The 2024 Grant Cycle is open to 501c3 nonprofits serving Benton and Franklin Counties. Grants range from $1,000 to $10,000. Funding for the 2024 Grant cycle has more than tripled since 2019.

In 2024, the grant cycle introduces a new option, providing applicants with two grant application options to choose from. The Program/Project Grant is a traditional application tailored for specific programs or projects. Alternatively, the Impact Grant offers unrestricted support, contingent upon a follow-up report detailing how the funding advances your mission. To qualify for the Impact Grant, you must have received an application-based grant from 3RCF in 2023, 2022, or 2021. The introduction of the Impact Grant responds to a need for adaptable funding, reflecting our trust in community partners' expertise in carrying out their initiatives.

Grants are awarded through an application-based process, ensuring the areas of current greatest needs are being addressed. The 3RCF Board of Directors conducts reviews, interviews applicants, and ultimately determines all grant allocations.
The 2024 application is now available for 501c3 nonprofits serving Benton and Franklin counties. Applications will be accepted July 31, 2024, through September 16, 2024, at 5:00 PM.

The Grant Portal can be accessed through our website: www.3rcf.org/annual-grant-cycle/

3RCF’s grant funding is supported by community members who have made significant donations to establish named funds which are endowed and invested. Donors can choose to make unrestricted gifts, which support areas of greatest need, or designate their donations to specific causes they care about, such as addressing food insecurity, supporting animals, or promoting the arts.

Thanks to the generosity of both new and existing donors, along with direct gifts, 3RCF anticipates distributing $300,000 during its 2024 grant cycle. If you are interested in establishing a fund, planning an estate gift, or making a beneficiary gift, please contact Abbey Cameron at 509-735-5559 or [email protected].

To contribute to the Annual Grant Fund, donations can be made conveniently online at https://threeriverscf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1104.

Grant recipients will be notified on November 1, 2024, and are invited to attend the Celebration of Philanthropy luncheon on December 3, 2024. Each grant recipient organization will receive two complimentary tickets to the event.

Ben Franklin Transit (BFT) will provide shuttle service to Art in the Park and the Tri-City Water Follies this weekend on the schedules below. The fare is by donation only, with the proceeds benefiting Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels.
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Art in the Park
Friday, July 26, and Saturday, July 27
Shuttles run every 15 minutes from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
To Howard Amon Park from Fran Rish Stadium with stops at:
• Knight Street Transit Center
• GW Way & Lee Blvd.
• Uptown Shopping Center

Tri-City Water Follies
Saturday, July 27, and Sunday, July 28
Shuttles run every hour from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, returning 20 minutes after the last heat
To the Kennewick side of the river from:
• Lampson Stadium in Kennewick
• Knight Street Transit Center in Richland
• The HAPO Center in Pasco

Lourdes Counseling Center, part of Lourdes Health, is now Lourdes Behavioral Health to better reflect the scope of behavioral health services available at the facility and in celebration of its 50th anniversary.

This strategic rebranding effort, which includes a new brand identity, comes as Lourdes Behavioral Health seeks to enhance its impact and reach within the region. Signage has been updated throughout the facility, and the new name brand will be celebrated with a special ribbon cutting and anniversary event on Thursday, August 1, 2024, for hospital physicians and area healthcare providers, as well as community leaders and elected officials. Community members are invited to attend.

“Lourdes Health is committed to expanding access to critical healthcare services this region needs, and this rebrand reaffirms our dedication to providing exceptional mental health services and support to individuals and families in the Tri-Cities area,” said Mark Holyoak, Lourdes Health CEO. “Our new name, Lourdes Behavioral Health, better reflects the scope of our services, our ongoing commitment to quality care, and our mission of making communities healthier.”

Founded in 1974 as the Benton-Franklin Mental Health Center, Lourdes Behavioral Health provides a wide spectrum of behavioral health services for adults, children and families, including a 32-bed licensed psychiatric hospital, a 16-bed licensed residential crisis triage facility, known as Transitions, and several outpatient programs and services.

