Pasco in the News

            For Port of Pasco Economic Development Director Stephen McFadden, helping recruit Darigold to Pasco feels like hitting a game winning homerun in the World Series. “Darigold represents the largest private investment project in the history of the Port of Pasco. We were thrilled!” said McFadden.

The Port of Pasco is the City’s prime economic development partner in Franklin County. McFadden was instrumental in recruiting one of the largest ever industrial projects in Pasco’s history. Darigold broke ground in late 2022 on their massive milk processing plant. McFadden worked closely with The Port of Pasco’s Executive Director Randy Hayden to make sure City of Pasco, state and federal officials were involved in the recruitment process. McFadden says the teamwork to make the project happen was incredible.

“The coordination and collaboration. Every local agency and utility helped the Port to win this project. Today the Port leads development team meetings monthly with as many as 40 people involved,” said McFadden.

Darigold hosted a commemorative groundbreaking ceremony in September of 2022. The 600-million-dollar facility is slated to open in 2024 and will process nearly 8-million pounds of milk per day when fully operational from more than 100 dairy farms in the surrounding communities.

“The Pasco project represents our third major capital investment in as many years. This is the largest investment in our co-op’s 104 history and a significant step in an ongoing strategy to expand and modernize Darigold,” said Joe Coote, the co-op’s chief executive officer, in a press release.

McFadden says the State of Washington was instrumental is providing funding.

“This project was supported by local legislators. The Port received $7.5 million to construct public utilities and infrastructure,” he said.

McFadden says things are busy at the site in Northeast Pasco. 

“Groundbreaking was September 8, 2022. Two years after the site selection process first began. Mass excavation and grading will be finished in February and construction to start soon after that,” said McFadden.

The Darigold project will create 200+ jobs and the third-party cold storage facility will create about 150 jobs.

For Pasco’s Planning Manger Jacob Gonzalez, 2023 got off to a great start with the City Council’s approval of Pasco’s first Downtown Master Plan. The City Council officially approved the plan in January. The Downtown Master Plan is a guide for downtown’s future. It touches on everything from code amendments, to boundary expansions and residential growth. Gonzalez says it was team effort to get to this point. 

“The Pasco City Council was instrumental in the development of the Downtown Pasco Master Plan. Their formal adoption solidifies a framework and a legitimate set of strategies that community members, downtown advocates, staff, and city leaders to use as a guide for success," said Gonzalez.

Gonzalez says he’s proud that the plan is centered on the people, the businesses, and the neighboring communities of Pasco’s Downtown. As part of the outreach strategy, the City of Pasco held listening sessions in person and online forums over the period of a year and half with consulting group Framework. Gonzalez says gathering the thoughts, opinions and wishes of city stakeholders will be key to the plan’s ultimate success.

“The plan raises the voice and interest in many who have invested in or have been part of the downtown scene for some time. Most of all, I think it highlighted that we should dream big when it comes to the future of our downtown. There is absolutely no reason why our downtown can't be as much of a focal point for Pasco as downtowns are in other cities,” said Gonzalez.

The Downtown Master Plan addresses things like citizen safety concerns, business recruitment strategies and how to diversify the types of business the City can attract to the area. Gonzalez says this plan won’t immediately solve all the challenges that downtown has to overcome but it’s a great start. 

“The plan is realistic and doesn't shy away from acknowledging that that there are many factors and challenges to overcome, both internal and external to the downtown. There is a lengthy list of recommended strategies, some will have to be refined and revisited over the coming years, and that's okay. Downtowns are not static, and they should be nimble enough to evolve,” said Gonzalez.

So now that the Downtown Master Plan is complete, what’s the next step? Gonzalez says he and City staff will take what they’ve learned and start looking at things like codes changes, parking restrictions and business outreach strategies that can help downtown thrive.

“Implementation is key. The only way to keep a plan off the shelf and collecting dust, is to keep it front and centered and to continue to refer to it consistently. Implementing some of the short-term strategies now is critical to garnering the trust of the community and setting up the downtown for success,” said Gonzalez.

Gonzalez says 2023 will be another busy year. He’s finishing up the Broadmoor Master Plan, working the Comprehensive Plan amendments and of course the Downtown Master Plan will take up a lot of time…but it’s a labor love.

“Yes, stay tuned to Planning Commission and Council meetings in the near future. Staff, along with support with the Downtown Pasco Development Authority will be actively addressing next steps and implementing, including modifications to zoning, addressing public art, murals, and downtown engagement,” said Gonzalez.