and economic data and promote opportunities through its network of more than 900 member organizations. “Partnerships like the Resilient Business Builders Network are essential to the long-term economic vitality of the Tri-Cities,” said Austin Regimbal, vice president of the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce. “By joining forces with WSU Tri-Cities Cougar Tracks, the Chamber is advancing our mission to support small business growth and ensuring that high-quality workforce training is accessible to organizations of all sizes across our region.” Workshops are expected to begin this fall and will center on planned topics such as practical AI adoption strategies for business and teams, leadership development and other workforce-related skills. Cougar Tracks will also host networking events to facilitate connections between Tri-Cities professionals and the next generation of regional leaders. Community feedback will shape programming To help identify emerging workforce needs, the network will gather input through a regional survey and a team of volunteer "Business Catalysts."
Community members interested in learning more about Cougar Tracks and the Resilient Business Builders Network can visit the Tri-City Regional Chamber's Small Business Fair from 3 to 6 p.m. on June 9 at the Tri-Cities Business and Visitor Center, 7130 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick. Yakima Federal Savings and Loan today announced the promotions of three key team members to leadership positions within its Tri-Cities branch network. Tony Mayorga, Levi Hughes, and Katie Tripp have elevated into new management roles, reflecting their dedication to the association and the local communities they serve.
"These well-deserved advancements reflect the hard work, extensive knowledge, and deep dedication of our staff," said Dan Gaulke President and CEO of Yakima Federal. "We are proud to see our team members grow within the organization and take on vital leadership roles that support our customers throughout the region." Tony Mayorga has been promoted to Assistant Secretary and Branch Manager of the Pasco office. Mayorga joined Yakima Federal in October 2020 as a management trainee. He transitioned to the Pasco office in February 2024 and most recently served as Branch Supervisor since September 2025. Levi Hughes has been named Assistant Secretary and Branch Manager of the Gage office in Kennewick. Hughes began his career with Yakima Federal as a branch banker in July 2021, advancing to Management Trainee in July 2023. Like Mayorga, he was promoted to Branch Supervisor in September 2025 before stepping into his current managerial role. Katie Tripp has been promoted to Assistant Branch Manager of the Richland office. A longtime member of the Yakima Federal team, Tripp joined the association in September 2016. She brings years of specialized operations experience to her new position, having served as Savings Supervisor at the Richland location since June 2019. Yakima Federal invites the community to join in congratulating Mayorga, Hughes, and Tripp on their new appointments and wishing them continued success as they lead their respective branches. Plans are underway to debut a pink Ben Franklin Transit (BFT) Breast Cancer Awareness bus and Dial-A-Ride vehicle in October, with the goal of displaying the printed names of 1,000 local breast cancer survivors and thrivers on their exteriors. All community members who are survivors and would like their name included on the Driven by Hope buses are invited to visit bft.org/pink/ and complete the Name Use Consent and Release form. There is a space at the bottom to print your name, and that is how it will be displayed on the bus.
Please return completed forms to [email protected] by Friday, July 17. BFT staff will also host a table to collect forms at the Madison & Friends Charity Art Fundraiser on Saturday, June 27, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Layered Cake Artistry in Downtown Kennewick. Community members will be invited to a ceremony at the beginning of October to unveil the specially wrapped buses. The City of Pasco will host four Official SeattleFWC26 Fan Zone events in June and July, celebrating the world’s biggest sporting event with free watch parties at Gesa Stadium and the Pasco Sporting Complex.
The City of Pasco has partnered with Visit Tri-Cities, Ben Franklin Transit, the Pasco School District, the Richland School District, and many local businesses to create free, family-friendly Fan Zone events full of great food, live entertainment, prizes and giveaways, soccer activities, and plenty of fan excitement. Ben Franklin Transit will offer free soccer shuttles every 30 minutes on Fan Zone days. Fans can park at the Three Rivers Transit Center in Kennewick or at the Knight Street Transit Center in Richland to be shuttled directly to the Fan Zone – no need to search for parking or worry about traffic! Fan Zone Schedule: June 15: Fan Zone at Gesa Stadium opens at 10:00AM
June 19: Fan Zone at Pasco Sporting Complex opens at 10:00AM
July 1: Fan Zone at Gesa Stadium opens at 11:00AM
July 6: Fan Zone at Gesa Stadium opens at 3:00PM
Each Fan Zone event will close one hour after the end of the featured match. The City of Pasco will host a media preview on June 8, 2026 to provide visuals and interviews in English and Spanish. RSVP to City of Pasco Communications before 5:00PM on June 6, 2026. |
Have News?Email your press release and a photo to Karen Irey, Marketing and Communications Manager. Press releases are posted in their entirety. This is a free benefit for members of the Tri-City Regional Chamber at the Connect level and above. Archives
June 2026
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7130 W Grandridge Blvd., Suite C, Kennewick, WA 99336 USA Phone: (509) 736-0510 [email protected] Hours
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