Economic Development Entities
Port of Whitman County
Kara Riebold, Executive Director
The Port has proposed a 184-acre Agricultural Advancement Campus and has an active application for rezoning with the City of Pullman. Proposed Agriculture Advancement Campus
The Port of Whitman County seeks to improve the quality of life in the county through industrial real estate development, preservation of multi-modal transportation, facilitation of economic development and provision of on-water recreational opportunities.
The Port is governed by a three-person board of commissioners who serve six-year terms. Tom Kammerzell is the District 3 representative. He has served 16 years on the Colfax Planning Commission; 7 years on the Colfax City Council; and 5 years as a Whitman County Conservation District Supervisor.
Southeast Washington Economic Development Association
This organization covers the four southeastern Washington counties of Asotin, Columbia, Garfield and Whitman. A Board of Directors, made up of representatives of each of the four counties, sets policy and the overall direction of SEWEDA. Staff reside and operate within each of the four counties.
Board of Directors, Whitman County:
- Tom Handy, Whitman County Commissioner
- Glenn Johnson, Pullman Mayor
- Al Sorensen, Secretary, Pullman Business Owner
Pullman Chamber of Commerce
This is a very active Chamber with strong ties and interaction with WSU.
State and County Environmental Groups
Palouse Land Trust
Citizens’ Climate Lobby Palouse Region
Citizens' Climate Lobby Palouse Region - Home | Facebook
This group’s activities at the national and the local levels reflect the major concerns of the Palouse region: agriculture, forestry, higher education, and health. They meet on the third Thursday of each month.
Agricultural Bureaus and Unions
Washington Association of Wheat Growers
Washington Association of Wheat Growers
Mission statement: Working for solutions to problems of the farm, the farm home and rural community using united, organized action to represent, protect and advance the social, economic and educational interests of wheat farmers of Washington State.
Higher Education
Washington State University (WSU), Pullman, WA
Renewable Energy Program
The WSU Energy Program supports the development of renewable energy resources through a variety of actions and efforts. Central among those is the support provided to the renewable energy programs in the State of Washington. The most notable is the Least Conflict Solar Siting project, a multi-year research endeavor that has included community engagement, mapping produced by landowners, farmers, conservation groups, and solar developers. Karen Janowitz oversees the program. The final meeting was in April 2023.
Other programs at the university are:
- The Renewable Energy System Incentive Program (now fully subscribed)
- Utility net metering reporting
- The Community Solar Expansion Program
Washington Columbia Plateau Least-Conflict Solar Siting Gateway--data, maps
WSU Tri-Cities* Institute for Northwest Energy Futures
City of Richland, Benton County, WA
This is a new research center for WSU that will bring together research partners, scientific bodies, utilities, and private enterprises to plan for an expansion in clean energy. It is championed by Governor Jay Inslee, who is proposing $10 million in the state budget to hire eight scientists.
*Tri-Cities refers to the area of Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland, WA
Energy Systems Innovation Center (ESIC)
Energy Systems Innovation Center | WSU
This program is primarily about “the grid”, transmission lines, etc. It focuses on education, outreach, and research for power engineers and energy workers regarding designing and operating electric power systems.
Avista is a Research Excellence Partnership (REP) member ($15,000 per year) and a Power Education Partnership (PEP) member ($ varies).
Eastern Washington University (EWU), Spokane, WA
Prairie Restoration Project
Prairie Restoration Project - EWU
Objectives: Restore a 120-acre parcel of university-owned land to its native habitat, creating a “living laboratory” near the campus.
Working with the Spokane and other local tribes.
Other College and University Activities
Students at Washington State University (WSU) Gonzaga University, and Eastern Washington University (EWU) receive scholarships funded by Avista in amounts between $500-$2,000 for Electrical Engineering and Management Information Systems.
K-12 Public Schools
These are the school districts that are closest to the proposed site.
St. John School District
Superintendent: Suzanne Schmick
The Board:
- John Hergert, Chair
- Alan Blumenshein, Vice Chair
- Micah Armstrong
- Rob Taylor
- Dallas Loomis
District Schools:
St John Elementary School
St John/Endicott High School
STEM Program or Science Fair:
K-8 Science Fair (March)
Rosalia School District
Superintendent: Bret Baum
The Board:
- Heather Smith, Chair
- Ray Anderson, Vice Chair
- Frank Lazcano
- Clay Gehring
- Angela Bruce
District Schools:
Rosalia Elementary School
Rosalia Middle School
Rosalia High School
STEM Program or Science Fair: None found
Veterans Organizations
ASWSU Student Veterans Committee
Student Veterans Website, Pullman
This is a student committee for veterans and their dependents, located on the Pullman campus. It provides community and networking opportunities, including student organizations and veteran-specific physical locations on some WSU campuses, and offers a wide variety of support services and programs across all six campuses.
Hospitals
Pullman Regional Hospital
Jeff Elebracht, President of the Hospital Board
Matt Forge, CEO
Washington State has Hospital Districts, commonly called Public Health Districts. These are governed by a Board of Commissioners. There are three Public Health Districts in Whitman County, and Pullman Regional Hospital is one of those districts.
