January 2009

AGRICULTURE:

Most of FnklinCounty’s long-tim sidnts 

well aware of the signicance of Agriculture within the Tri-Citieseconomy. For those few who aren’t,this month’s luncheon meeting maybe an eye-opener.

Monday, January 12th, at 11:30

th Wshington Stt Dptmnt

of Agriculture’s Chief of DomesticMarketing and Economic Develop

ment, Eric Hurlburt, will address thePasco Chamber of Commerce monthlyluncheon on the subject of economicdevelopment within the ag industry.Hurlburt is responsible for the AgDepartment programs and activitiesthat encourage and assist developmentand growth within the state’s agricul

ture and food processing industries andthe marketing of their products withinWashington state.Hurlburt works on transportationand infrastructure, policy and access,business recruitment and retention,bioenergy and other issues. He sits onthe boards of the Access to HealthyFoods Coalition, Washington Eco

nomic Development Finance Authority

nd Wshington Win Commission

among others.The Small FarmDirect Market

ing program,which works with

fmily-ownd

farms to nd

nw o ltn-

tive markets, isamong Hurlburt’scharges. So is “From the Heart of Washington,” which seeks to raiseawareness of agriculture’s role in thestate’s economy and persuade stateresidents to buy local.As this is written, networks arereporting that a recession has been

undwy ntionlly fo bout 

year. And yet, the Tri-Cities is stillone of the less-affected parts of the country.

In th thid qut of 2008—th

most recent period for whichnumbers are available—U.S. homeprices fell 2.7%. They’re down 4%over the year ending in September2008. But locally, homes stillappreciate.

Out of 292 mto s listd

by the Federal Housing FinanceAgency, the

Tri-Cities was 13thin increased home value

, up .8%

though th thid qut of 2008

and just over 4% over the thirdquarter of 2007.The best recent numbers comefrom unlikely places—North andSouth Dakota, specically. InFlorida and California, home priceshave been in free fall, with lossesof as much as 42% of home valuein some markets.

Looking for Positives?

(Here’s one!)

Hurlburt

R e m i n d e r ! P a s c o A g S h ow

J an u ar y 6 & 7 at T R AC

B r o u g ht t o y o u b y t he P as c o C hamb e r !Ad mi s s i o n $ 3 o r a c anne d f o o d d o nat i o n

(Still) at the Heart of Pasco’s Economy

Ryan Brault, PresidentPasco Chamber of Commerce

Members wishing to contribute to this column can email news to info@pascochamber.org

WORTH MENTIONING

Duane Sams

hsbn pomotd to

the position of ActingDirector of Engineer

-ing nd

Linda Boomer

hs bn pomotd to

Director of Power Management for

Franklin PUD.

Lind

replaces Ed Brost who

ws nmd Gnl

Manager in September.

Charter College

hs

opened at BroadmoorSquare. The careercollege will offer four certicate pro

grams and occupy about one fourthof the facility.

Pat Butts

ClarkJennings & Associates

is th Chi of th

Tri-Cities Association of Realtors’ EducationCommittee

Calvin Dudney

hsbn ppointd to th Pot of

Kennewick Board of Commissioners.

Heather Wadkins

Escape Lodging hasrelocated to Pasco toserve as General Man

ager of the company’s

Cousin’s Restaraunt.

Upland Edge Medical Group is now

pt of th

Lourdes Health Network

fmily nd hs bn nmd

Lourdes Columbia Point

Jim Stottlemyre

hs

joined

Baker BoyerInvestor Services

s n

Investment Advisor.

Beaver Bark Gift &Garden Center

Richland is one of three nalists for the“Merchandiser of the Year” award by

Lawn & Garden Retail Magazine

.For the fourth consecutive year,

Franklin PUD

received the Certi

cate of Achievement for Excellencein Financial Reporting for its com

prehensive annual nancial reportfor 2007.

A joint effort of the Pasco,Hispanic, Hermiston andWest Richland Chambers.

Building BridgesNetworking Event

January 14th | 8:00-9:00 amThe Chamber is putting togethergift bags full of items to give to

nw mmbs nd businsss tht

are new to Pasco. The bags serveas both a warm welcome and anopportunity to showcase yourproducts and services.Members can deliver their materialsto the Chamber Ofce.

GIFT

CERTIFICATES

SaMPLeS

PENS, NOTEPADS, ANDOTHERUSEFUL ITEMS

SPeCIaLOFFerS

MARKETINGBROCHURES

B2B?

