Wenatchee, WA is BOOMING (and no one is talking about it)

[Amanda Dallman]

Wenatchee is located in central Washington on the Columbia River and has been known as Washington State's energy hub. Large corporations are starting to take notice. Now is the time to be investing in Wenatchee, Washington.

This year the area's first Hydrogen plant is scheduled to start operating a $25,000,000 project.

Northwest Natural Gas is putting in a $43,000,000 natural gas plant.

In May of this year, the Washington State Port Association awarded The Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority The 2024 Job Creator Award for creating jobs in the area.

Earlier this year at a state of the economics luncheon it was rumored that the area will have over 25 data centers in the future.

I was recently at a community meeting where Helion Spoke about putting in the world's first Fusion plant. I'm 90% sure that they are going to be putting this plant in at the old Alcoa Aluminum plant that is being demolished as we speak. Microsoft has given Helion $600 million to start this project. Currently, Microsoft is building three data centers just a couple miles from this location in Malaga. Last month Microsoft closed on another 200 acres in the area for future builds.

Beyond data centers other huge Capital Improvements are being done in the area. The port Authority has just begun construction on a new Business district located up by Pangborn Airport.

There is a large road project building a second bridge over the Wenatchee River to downtown to help with future traffic flow the project's estimated cost is over $92,000,000.

A secondary Road Project is also happening on the south end of Wenatchee Ave. Speaking of Wenatchee Ave an entire block is being demolished, and current tenants are vacating. The project known as The Majestic will reshape the south end of Wenatchee Ave with new dining and retail options, underground parking, and a five-story apartment complex.

Pangborn Airport is looking at a $30,000,000 investment to lengthen the tarmac so 737s can land. Wenatchee currently has 2 commercial passenger flights a day. This expansion is most likely for larger cargo planes to land. Amazon is currently building a 45,000 SQFT “last mile” distribution center.

Smaller projects happening in the area:

A new public park and boat launch is being constructed in Malaga

The YMCA is moving to the old PUD building and putting in a $25,000,000 state-of-the-art facility.

$2,000,000 is going to improvements to the riverfront park adding playgrounds and splash pads.

Since 2022 a feasibility study has been going on for a regional sports complex boasting 16 soccer/football fields, 8 baseball diamonds, 50 meter indoor pool, gym, track, and waterpark.

There are several more project revamping old warehouse building turning them into trendy new dining and retail spaces.

When vetting Wenatchee on paper I know it doesn't look the best but the numbers are skewed.

When Googling the population of Wenatchee you're going to find that it only reports 35,000 people. The truth is the Wenatchee Valley is two cities and two counties and the current population is over 100,000.

The unemployment numbers also look high averaging around 6% The reason for this is our median age of 40.3 as reported by the Eastern Washington University economics department. Historically, there have been a lot of people living and moving to the area for retirement. We are starting to see this change as Millennials are moving to the area looking for a better lifestyle.

One huge improvement the Wenatchee area has seen is the median household income level which is now at $87,500. Wenatchee now has the highest median income in all of eastern Washington. I believe we will continue to see this increase as more tech and energy jobs move into the area.

There is a reason so much money is being pumped into the area. Wenatchee is about to BOOM!

All the Best! 

Amanda Dallman

[Henry T.]

I like Wenatche, not exactly cosmopolitan, but a considered alternative to Seattle. At least it has an active landlord association.

[Nik Moushon]

You sure put on a spread! Are you being paid to promote Wenatchee? As a local, you could just keep our sleepy gold mine off the front page that would be great haha.

[Amanda Dallman]

@Nik Moushon

Strengthen in numbers my friend. We should meet up and see how we can combined forces :)