“As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we are excited to unveil our new name and brand, which encompasses the services and quality of care our community has come to know and trust since 1974,” said Nelly Navarrete, Senior Director of Lourdes Behavioral Health. “We look forward to our next chapter as Lourdes Behavioral Health.”

Today, Washington State University Tri-Cities’ Empowering the Future Energy Workforce Program received the 2024 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine, the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education. The Inspiring Programs in STEM Award honors colleges and universities that encourage and assist students from underrepresented groups to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). 

WSU Tri-Cities will be featured, along with 82 other recipients, in the September 2024 issue of Insight Into Diversity magazine. Inspiring Programs in STEM Award winners were selected by Insight Into Diversity based on efforts to inspire and encourage a new generation of young people to consider careers in STEM through mentoring, teaching, research, and successful programs and initiatives.

Insight Into Diversity magazine selected WSU Tri-Cities’ Empowering the Future Energy Workforce Program because of its student research/innovation teams that work with faculty and industry mentors to address local challenges related to climate change and its impact on disadvantaged communities.  The program also partners with faculty from different departments to incorporate climate and energy related topics into their courses.

Jillian Cadwell, research associate faculty in the WSU Tri-Cities School of Engineering and Applied Sciences comments, “We are very excited to have received this recognition. With campus research focused on the environment, sustainability and clean energy, the DOE Inclusive Energy Prize has been a catalyst to develop new, and strengthen existing, industry collaborations such as our Empowering the Future Energy Workforce program to benefit the campus’ large population of traditionally underserved students in STEM.”

“We know that many STEM programs are not always recognized for their success, dedication, and mentorship for underrepresented students,” says Lenore Pearlstein, owner and publisher of Insight Into Diversity magazine. “We want to honor the schools and organizations that have created programs that inspire and encourage young people who may currently be in or are interested in a future career in STEM. We are proud to honor these programs as role models to other institutions of higher education and beyond.” 

A call for nominations for this award was announced in April 2024. For more information about the 2024 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award and Insight Into Diversity magazine, visit insightintodiversity.com. For more information about WSU Tri-Cities' Empowering the Future Energy Workforce Program visit tricities.wsu.edu/energy

Get involved in your city government and serve on one of seven boards, commissions, or committees. 

Serving on a board, commission or committee is one way Richland citizens can volunteer and get involved with their city government. Members may provide insight and advice to City Council, help decide appeals or civil violations, review and make recommendations on land use and other related regulations, and take public testimony on the City’s behalf.  

The vacancies include: 
Americans with Disabilities Act Citizens Review Committee
Board of Adjustment
Economic Development Committee
Library Board
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
Personnel Committee
Utility Advisory Committee

For more information, please call the City Clerk’s Office at 509-942-7389 or view the opportunities and apply online at www.ci.richland.wa.us/bccvacancies. 
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Applications are accepted now, until filled. 

The City of Richland Streets Division has updated the street sweeping schedule to incorporate our expanding infrastructure. While we strive to keep the schedule as accurate as possible, please note that occasional variations may occur due to operational factors beyond our control.

To view the updated schedule, visit the interactive map at www.ci.richland.wa.us/streetsweepingmap. Enter your address in the search bar in the upper left corner and use the color legend to determine the most likely day of the week for street sweeping in your neighborhood. 
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For further information, contact the Streets Division at 509-942-7489.

Each year, the 3 Rivers Community Foundation (3RCF) dedicates its efforts to an annual grant cycle, providing funding opportunities to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving Benton and Franklin Counties. For application details and additional information, including exclusions, please visit www.3rcf.org and navigate to the "Nonprofits" section. The application will be available beginning July 31, 2024. The application deadline is September 16, 2024, at 5:00 PM.

“The 2024 Grant Cycle is an exciting one for 3RCF,” says Abbey Cameron CEO. “The 3RCF Board has been more strategic than ever and we have created new pathways for funding this year, recognizing the different needs of the many organizations that apply. We aim to be flexible, adaptive, and supportive in our funding, so nonprofits will be able to apply for either a traditional Program/Project grant, or an Impact grant that offers more flexibility for dynamic organizations. It’s new, which means we are experimenting a bit, but our review process and decisions of all grants will be as thorough and effective as we are known to be.”

