• The Tri-Cities MSA is the 4th largest Metropolitan Statistical Area in Washington State.
  
  
• Located in southeast Washington, the Tri-Cities is situated at the confluence of the Columbia, Snake and Yakima Rivers.  The three rivers give the Tri-Cities its most enduring character - abundant water for both irrigation and energy, a major transportation intersection (water, rail, air, and road), and a major recreational resource.
  
  
• Tri-Cities MSA, with a population of 230,000, consists of Kennewick and Richland (Benton County) and Pasco (Franklin County).
  
  
• Largest of the three cities, Kennewick is a thriving economy supported by light industry, food processing and retail trade.
  
  
• Pasco is the region’s agribusiness and food processing center.  Manufacturing and heavy fabrication plants are also plentiful.  Pasco is home to the 3rd busiest full-service airport in the state and is the fastest growing urban area in the state with a 57% growth increase since 2000.
  
  
• Richland, smallest of the three cities, has roots grounded in science and technology.  Richland is home to the Hanford site which plays a major role in the scientific community worldwide.  Richland enjoys the third highest per capita income levels in the state and is where the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, operated by Battelle, and Washington State University Tri-Cities, a four year university, are located.
  
  
• Tri-Cities region boasts a highly educated workforce with 28% having obtained a Bachelor’s Degree or higher.  Tri-Cities also has 1,600 PhDs among 7,000 engineers and scientists.
  
  
• Tri-Cities has a pleasant desert climate with warm summers and moderate winters and averages less than 10 inches of rain a year.  The ample sunshine is truly an attractive feature to the region.
  
  
• Tri-Cities has 9 public and 2 private golf courses, award winning wineries, museums, first-class shopping and abundant water and outdoor recreation.  Enjoy 21 parks, many of which are located on the river, and 67 miles of paved pedestrian and bike trails.
  
  
• Tri-Cities is home to a minor league baseball team (Dust Devils), major junior WHL hockey team (Tri-Cities Americans), and a professional indoor AF2 football team (Tri-Cities Fever).

Tri-City Highlights

• Tri-Cities moved up forty spots from 69th to 29th in Milkin's 2008 Best Performing Small Cities. -Milken Institute, September 2008
  
  
• “The quality of life and the cost of living are remarkable here relative to other urban regions along the coast.” -Dean Schau, Regional Labor Economist, 2008
  
  
• Ranked 7th in “Top Ranked Metropolitan Areas for Employment in Science and Engineering Occupations” -Site Selection Magazine, 2008
  
  
• Ranked #1 in “Most Secure Mid-Sized Cities in America” -Farmers Insurance, 2005
  
  
• Best Place to "Do Business in Washington State” -Seattle Business Monthly, 2005
  
  
• Ranked 29th in “Fastest Growing Metropolitan Statistical Area” (the only MSA in Washington to break the top 50). -US Census Bureau
  
  
• A “Top 10 High Technology Communities in the Nation” -Milken Institute, 2004
  
  
• Chosen as a “4-Star Business Opportunity Metro” -Expansion Management
  
  
• Ranked 37th in “America’s 50 Hottest Cities” -Expansion Management, 2005
  
  
• Ranked 2nd in nation for number of highly concentrated high tech industries. -Milken Institute, 2005
  
  
• Ranked 7th in “2005 Best Performing Cities Index” for job and wage growth. -Milken Institute, 2005
  
  
• Ranked 9th in “Top 171 Small Cities for Entrepreneurs in the Nation” -Entrepreneur Magazine, 2005
  
  
• For the second year in a row, the Tri-Cities is named “Top Metros for Scientists and Engineers” -Expansion Management Magazine
  
  
• In the “2007 Annual State-by-State Comparison,” Washington State’s business tax climate ranked 11th. -Tax Foundation, 2007

Tri-City, Washington Offers

• Central location to major markets in Western US, Canada and the Pacific Rim.
  
  
• Excellent air, water, rail and ground transportation.
  
  
• Electric costs among the lowest in the nation.
  
  
• State of the art communications network-including a Verizon Smart Park.
  
  
• Stable business environment with cooperative permitting from business friendly local governments.
  
  
• Annual cost savings of 20-24% over national average costs.
  
  
• Bilingual workforce.
  
  
• Affordable housing – average home price is $173,900.
  
  
• Access to Pacific Northwest National Laboratory – Keep your R&D pipeline full without retaining vast in-house research staff.
  
  
• Tri-Cities Research District/State Designated Innovation Partnership Zone (IPZ).