Chamber members updated on discovery center

Kris Robbins, city clerk-treasurer, spoke to the Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce during the general membership meeting on Thursday, Aug. 16, about the progress towards a discovery center in Ritzville. Formally known as the Wheat Interpretive Center, the project is now being deemed the Washington Agriculture Discovery Center and Business Park.

Robbins serves as the city’s liaison for the Ritzville Public Development Authority (PDA) board, which spearheaded the idea of the discovery center. The city is currently working on the infrastructure of the project and applying for grants, while the PDA board has begun focusing on the design and are the decision makers behind the project.

The project, originally focused on showing the importance of wheat, has changed direction to encompass various agricultural commodities that can be found in the area and across the state. As Robbins explained, the center is split to accompany two elements: education and business.

One of the first businesses that have shown great interest in the discovery center is the DeLeon Mexican Deli in Spokane. As Robbins explained, DeLeon’s Tortilla Factory is looking to expand the factory and wants to use the Ritzville location as the maker and distributor of the tortillas.

“One thing we know is we need the infrastructure,” Robbins said. “The first grant through CERB is for the infrastructure.”

CERB, Community Economic Revitalization Board, offers an economic development grant award with a maximum award amount of $1 million. The grant is judged on the project’s potential ability to create and provide jobs and the estimated wages for these positions.

Robbins explained that 10 percent of matching funds had to be allocated for the project. Letters of commitment were submitted matching the agreed allocation amount of $150,000, but the money is not collected from those supporters until the grant is received.

The group has also secured letters of support from interested parties such as the Washington State Potato Commission, Washington Association of Wheat Growers, Washington Grain Commission, Washington–North Idaho Seed Association, Washington Wheat Foundation and Washington State University.

Senator Mark Schoesler and Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers also submitted letters of support, which were submitted to CERB with the grant application.

The estimated cost of the entire project is $10 million, with around a million and a half being spent on the infrastructure. Robbins said the cost estimate is based on past discussions of the center and through the information provided by the WSU students involved in the initial design of the project.

The PDA is now moving on to focus on the design of the project to provide a potential overview and look of the discovery center. Robbins said that in the next few months, travel plans have been made to speak with representatives at WSU, the Washington Grain Commission and possibly could be making a trip to Washington, D.C., towards the end of the year.

“It is a community project, but it’s also for the state,” Robbins explained. “It’s not just the locals that know what is going on.”

Robbins says that the first focus for the PDA is business, and they are continually looking for more businesses to commit in order to keep the costs affordable.

The educational aspect of the center is believed to be the most beneficial as it will tell the story of wheat and other important commodities in the state that motorists pass by on a regular basis.

For more information about the Washington Agriculture Discovery Center and Business Park, contact Robbins at 659-1930.