27 Mar WEDA Honors Port of Kennewick for Revitalizing Waterfront
KENNEWICK, Wash. â Washington Economic Development Association (WEDA) honored Port of Kennewick for its multi-year, multi-phase endeavor to transform the Clover Island and Columbia Gardens neighborhoods in Kennewickâs Historic Waterfront District.
During its annual spring conference yesterday, WEDA awarded the port its Economic Development Award for Economic Response and Recovery.
The port collaborated with many partners on the restoration and revitalization projects, including the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office, Benton County and City of Kennewick.
The partnersâ efforts transformed the eroding, concrete-covered Clover Island shoreline into a stable, sustainable habitat with vibrant upland development, public artwork, a lighthouse and recreational amenities. The entities also removed environmental concerns and created the Columbia Gardens Wine & Artisan Village, added waterfront pathways for expanded public access, constructed a winery-wastewater treatment facility and created opportunities for commercial and retail businesses.
Because of those improvements, the Ice Harbor Brewing at the Marina restaurant expanded to Clover Island, two commercial businesses opened offices and a tired waterfront hotel changed ownership. The hotel is now being renovated to become a Hilton-branded property.
Two wine production businesses, four winery tasting rooms and six food-truck micro-entrepreneurs began operating within the wine village. Swampyâs BBQ Kitchen, which had outgrown its original food truck, bought land from the port and built a brick-and-mortar business that opened in 2024. Attracted by the waterfront redevelopment, a retail business opened across the street from Columbia Gardens, and private investors are constructing 22 multi-story townhome units with live-work and commercial space adjacent to the wine village.
âWeâve worked diligently to help renew east Kennewickâs waterfront,â said Skip Novakovich, Port of Kennewick Board of Commissioners President. âWe are especially proud to have been chosen from an impressive body of work submitted by local governments around the state. We are truly honored that WEDA recognized our efforts.â
The port is now marketing nine additional shovel-ready parcels with waterfront views for private development. As envisioned, Kennewickâs historic waterfront is becoming a regional destination with a living shoreline, increased tourism spending, vibrancy, new businesses and jobs.
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Port of Kennewick is an economic development entity focused on developing assets to create sustainable family-wage jobs,
build infrastructure and user-friendly transportation systems, and enhance the quality of life within the port district.