About Port of Kennewick

The Port’s leadership is making tough decisions regarding current and future use of the district’s resources. And Port of Kennewick staff are working with economic development partners in West Richland, Richland, Kennewick, Benton City, and Benton County, to foster sustainable business, industrial, and commercial development district-wide.

Urban Renewal and Waterfront Restoration
The Port is looking for opportunities to revitalize commercial neighborhoods, and enhance the community’s waterfront. The Clover Island Shoreline Restoration Plan and the Port’s acquisition of Columbia Drive property hold great promise for bringing new restaurants, shopping, spas, entertainment, trails, waterfront access, and lifestyle amenities to historic downtown Kennewick. The Port’s investment is an opportunity to provide a boost that can energize and transform a neighborhood in transition into a vibrant retail, residential, and tourism destination.  The Port of Kennewick received the 2007 Downtown Revitalization Award, from the City of Kennewick Block Grant Advisory Committee and the Historic Downtown Kennewick Partnership, for the Port’s urban renewal efforts and the two-story professional office and commercial building completed on Clover Island.

Fresh Approach to Asset Management
The Port of Kennewick is taking a new approach to economic development, including the sale of real property to help drive commercial and business investment in targeted areas. The Port’s Spaulding Business Park is transforming the Richland Wye with medical and professional offices.  The Port was awarded a 2009 Governor's Workforce and Economic Development Best Practices Award for the Spaulding Business Park development [more info]. And business owners are building offices, expanding warehouses, and adding jobs at the Vista Field Industrial Park.

At the City of Kennewick’s request, the Port is exploring alternatives for the Vista Field Airport. Port Commissioners will make a decision based on an objective consideration of the relative benefits and costs of discontinuing the airfield, moving it, or keeping it an active runway.

In other areas, the Port is leasing property to foster burgeoning industries. The Port leases space in their Oak Street Industrial Park to CorkWest--a cork manufacturing company which serves the northwest wine industry.  The Port coordinated a land-swap with a private developer in West Richland; thus enabling the wine industry’s renowned Randall Grahm to create Pacific Rim Estates—the new, biodynamic Riesling production facility. In addition, the Port’s purchase of 92 acres, near the acclaimed Red Mountain winery appellation in Benton County, is setting the stage for converting a defunct raceway into a wine-related business and commercial hub for West Richland.

Tourism Catalyst
The Port seeks to be a catalyst for recreation, tourism and quality of life. The Clover Island Marina renovation was completed one year early and under budget. In addition to leased moorage, the marina offers a public boat launch and moorage, restrooms, showers, security cameras, and oil spill and emergency response equipment.   In fact, the Port of Kennewick received a 2008 Build Washington Award from the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Washington for the marina project, which named it their Top Construction Project of the Year in the heavy/industrial category.

The Port also built a new retail/office building on Clover Island and provided leased space for Ice Harbor Brewing at the Marina—bringing a new restaurant/craft brewery to Clover Island—the first new building on the island since 1979.

The Port has been working hard to bring new jobs and quality of life amenities to Clover Island, and to provide opportunities to showcase the region’s rich and diverse history.  Plans to repair the island’s degraded shoreline and add public pathways, gathering places, fishing platforms, benches, and artworks for the public’s enjoyment will bring new life and recreation to the island; new business and jobs to Kennewick; and greater environmental stewardship to the Columbia River.   Learn more about the Clover Island Shoreline Master Plan.