When the Port of Kennewick first formed in 1915 as the Kennewick Commercial Club, it represented a five-mile district of downtown Kennewick.
Today, the district encompasses a 485 square-mile area that includes Kennewick, West Richland, Finley, Plymouth, a portion of Richland south of the Yakima River, a small part of Benton City and unincorporated areas of Benton County.
The large and diverse area is prompting port commissioners to consider whether it's time for a name change to better reflect the area they serve.
"It's almost offensive when we go to a meeting in West Richland (to discuss port business) and say we're from the Port of Kennewick," said Executive Director Tim Arntzen before the port meeting.
Commissioners voted unanimously this week to hire a firm for an amount not-to-exceed $65,000 to gauge public opinion on whether it's time for the port to develop a new name that better reflects the area it serves and what it does.
Tana Bader Inglima, the port's director of governmental relations and marketing, said the firm the port retains would research how people and stakeholders in the port's district perceive its current name, or brand.
They will be asking the public: What does the brand represent now? Does it accurately represent the port? If not, how can we accurately represent the port?"
As part of its initial request for a proposal, the port asked for suggested name recommendations. If the port decides to change its name, the firm would develop a new logo and graphics for the port, Bader Inglima said.
She said she expects the firm would gauge public opinion through meetings and perhaps phone calls and online surveys.
Earlier this year, port commissioners authorized a request for proposals for the work at a cost not to exceed $40,000.
Arntzen said quite a few firms expressed an interest in the project but said $40,000 "was just not enough money."
That's why port staff members asked commissioners this week to authorize another $25,000 for the work, for a total not to exceed $65,000.
The commissioners also agreed to seek requests for proposals again with the new contract figure, Bader Inglima said.
She said five firms submitted proposals the first time around.
Also during this week's commission meeting, port President Skip Novakovich noted that developing a successful brand will be discussed at the Washington Public Ports Association meeting in May, Bader Inglima said.
That's why commissioners decided to wait until after that May meeting to see if they want to tweak their current request for proposals, she said.
Getting the extra input before seeking proposals again is a good thing, Bader Inglima said.
"It's ensuring the process is thorough and meets all the objectives," she said.
