Here is a Tri-City Herald article on the Tri-City economy. We need not listen to the national news, and just keep on living. We are in a good place in Kennewick, also Richland, Pasco and W-Richland. The rest of the outlying area is coming along for the ride.
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/05/03/1000321/economy-tri-city-cost-of-living.html
Community development, feeding seniors, creating affordable housing & first-time homebuyer assistance are all focus projects for the forthcoming $2.3 million in federal funds that will be awarded to the Tri-Cities. The Department of Housing & Urban Development Community Development Block Grants and HOME Investment Partnerships Program is where the funds will be coming from according to the Northwest HUD director. This year Kennewick will get $618,526, Pasco will get $667,834 and Richland will receive $294,548 in federal funds, which will allow individual agencies to apply for funding for projects. There are several agencies that will recieve funds, and in addition some money will go into city parks, affordable housing and community development. An additional $681,521 will be split among the three cities from the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, which will be used as down payment assistance programs to aid first-time homebuyers.
The beauty of spring has been obvious in the last couple of weeks all over the Tri-Cities, and each morning as we drive to work many of us see it and rejoice in the season filled with light greens, pinks, yellows and reds. Gardeners have begun the ritual of trimming off the old and planting the new. Am I a gardener? No not really, but I am certainly am an enjoy-er of their efforts. Tree lined streets like West 10th in Kennewick and its flowering pear and plum trees makes me smile all the way down the stretch. The beauty of dogwoods in yards, tulips, crocuses, forsythias and other plants bring color into our desert community and the smell of new mown grass brings delight to my senses. Walking along the waterfront trail in Richland is also a delight in color and creatures with geese and ducks quacking long the paths. Yes, spring has sprung here in the Tri Cities after a mild and delightful winter. Don’t let this wonderful season pass you by – stop and enjoy the beauty of all that surrounds us in the Mid Columbia region.
City council members from both Kennewick and Richland are in agreement that the Hanford Reach Interpretive Center would be a wonderful addition to the west end of Columbia Park, however there are concerns about the money to make it a reality. Development of the west end of the park have long been debated, with alternatives for both commerical development and keeping it as a public park with improvements visualized. The public would like to have a more useable park atmosphere, while planners & developers for both cities wanted more options for commerical use. When the option to add the Reach Center was proposed, it seemed like a perfect fit. The final decision lies in the hands of the Corps of Engineers and potentially could be approved next week. Let’s keep our fingers cross that the Reach Center finds a new home in Columbia Park and that all parties involved can find a middle ground on the issue.
Kennewick is among the elite housing markets in the country and home prices here are expected to increase through September 2011, according to ranking by CNNMoney.com of ”best housing recovery bets” in the country. Home values here have increased 5.7 percent since 2006 and the median price of homes in Kennewick $172,000.
The report indicated that employment is strong in the Tri Cities with well paying jobs for engineers & scientists with an unemployment rate in December of only 8.1 percent, which is well below the national average.
The report can be viewed at: http://bit.ly/aPH6D8
When most people think about wines and where they come from, folks mostly think California or France, but here among the Wine Country of Eastern Washington sits our beautiful community of the Tri Cities. We boast over 300 days of sunshine a year, wonderful wineries & tasting rooms, world class golf courses, diverse recreational opportunities and river activities on our three rivers.
Our “community” consists of Kennewick, Pasco, Richland, West Richland, Benton City, Burbank, Finley and surrounding areas, which makes our population in the range of 256,000. Each city has it’s own personality yet we come together as a region that is always seeking to improve and grow. This family friendly community boasts excellent schools, both public and private, and a low crime rate which is constantly under the watchful eye of our local officials and vigilant citizenry.
The Tri-Cities is a wonderful place to live and we’d like to invite you to come visit and take a look at all the Tri Cities can offer you, including affordable housing and plentiful jobs.
