Mid-Columbia Latino Heritage Mural installed at the Columbia Gardens Wine & Artisan Village
 

Good News!

Construction extension means applications for the Columbia Gardens Food Truck pilot program will be accepted through December 31, 2018.

Food Truck Plaza Application

Mission & Goals  

The Port of Kennewick's mission is to provide and support sound economic growth opportunities that create jobs and/or improve the quality of life of the port district citizens. To carry out that mission the Port may:

• Acquire, sell, lease, and develop real estate. The port's work on Columbia Drive has been steady and the community has begun taking notice of this improved waterfront (view historical perspective video). In addition, the port is continuing its work to revitalize Clover Island.  View photos of the 2017 south shoreline improvements including a pulblic trail, The Exchange artwork, and The Gathering Place on Clover Island.  And the port has begun conceptual planning for development of an industrial-focused Wine Village on land in West Richland. View master plan for transforming the former Tri-City Raceway site. 
• Provide multi-modal transportation infrastructure such as roads, rail, airport, and navigation improvements. 
• Foster the development of tourism and public recreational facilities.  View early conceptual plans for Duffy's Pond.
• Partner with other private and public interests to enhance economic development potential as deemed appropriate by the Commissioners.  

The Port of Kennewick continues to work toward that end with projects throughout the district—from industrial and business development to encouraging the growing wine industry to recreation enhancement.   2018 Columbia Gardens Wine & Artisan Village Video

 Port of Kennewick State of the Port 2017      Revitalizing Kennewick's Historic Waterfront 2017       

 Port of Kennewick-- Making Improvements for Public Benefit 2017     Clover Island--creating a destination waterfront     

Columbia Drive--waterfront revitalization     Vista Field--redevelopment & renewal  2017 State of the Ports (Ports of Kennewick, Benton and Pasco) video

2016 State of the Ports video     Clover Island Marina grand re-opening video      2015 State of the Ports video     2014 State of the Ports video     

View a Summary Video of the Nov. 15, 2014 Final Vista Field Charrette presentation     Vista Field Redevelopment--master planning begins   

Columbia Drive--revitalizing historic downtown      Working for You Video   

 Vista Field: What's Next Video     Ice Harbor Brewing--public improvements support small business        Clover Island Marina video by Kevin J. Salisbury

Some projects are nearing completion, some will be completed within the next year or two, and others are just getting off the ground.  Since 2007, the Port's land development projects have stimulated more than 1,100 private sector jobs and fostered $80 million in taxable assessed property value (generating $880,000 annually in propety taxes to support public benefits and services).  And construction sales on those projects generated more than $7.2 million for state and local tax coffers. The work the port undertakes is guided by a formal comprehensive scheme developed with significant public input and defining the port's major business lines. View the Port of Kennewick's 2016 Comprehensive Scheme of Development and Harbor Improvements.

The Port and City of Kennewick were honored with the 2018 Governor's Smart Communities Smart Partnerships Award for their collective efforts to create and adopt the Vista Field redevelopment master plan for the 103-acre former airport located at the core of the city.  It took over four years to complete the plan due to the extremely robust public involvement process, which included design charrettes, pattern language exercises, and numerous open houses.  The plan's vision to create a "vibrant, pedestrian-focused regional town center" will utilize new urbanism concepts and infill development, and clearly carries out the goals and requirements of the Growth Management Act (GMA).  The Port of Kennewick received the Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's 2018 Outstanding Business of the Year Award for the Port's efforts to celebrate the significant contributions of the Latino community to the fabric of the Tri-Citis and to share the history and culture of underrepresented peoples through quality public art. The Port of Kennewick was recognized wtih the Washington Public Ports Association's 2018 Creative Partnerships Award for the Port's efforts to engage with the City of Kennewick, Benton County, Hanford Area Economic Investment Funds Committee, and Columbia Basin College in redeveloping Columbia Drive in east Kennewick.  The Port, City of Kennewick, Benton County, and Columbia Basin College were collectively chosen to receive the 2017 Governor's Smart Communities Smart Partnerships Award for our efforts to revitalize Columbia Drive by constructing the Columbia Gardens Urban Wine & Artisan Village as a community gathering place on the Columbia River's interior waterfront, near the Cable Bridge.  In 2015 Port of Kennewick was honored with the first-ever Washington Public Ports Association Community Outreach Award for our extensive work to engage and involve the community in planning for redevelopment of the former Vista Field airport.  In 2011, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation held a blessing ceremony for the habitat and recreation improvements the Port made to the Clover Island causeway's west shoreline; and the Port received the Washington Aggregates and Concrete Association's first-ever, Concrete Community Award to honor the Clover Island Lighthouse.  The Building Industry Association of Washington named the Port's Clover Island Lighthouse their Community Improvement Project of the Year for 2010.  The City of Kennewick/Kennewick Arts Commission recognized the Port with their 2010 Visual Arts Award for the Clover Island Public Art Project.  The Port received the 2009 Governor's Award for Workforce and Economic Development Best Practices Award for the Spaulding Business Park Development.  View more details.  The Port of Kennewick also received the Governor's 2009 Smart Communities Award for involvement in the Tri-Cities Rivershore Enhancement Council.  The Port of Kennewick’s Clover Island Marina Renovation project was honored as the 2008 top construction project of the year in the heavy/industrial category by the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Washington.   The Port received the 2007 Downtown Revitalization Award from the City of Kennewick and the Historic Downtown Kennewick partnership.  And as part of the Tri-Cities Rivershore Enhancement Council, the Port of Kennewick was named 2006 Tourism Champions of the Year by the Tri-Cities Visitor & Convention Bureau.