The grant program is funded by a portion of the $9 million endowment of 3RCF, along with direct donations. Donors have the option to allocate their contributions in two ways: unrestricted, where funds are allocated to areas of highest priority, or to specific causes they care deeply about, such as food security, housing, or healthcare. The 3RCF Board thoroughly reviews, evaluates, and interviews applicants to ensure that the funds will be utilized effectively to benefit our community. “As we approach the grant cycle each year, we are adding the donors we have worked with in the last year. We are excited for them to see the impact of their gift through the grants,” says Abbey.

This year, 3RCF will host two Zoom tutorial sessions to review the new application options. Both sessions will cover identical content, focusing on guidance for completing the grant application form and addressing any questions. The sessions are scheduled for:
July 24 (12 PM) https://us02web.zoom.us/.../reg.../WN_9SQ1ph-mQwCF5P3gPosvNw
July 17 (12 PM) https://us02web.zoom.us/.../reg.../WN_993-F0WJTgOQ2dxU5ENFGw

Donations to the 3RCF Annual Grant Fund received by the end of September will be included in this grant cycle. To support this fund, visit www.3rcf.org and click “Make a Donation.”

The Prosser Memorial Health Foundation is excited to bring back the Wine Country Classic Tournament for its fourth year! The tournament will take place on Friday, September 6, at Canyon Lakes Golf Course in Kennewick. Proceeds for the event will directly benefit Prosser Memorial Health programs.

Registration is now open for the Wine Country Classic through the PMH Foundation website, www.prosserhealth.foundation. Entry fees include a fun day of golf, a delicious lunch, and prizes. Those interested in sponsoring the event can also head to our website for information about the multiple levels of sponsorship available. To learn more about participating, sponsorship, or receive more information about the Wine Country Classic, you can contact the Foundation at 509.786.6601.

So, dust off those golf clubs and get ready for a day of fun with a cause! To register, learn more about the Prosser Memorial Health Foundation, or to donate, visit our website or call the Foundation office at 509.786.6601. We’ll see you on the golf course Friday, September 6 in Kennewick!

During its July 9, 2024, regular meeting, the Port of Kennewick Board of Commissioners received and unanimously approved a Letter of Interest (LOI) from Dr. Brandon Furness and Dr. Royce Barney as developers and incorporated as Cantley Vision Inc. The optometrists plan to build a two-story eye care center, retail optical shop and leasable retail space on Lot 31 at Vista Field. The Tri-Cities doctors own Columbia Point Eye Care in Richland and Columbia Point Eye Care in Kennewick.

This is the first medical facility to announce plans to locate at Vista Field. The proposed project would include a 7,000-square-foot building with dedicated medical offices, optical retail and approximately 1,500 square feet of retail tenant space.

Lot 31 is located west of Crosswind Boulevard on Azure Drive. Medical is a desired use in Vista Field and creates a natural transition between future residential development and activity closer to the water feature and open-air pavilions.

Port of Kennewick Commissioners directed port staff to work through the collaborative design process to bring a fully defined purchase and sale agreement to the commission in the near future.

Port officials indicated they are quite pleased with this addition to the commercial space planned for Vista Field and the detail the developer’s team has taken in designing the building.

Port of Kennewick town architect Matt Lambert of DPZ said, “We are encouraged that they are treating all three building elevations with care, not only the façade along Azure Drive but also the pedestrian walkway and parking lot frontage.” 
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According to the port, with this latest proposal, nearly 40% of the phase one parcels at Vista Field are now sold or pending for residential, retail, and commercial space.

The Claybell Park Pickleball Courts located at 425 Broadmoor Street in Richland will temporarily close for resurfacing work beginning Monday, July 15. The closure is necessary to enhance the quality and safety of the courts for all users. During this period, the courts will be inaccessible to the public.

The resurfacing project is expected to be completed within two weeks, weather permitting. We understand the inconvenience this may cause and appreciate the community's patience and cooperation as we strive to improve this popular recreational amenity.

Updates on the progress of the resurfacing project will be shared soon. We encourage residents and pickleball enthusiasts to stay informed about the reopening schedule.

For more information visit richlandparksandrec.com.