Big business interested in Yakima: Will they 'bite?'
YAKIMA, Wash. -- Workers at Chinook Wind Machines are busy moving into the company's new digs. A much bigger building than their old one.
The expansion also means hiring; five new employees so far this year with plans for more.
Jay Jacobs used to be a plumber before he landed here.
"The economy was slowing down, plumbing...you would think everyday somebody needs a plumber but everyone's getting tighter and tighter," said Jacobs.
Chinook isn't alone among local business expanding.
Dave McFadden with the Yakima County Development Association says he's working with about 10 companies that are expanding or looking to hire.
"That's such a marked departure from what we've seen over the last few years," said McFadden. "It's really welcome."
Here's some of what's taking shape; a new brewery will break ground soon near Moxee.
Am-tech manufacturing near Wapato hired about 25 workers this year and also moved into new space.
Peninsula Packing will set up shop in the old Ace Hardware building and add dozens of new employees.
McFadden says it could still get better. Last month, he met with three business executives considering Yakima as a new home.
The un-named businesses include a call center interested in moving into the old Whirlpool space. That could bring hundreds of jobs.
There's also a food processing business and a manufacturing company that already bought a building and applied for permits.
"It just feels good. We got bites and using that fishing analogy, we're busy this day on deck trying to reel some of this stuff in," said McFadden.
Potential catches that could change the business landscape in the valley.
A final decision on one of the potential new businesses could come in a matter of weeks. Word from the other two is likely to come later this year.
The expansion also means hiring; five new employees so far this year with plans for more.
Jay Jacobs used to be a plumber before he landed here.
"The economy was slowing down, plumbing...you would think everyday somebody needs a plumber but everyone's getting tighter and tighter," said Jacobs.
Chinook isn't alone among local business expanding.
Dave McFadden with the Yakima County Development Association says he's working with about 10 companies that are expanding or looking to hire.
"That's such a marked departure from what we've seen over the last few years," said McFadden. "It's really welcome."
Here's some of what's taking shape; a new brewery will break ground soon near Moxee.
Am-tech manufacturing near Wapato hired about 25 workers this year and also moved into new space.
Peninsula Packing will set up shop in the old Ace Hardware building and add dozens of new employees.
McFadden says it could still get better. Last month, he met with three business executives considering Yakima as a new home.
The un-named businesses include a call center interested in moving into the old Whirlpool space. That could bring hundreds of jobs.
There's also a food processing business and a manufacturing company that already bought a building and applied for permits.
"It just feels good. We got bites and using that fishing analogy, we're busy this day on deck trying to reel some of this stuff in," said McFadden.
Potential catches that could change the business landscape in the valley.
A final decision on one of the potential new businesses could come in a matter of weeks. Word from the other two is likely to come later this year.
