Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 18, 2002
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  Sharon Wallace, Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, 360-725-4019; Judy Ivey, Ferguson Enterprises, Inc., 757-898-2944

Gov. Gary Locke Announces New Jobs for Washington State, Breaks Ground on New Business in Tri-Cities

Gov. Gary Locke today announced 80 new jobs for Washington state as he helped break ground on a major new distribution center in the Tri-Cities. It’s the third major distribution center to announce plans to locate in Washington in the past year.

Ferguson Enterprises, Inc., of Newport News, Va., will build a 340,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution facility at the Horn Rapids Business Center in Richland, with a capital investment of $18.5 million. The company also eventually plans to build a 95,000-square-foot fabrication and storage facility at the site.

The company will employ 80 people at the start of operations. Employment could increase with future expansion. Ferguson is one of the nation’s largest suppliers of plastic pipe and other products to the construction and manufacturing industries.

“This is a big win for Washington state,” Locke said. “Eighty family-wage jobs are coming to the Tri-Cities at a time when job creation is crucial for our state. A lot of hard work went in to making this deal a reality. It shows we are committed to keeping Washington competitive.”

Locke personally called Ferguson President and CEO Chip Hornsby to help finalize the deal.

“The joint effort from all the local communities and organizations involved has been inspiring and validates the reasoning behind the selection of this location,” Hornsby said. “We are proud to bring this facility to the Tri-Cities and to be able to offer opportunities to Washington citizens.”

Ferguson officials say one of the determining factors for locating in Washington was the strong community partnership in the Tri-Cities. Oregon was a finalist for the distribution center.

“Ferguson Enterprises is a first-rate company and we are very proud to welcome them to the state of Washington,” said Martha Choe, director of the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development. “It took more than half a dozen key players to make this happen, from the Tri-Cities Industrial Development Council (TRIDEC) to the City of Richland to the Governor’s Office. It takes partnerships like this to make economic development work. This is a great day for the Tri-Cities and Washington state.”

Ferguson has applied for a Job Skills program grant for development of a customized training program. It will also receive financial assistance for training through the state Department of Employment Securities dislocated worker program. In addition, the company will take advantage of the sales tax exemption program for warehouse and distribution facilities.

“Attracting a quality company like Ferguson Enterprises is a real coup for the Tri-Cities,” said Frank Armijo, chairman of the TRIDEC board of directors. “The community really pulled together to make this project happen.”

The distribution center is set to open in mid-2003.

Earlier this year, Safeway announced it would soon begin construction of a 1.4 million-square-foot regional distribution center in Auburn. Wal-Mart also announced it will build a 900,000-square-foot distribution center in Grandview.

» Return to this month's News Releases

» View News Release Archive