Tribes sign agreement for Pasco development

The Colville Confederated Tribes owns 184 acres of land in Pasco that they will develop for future business ventures, and signed an agreement related to that project earlier this month. 

The CCT “has signed a Cooperation Agreement with the Port of Pasco regarding the Tribes’ economic development efforts in Pasco,” a June 9 press release from the tribes reads. 

The agreement “includes a commitment by the Port of Pasco to officially support the Tribes’ Pasco project and assures that the Port is kept informed about the progress of this effort.

This agreement follows other agreements with the City of Pasco and the Franklin County PUD as the Tribes pursues cooperation and collaboration with local government entities.”

“We are pleased to sign this Cooperation Agreement with the Port of Pasco,” Colville Business Council Chairman Andrew C. Joseph, Jr., said. “It has long been our goal to bring the Palus Tribe back to their ancestral lands. The Colville Tribes will be a good neighbor and this economic development project will significantly benefit the local economy by adding jobs, tourism, and new businesses to the area. This project is a win for all involved.”

“The primary objective of the Port of Pasco is to grow the economy by creating opportunities for investment and growth,” Port of Pasco Commission President Vicki Gordon said. “We

see our agreement with the Colville Tribes as an opportunity to welcome a new neighbor and to expand Franklin County’s economy.”

The press release does not describe what specific types of business ventures the CCT wants to pursue there, but when it bought 184 acres at the north edge of the city in 2019, they were reportedly considering options including a casino, a water park,  or a convenience store and gas station.