Tri-Cities Local Business Association: Building a future with local business

Leaders of local tech companies and organized labor are collaborating through the Tri-Cities Local Business Association (TCLBA) to advocate for the interests and goals of business and our regional commerce.

In 2017, TCLBA focused on completion of Hanford cleanup; a post-cleanup transition of the Hanford workforce, land and infrastructure; and efforts to diversify and strengthen our regional economy. Activities concentrated on opportunities for local business growth.

New Hanford prime contracts are taking shape, which will significantly affect the vitality and sustainability of the Tri-Cities economy. TCLBA has worked closely with the Energy Communities Alliance and our community partners, TRIDEC and the Regional Chamber, to provide input on DOE’s acquisition strategy.

Our input encourages DOE to include specific provisions in contract solicitations and the subsequent determination of prime contractor annual award fees. We have asked for provisions that incentivize the prime contractors to subcontract as much meaningful work as possible to local businesses, including small businesses.

Increased local business involvement in Hanford cleanup will contribute innovative solutions and added capacity to completing the challenging work. Furthermore, it will help local businesses expand their capabilities, which aids their pursuit of non-Hanford work that can enhance local economic growth. Many TCLBA member companies are already doing just that.

As cleanup winds down, the high-tech, well-paying Hanford jobs that currently fuel our local economy will need to be replaced. We envision future business growth areas related to PNNL’s technology generation, Washington State University-Tri-Cities’ and Columbia Basin College’s growth, clean energy, agriculture, wine, health care, manufacturing and environmental protection. These areas build on the knowledge and skills of the Hanford workforce and leverage Hanford land and infrastructure that may become available with cleanup success.

In partnership with Visit TRI-CITIES and others, TCLBA initiated a forum to discuss ideas for showcasing and advancing our community’s growing Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) identity. We believe our STEM identity differentiates the Tri-Cities and promotes tourism, entrepreneurship, manufacturing and more. Additionally, a strong STEM education system helps companies recruit, develop, and retain high-quality employees.

This last year, TCLBA, as a non-profit 501(c)(6), added key administrative and support staff. We also adopted use of social media to promote our member companies and enhance communications.

At TCLBA meetings, guests covered diverse topics such as Small Modular Reactors, Hanford tanks closure, FUSE’s approach to nurturing entrepreneurial businesses, area tribes’ involvement in Hanford lands stewardship, DOE’s procurement perspectives, alternatives for treatment of low-level radioactive waste, and organized labor’s innovative workforce training programs.

We also convened a meeting of our area’s four mayors with Pacific Northwest National Laboraroty officials to discuss collaborations between our business members and local governments to commercialize innovative technologies developed at the Lab. We will be working with Lee Cheatham, PNNL’s Director of Technology Deployment and Outreach, to foster and implement ideas generated in the meeting.

In 2018, we will continue to strengthen our membership, networking, and influence. We will promote opportunities for our members to access information and interact with key decision makers. We will partner within our community to advance our STEM identity, transform emerging technologies into STEM startups, and leverage the Hanford workforce, land and infrastructure.

By capitalizing on the proven potential of local tech businesses, the Tri-Cities has a smart strategy for creating jobs and achieving sustained economic growth.

This story was originally published April 1, 2018 at 3:54 PM with the headline "Tri-Cities Local Business Association: Building a future with local business."