TRIDEC: Building the Tri-Cities since 1963
The mission of the Tri-City Development Council (TRIDEC) is to facilitate job creation and capital investment (tax base) in Benton and Franklin counties. As the Associate Development Organization (ADO) for Benton and Franklin Counties, we are responsible for marketing the region to business and industry as well as developing a Tri-Cities response to development opportunities coming through the Washington State Department of Commerce.
In addition to our economic development role, we serve as an advocate for federal funding for Hanford and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and a champion for community initiatives.
During the fall of 2017, I had the privilege of participating in two celebrations marking the completion of two projects in which TRIDEC played a key role – Lamb Weston’s Richland plant expansion and AutoZone’s distribution center. Combined, these projects totaled an investment of over $250 million and added 375 jobs.
When these types of projects happen, a variety of Tri-City companies benefit by selling additional services or products, creating a positive ripple effect. In addition, when TRIDEC lobbies for additional Hanford and PNNL funding, local businesses – ranging from retail to subcontractors – benefit from the increase in customer spending.
In 2017, the Tri-City economy added 3,500 jobs – growing 3.2 percent. The Tri-City economy has experienced equally impressive job growth for each of the last four years. Since December of 2013, employment has grown by nearly 12 percent, or over 12,000 new jobs.
Growth in the Goods Producing sector, and particularly manufacturing, is TRIDEC’s key measure that the economy is healthy. Businesses in this sector typically sell goods or services outside the area and import money back to the community.
This creates a multiplier effect, resulting in as many as four additional new jobs for each job they create. The Goods Producing and Manufacturing sectors grew by nearly 9% and 7% respectively in 2017.
Another indicator that the Tri-City economy continues to grow is a study recently released by Policom Corporation entitled “2018 Metropolitan Micropolitan Economic Strength Rankings”. Using a variety of indicators, this report ranks the strength of each of the nation’s 383 Metropolitan Statistical Areas and 550 Micropolitan Statistical Areas.
The Tri-Cities was the only Eastern Washington MSA ranked in the top 100 – coming in at 82. The Spokane-Spokane Valley MSA was next closest at 161 and Yakima fell in at 233.
In 2018, TRIDEC will continue marketing the community for new investment, advocating for federal funding for programs important to PNNL and adequate funding for Hanford Cleanup.
In alignment with our target industries, TRIDEC will be marketing the Tri-Cities at trade shows like the Natural Products Expo West and PowerGen, the nation’s largest energy-related show. We will continue building relationships with corporate real estate executives and site location consultants highlighting the benefits of a Tri-City location.
As a champion for community initiatives, we will continue advocating for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to return the Columbia Rivershore to the local communities and local control and will support the Tri-Cities Airport in efforts to attract new and to improve existing commercial air service.
A new initiative for 2018, TRIDEC will establish a Task Force to evaluate the community’s efforts at encouraging entrepreneurism. Much is already going on in the community ranging from FUSE’s co-working space to increased efforts to transfer technology developed at PNNL. The Task Force’s charge will be to catalog what is existing and make recommendations on what is needed to support and strengthen the entrepreneurial community in the Tri-Cities.
TRIDEC is committed to being an advocate for business and a catalyst for progress. We look forward to 2018 being “Brighter and Bolder!”
This story was originally published April 1, 2018 at 4:01 PM with the headline "TRIDEC: Building the Tri-Cities since 1963."