Tri-City Area and Real Estate Blog

Bogert Aviation is the new hero to four CBC students by donating $9,000 to help the students compete in a national Skills USA competition.  The competition is scheduled for June 20-26 and is geared towards automated manufacturing technology and its a teamwork project.

Owner Richard Bogert has hired several CBC students over the years and has been very pleased with the quality of his employees. He felt it was time to give back to the CBC program that gave him such qualified employees. 

Rob Walker, the instructor of CBC’s Machine Technology program indicates that a name change is due for the program, from Machine Technology to Manufacturing Technology because of the level of skills that consist in the program more accurately fit into the manufacuring fields.

3 senior driving classes are being offered by AARP in the Tri-Cities. The 8-hour refresher classes give senior an opportunity to update their skills and knowledge. Classes are $12 for AARP members and $14 for non-members, and will be held as follows:

June 7th & 8th starting at 8:30 am – Richland Community Center. Call 942-7529 to register.

June 9th & 10th starting at 9am - Pasco Senior Center. Call 545-3459 to register

July 15th & 16th starting at 9am – Kennewick Senior Center. Call 585-4303 to register.

Local CEO’s and Community Business Leaders will come together with members of the Young Professionals of Tri-Cities in a charity softball game Thursday May 27th at GESA Stadium in Pasco, with the game being promoted as “The Battle of the Ages”.   Employees from Infinia Corporation and the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce comprise both teams, with a few extra local business leaders making up the “Suits Team”.  The game starts at 6:00 p.m. and tickets are $10 & $15.  The ticket proceeds will benefit the Greater Tri-Cities YMCA and are available at the locations below:

• TRIDEC Office – 7130 W. Grandridge Blvd in Kennewick 
• YMCA – 1234 Columbia Park Trail in Richland, and
• GESA Stadium in Pasco

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.

Nationwide Open Houses

The above video highlights the Nationwide Open Houses that were done here in the Tri-Cities last weekend and highlights Distinctive Properties, Inc., agent Jackie O’Connor giving information about housing prices, absorption rates and   highlighting a current Distinctive listing in Kennewick.

Anyone who has lived here in the Tri Cities over the past 1o years or more has seen the expansion that has become West Pasco and in fact, has made Pasco the 2nd largest of the Tri-Cities. According to recent US Census figures, that growth has landed Franklin County, Washington in the record books as the 18-fastest growing county in our country, and that is a distinction that no other Washington county can claim.  Last summer the county’s population sat at 77,355 which was a 56.8% increase since the year 2000. Housing in that part of Pasco has generated some welcome revenue for the city, however the cost of services has risen to accomodate the growth. Schools in Pasco grew to address the needs of 5,600 new students with the addition of 3 new elementary schools, one middle school and a new high school.  This part of our Tri-Cities is filled with affordable housing, family-friendly neighborhoods, easy access to the freeway and wonderful goods and services along the Road 68 corridor.  These attributes combined with economic stability and its proximity to the Columbia River make west Pasco and Franklin County a most desirable area in which to live.