27 Feb Port Recognizes ET Estate Sales as Its “2019 Friend of the Port”
Kennewick, Wash. – On Tuesday, February 25, 2020, during their regular board meeting, Port of Kennewick commissioners honored ET Estate Sales as their 2019 Friend of the Port. The Port of Kennewick’s Board of Commissioners commended business owners, Liz and Mark Thompson, for their efforts to transform Columbia Drive through personal investments, a commitment to excellence, and their tenacity in making east Kennewick and the Columbia Gardens Wine & Artisan Village an inviting destination.
CEO Tim Arntzen said the Port chose the Thompson’s and ET Estate Sales in part for supporting the Port’s vision for redeveloping Kennewick’s historic waterfront district in a variety of ways. The Thompsons bought a building across from the Columbia Gardens Wine & Artisan Village and moved their business into that space—even before the Port’s first winery buildings were built. And they have created a retail opportunity which not only complements the wine village but one that has attracted additional retail to that end of town.
According to Arntzen, the Thompson’s have taken such pride and ownership of the Columbia Drive neighborhood that they took it upon themselves to paint over a large number of graffiti tags which appeared up and down east Columbia Drive, on multiple buildings. The tagging appeared not only their own building but all over the eastern wall of a building that directly faces Columbia Gardens—the Port and City of Kennewick’s wine and artisan-focused redevelopment project. Not willing to wait for the city’s graffiti abatement program—and because they want their business “home” to look clean and inviting; they took it upon themselves to contact their neighbors about the graffiti. And THEN, ET Estate Sales employees simply went out and tackled that graffiti—going up and down Columbia Drive—painting and cleaning until those tags were covered or removed.
Continued Arntzen, “The prompt and civic-minded action demonstrated by ET Estate Sales is helping create and maintain positive place-making and a true sense of urban revitalization…where each and every tenant, building owner, and visitor is proud of the transformation that is taking place, and feels welcome, invited, and safe.”
The Port Commissioners presented the Thompsons and ET Estate Sales employees with a plaque, indicating that the Port values their commitment to the redevelopment of Kennewick’s historic waterfront. Commissioners thanked the Thompsons for their service, dedication, investment, support, and friendship with Port of Kennewick and recognized ET Estate Sales as the Port of Kennewick’s 2019 Friend of the Port.
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The Port of Kennewick is a municipal corporation serving taxpayers in Kennewick, Richland, West Richland, and portions of Benton City and unincorporated Benton County. The Port’s economic development mission is focused on growing, improving, and sustaining regional employment, tourism, and quality of life for port district residents & visitors.