A Low-Costopportunity to market your business

StottlemyreWadkins

Sara Nelson Design

27 N. Auburn, Kennewick

To RSVP call: 547-9755

SamsBoomer Butts

2009-A BUSY YEAR AHEAD

Welcome to 2009! It will be a busy yearfor chamber members, starting with thePasco Ag Show in just a few days. Thisyear the annual Ag Hall of Fame Gala

will b  pt of th Show nd you 

invited to come and be a part of it all!The Pasco Chamber continues to growand thrive. We are committed to offer-ing more education and networkingopportunities this coming year.

rmmb—th mo you mk usof th oppotunitis tht mmbship

provides, the more valuable it is.The Chamber Board is currently develop

ing a strategic plan for this next year. Theoutcomes identied all focus on strength

ening the Pasco-area business commu

nity, encouraging continued growth in2009 and for many years to come.

Ryan

Brides 2009

will be at TRAC onSunday, January 4th. The doors openat 10:30

. Bridal fashion shows willbe at 1:30

and 3:30

. Admission is$10, tickets are available at Just Rosesand at the door.The Pasco Chamber of Commerce’s

Pasco Ag Show

will be January 6-7at TRAC. For information see thewebsite: www.pascoagshow.com.The lm

“Sita Sings the Blues”

will

be shown January 9th, 8:00

, atBattelle Auditorium, Richland.

Gun & Antique Show

will b Jnuy

10th from 9:00

to 6:00

at TRAC.

Sportsman Show

comes up January 16at TRAC.Take the family

ice skating

at TRACevery Sunday from 4:00

-6:00

PM.

admission is $5/skt o $10 fo 

family of up to four.

Kids & Baby Expo

will take place January 30th at TRAC. Admission is$5 for adults, $1 for kids 4-12. Childrenunder 4 are free.

“Road to Vegas,” the Coronation of Nicole Ray as Miss Rodeo Washington

will be held January 31, 6:00

t

Doug Watts’ Airplane Hangar at thePasco Airport. Tickets are $30 andare available by calling 627-5670.

Mid-Columbia Symphony’s

“CelebrateRomance” is January 31, 8:00

t

the Three Rivers Convention Center.

Members wishing to contribute to this column can e-mail news to info@pascochamber.org

AROUND TOWN

Events | Activities |Fun things to do

The 2009 legislative session is just aweek away. Many issues are on thetable, but the biggest is the state’swhopping $5.1 billion budget shortfall.

My top priority is to bal-ance the budget withoutraising taxes—especially onbusinesses.

The last thing weneed is a more crushing taxburden. We should returnto the “Priorities of Govern

ment” process, where everydiscretionary state spendingcommitment is up for re

view. This targeted approachis the best way to cut spending whilestill providing essential services.

Oth big issus bfo th Lgisltu

include health care affordability,challenges with the WASL test andtackling environmental issues without

futh

harming our economy.The 2009 session will be one of the mostchallenging the Legislature has faced.But with challenges come opportuni

ties. We have an excellentchance to take a long, hardlook at state government’sfunctions and focus on thehighest priorities.I invite you to sign up toreceive my weekly

Eastsider

-nwsltt by snding-mil to

Hewitt.Mike@leg.wa.gov

with your name, address,

-mil ddss nd phon

number. I also encourage you to check

my wbsit t

www.src.wa.gov/Hewitt

fo

updates on breaking issues.

Sen. Mike Hewitt represents the 16thLegislative District and serves as leader of the Senate Republican Caucus.

The 2009 Legislative Session –

Coming Up Quick!

By Senator Mike Hewitt Hewitt

Perception, Communication andFrustration with Human Beings...

If you have ever wondered whythe only thing other people have incommon is that they don’t under

stand YOU…

If th is somon tht you bso-

lutely, positively do not know howto get through to…

Tuesday, February 3rd

fom 9-11

, join former local TV News Anchorand Weatherman Thom Spencerand the Pasco Chamber at Cousins

rstunt fo

“UnderstandingCommunication Styles.”

It isn’t about manipulation. It’s about

woking within th mny styls of

communication to connect withclients, co-workers, friends andfamily members.No matter what your personal style,you’ll nd ways to create results frominteractions with others…• Learn some of the new sciencebehind communication• Find new avenues for advancingyour personal career• Understand and improve person

al relations in the workplace.

We’ll see you

Tuesday, February 3rd,

Cousins Restaurant

on Road 68 inPasco! The cost is only $15 per person for two hours that will change the way youcommunicate. To RSVP, call the Cham-

ber ofce at 547-9755 or e-mail info@

pascochamber.org.

Spencer

Communicate!