Visit Tri-Cities Partners with Battelle to Elevate STEM Tourism in Tri-Cities

​Visit Tri-Cities is proud to announce Battelle, which operates the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, has made a $50,000 contribution to  Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Tourism in the Tri-Cities. As a global leader in STEM-related disciplines and world-class scientific discoveries, Battelle is a natural fit as the Official Partner of STEM Tourism in the Tri-Cities. This partnership will help support, elevate and establish the Tri-Cities as the STEM Tourism capital of the Pacific Northwest.
 
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Battelle to enhance the Tri-Cities’ STEM Tourism profile and shine a brighter light on the region for its significant scientific achievements and attractions, which are very unique to the Tri-Cities,” said Michael Novakovich, President and CEO of Visit Tri-Cities. “If the current pandemic has taught the world anything, it is that STEM-related research and activities are more important than ever.”    
 
The Tri-Cities has a rich history steeped in science, from the top-secret Manhattan Project to the Nobel Prize-winning research of the LIGO Hanford Observatory, to current technology in preventing the transmission of COVID-19. The Tri-Cities region is home to some of the most significant discoveries and impactful research of the last century.  
 
“This new innovative partnership allows Visit Tri-Cities to reach new audiences with targeted messaging designed to bring visitors interested in STEM activities to the Tri-Cities, which will drive positive economic impact in the community through increased visitor spending and contribute to overall quality of life,” added Novakovich.  
 
Amplified promotion of STEM Tourism provides more than enjoyment and enrichment for visitors and the community, it plants the seeds for future interest in STEM, career development and supports workforce development in the Tri-Cities. The partnership is in direct alignment with another Battelle initiative, The Mid-Columbia STEM Nexus, a program focused on fostering pathways to STEM-related jobs. The program kicked off with a $1 million investment to Washington State STEM Education Foundation which is focused on STEM education in the Tri-Cities. 
 
For more information about STEM Tourism in the Tri-Cities, visit http://www.visittri-cities.com/what-to-see-and-do/plan/stem-itineraries-in-the-tri-cities/