The Three Rivers Region: A Shared Vision
The Three Rivers region is a family-friendly place where quality living is achieved through energetic people, advanced technology, and a vibrant waterfront...
Technology-Enabled Business and Industry...
With a focus on starting new businesses, growing existing ones, and attracting new industry, jobs are readily available for citizens of every skill level. From the high-tech entrepreneur to the food-processing specialist, from the health care provider to the legal and business professional, and from the retailer to government and school staff, the Three Rivers region builds its job base by infusing technology into every single enterprise. As the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and other research entities infuse new technologies into the community, the Three Rivers region is a place where those who desire to be on the leading edge choose to locate. New materials are manufactured based on the latest breakthroughs in nanoscience; bio- and micro-technologies break barriers to enable chemical production from agricultural feedstock; and microbial science is applied to environmental restoration. Sustainability is practiced as part of the model community the Three Rivers region has become for energy efficiency and environmental stewardship.
New industry migrates and disperses more evenly throughout the Pacific Northwest, including into the Three Rivers region. Aerospace, distribution centers, computer hardware, and software are real contributors to local payrolls. Even the federal presence is transformed as the Department of Homeland Security, the National Science Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health establish major programs through investments at HAMMER and PNNL. All of this is coupled with dramatic advances in new alternative energy technologies pilot tested by Energy Northwest.
Agribusiness builds upon its phenomenal history of being the leading private sector industry in the region as it supplies diversified fruits, grains, and specialty produce. Capitalizing on good water supply, ideal climate, and excellent soil conditions, it expands into new technological frontiers via the world-class Bioproducts, Sciences, and Engineering Laboratory at Washington State University Tri-Cities. Sophisticated value-added processing, alternative bio-engineered products, and new crop development are commonplace. Ancillary businesses abound, such as manufacturers of farm-enhancing equipment, integrated global positioning field mapping with chemical and nutrient application, disease and pest resistant crop development and ultra-advanced irrigation systems. Building on the example of the Pasco Processing Center, state-of-the-art infrastructure systems attract and support high-tech agribusiness. The Three Rivers region is recognized as "the place to do business," which is more than evidenced by our internationally acclaimed wine industry.
Life-Long Learning...
Behind the technology-driven basis of the community rests its people. In particular, a people inspired to educate its citizens from cradle to grave. The focus on education and training begins during the earliest years of life to ensure every child has the mental development necessary to enter school willing, able, and receptive to the opportunities presented. Learning continues throughout the schooling process in a seamless system designed to guarantee every child's success. It culminates with alternative learning pathways for the adult choosing to pursue professional or technical training, higher education, or general enrichment. In the Three Rivers region, education is a holistic system. And it is the root that nurtures all other success.
Exceptionally well-qualified staff means high caliber schools, innovative teaching approaches, and broad community support. Because of this, the best and brightest workers are attracted to the Three Rivers region as the place to have their children educated. Best of all, because of the emphasis on quality education and the very exciting nature of the technology-driven economy, students stay locally to continue their education. Whether taking advantage of the two-year, four-year, or even Ph.D. granting capabilities at the Washington State University/Columbia Basin College system, or the local industry-relevant training for ensuring an internationally competitive workforce, they are able to stay and work in an enriching environment. An environment, which by the way attracts students from elsewhere to come for their graduate and even post-graduate education.
Water-Nurtured Quality of Life...
From the time of Ice Age floods until today, the Three Rivers region is all about water. The existing landforms and geography derive their existence from water. That people ever settled here was because of abundant water. That the community prospered first in agriculture and later from Hanford is because of available water. Once again, taking advantage of technology, the community practices recycle and reuse of water for domestic and industrial purposes. As use efficiencies increase, demands for additional water are dramatically curtailed. Advances in technology also result in new ways of applying and conserving water for irrigated agriculture.
The rivershore is a 22-mile aquatic playground of family-friendly activities. Tourists and business travelers from around the world flock to the shores to enjoy the same amenities it provides the community's citizens. Among these are the new Cultural Complex and gateway to the Hanford Reach National Monument, the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Overlook, and the Washington Wine Country Visitor Center. All of this is a key factor in the huge success of the Regional Convention Center, whose expansion is already on the drawing boards. And interestingly, the rivershore is a major reason young adults and retirees remain in the Three Rivers region given the wide variety of affordable places to congregate, socialize, and recreate. From all of this emerges unique retail and dining establishments. Whether looking for boutique shops or upscale shopping districts, or whether enjoying a variety of cuisine in pleasant surroundings, the Three Rivers region has it all.
Connectivity...
The Three Rivers region understands that connectivity plays a vital role in economic develop-ment. Strategic roadways, waterways, airways, and railways make the region a transportation hub. Such connectivity gives the region's agricultural products a competitive advantage on their way to domestic and overseas destinations. And it makes for convenient and affordable business and pleasure travel to all destinations. Superior bandwidth is a different kind of connectivity, as it transports knowledge to and from the region and underpins the entire technology agenda. Another form of connectivity, the community-built affiliations with political, educational, financial, social and cultural influence centers of the region and nation, creates a backbone and rich resource base to tap for growth. All this is done to be part of the world scene—to be able to reach out and invite in.
The end result, at long last, is a vibrant region. By caring for ourselves through our health care system and active living lifestyles, and by caring for our safe clean environment, we have built an enduring place that brings out the best in all its people, while respecting and nurturing the land it occupies.