AsatReal Expanding Moses Lake Facility

Fuji Chemicals, the parent company for Moses Lake-based AstaReal Technologies, hosted Washington State Governor Jay Inslee and Moses Lake delegates in its Tokyo offices. At the meeting, it was officially announced that the AstaReal facility located in the ASPI Technology Park in Moses Lake will be expanding. The company will invest $30 million in new facilities and hire 50 new employees to complete the expansion.

Over the next five to seven years, Fuji Chemicals expects to continue its growth and investment in Grant County with an additional 100 jobs. Once the expansions are complete, total employment at AstaReal will exceed 200.

For more information, visit www.grantedc.org or www.astareal.com.

Clearwater Paper Holds Groundbreaking for $160 Million Pulp Digester

Clearwater Paper held a groundbreaking ceremony for its $160 million state-of-the-art continuous pulp digester. The equipment will reduce emissions, reduce energy costs and increase efficiency in converting wood chips to pulp for use in Clearwater’s private label tissue and paperboard production. The project is expected to take two years for construction.

Clearwater Paper has 1,370 direct employees at the Lewiston mill, which supports nearly 4,000 total jobs in the region.

For more information, go to www.clearwaterpaper.com.

Delegation from South Korea Visits Grant and Adams Counties

A visiting delegation from Gunpo City, South Korea recently toured Grant and Adams counties. The delegation met with a dozen local businesses that have products and services in demand in the Korean market.

The visit was capped by a trade expo held at the Columba Basin Technical Skills Center where students have been involved in international business projects between Washington State and South Korea. Gunpo City has extended a reciprocal invitation and a delegation from Grant County will visit South Korea in May 2016 for business-to-business meetings.

For more information, visit www.grantedc.org.

Palouse Knowledge Corridor Hosts Business Showcase on Oct. 15 to Promote Economic Development

Several presenters have been selected for Palouse Knowledge Corridor’s upcoming Business Showcase event to promote economic development and growth on the Palouse. This event is free and open to the public, October 15 from 2–5 p.m. at the University Inn Best Western, located at 1516 Pullman Rd, Moscow, ID.

The goal of the Business Showcase event is to connect people with good business ideas to those who might be able to help make those ideas happen. Each presenter will showcase their business in 15-minute presentations, highlighting their business idea and relating management, product and/or service, technology, market, financial viability, and employee growth implications. Time will also be allowed for question and answer with each presenter.

Read the Palouse Knowledge Corridor's press release to learn more.

4 Wheel Parts Unveils Post Falls, Idaho Retail Store and Distribution Center

Transamerican Auto Parts will further its major expansion initiative with the Grand Opening of its Post Falls, Idaho 4 Wheel Parts retail store and adjacent distribution center this Saturday, October 10.

The event marks the growing presence of the national truck and Jeep performance product reseller into the Pacific Northwest while providing an increased level of service and delivery to customers in the region. 4 Wheel Parts is pleased to welcome area off-road enthusiasts to the family-friendly event, who will be greeted with installation specials, hourly prize drawings, aftermarket parts giveaways and tours of the newest, state-of-the-art facility.

Click here to learn more.

SEWEDA Hosts Cup O’ Joe to Discuss Shipping Solutions for Small Businesses

Entrepreneurs and small business owners from the greater Palouse region are invited to attend the next Cup O’ Joe on Wednesday, October 7 from 7:30- 8:30 a.m. at the Crimson Commerce Club, a co-work space at the Pullman Armory, 540 East Main Street, Pullman. Tony Poston from College Hill Custom Threads and Ed Robertson from Badger Braces will be on hand to discuss shipping solutions for small businesses. No RSVP is necessary. Coffee is provided.

Cup O’ Joe is an entrepreneurial support program sponsored by Startup Pullman, a new initiative for the Whitman County office of Southeast Washington Economic Development Association (SEWEDA), and takes place the first Wednesday of each month.

“Tony and Ed will help new manufacturers navigate the business of shipping goods,” says Robin Ohlgren, Whitman County Director of SEWEDA. “Distributing product is often an afterthought to a start-up entrepreneur and these guys have some great tips.”

SEWEDA is a private non-profit economic development organization committed to enhancing economic vitality and quality of life through partnerships with business, civic interests, and government for the benefit of the residents of Asotin, Columbia, Garfield, and Whitman Counties.

For more information about Cup O’ Joe or Startup Pullman, contact Ohlgren at robin@seweda.org.