B Reactor bill moves forward
Richland, WASH.-- Tri-Cities business owners have complained that sales have been slow in recent years.
M Hotel Sales Manager Jeremy Sunderland says, "It's been better for us."
The hope is that things could get even better, with more tourists.
Our region already sees more visitors since free tours to the B Reactor and other landmarks were offered. Now the push is to make the B Reactor a National Historical Park.
Senator Maria Cantwell says,"People in the Tri Cities brought it to my attention that it was something they wanted to preserve they wanted to make sure that the story got told about it's contribution to our country today."
Senator Maria Cantwell knows the site is critical to our economy.
It currently brings in about one-and-a-half million a year.
Making it a National Park could mean even more.
Especially to those in north Richland.
Jeremy tells KEPR, "When folks come in off the highway and they want to hit the hotels we're the last one they hit on George Washington Way so I think if that happens we'll see a pretty good increase because we're the first one they hit because they come the opposite direction. "
Cantwell says, "When you have a facility like this and it's advertised as a part of our National Park System it starts to be promoted from places you never expected."
Senator Cantwell recently got a commitment from the U.S. Department of Energy to stay on track for the one year deadline that would establish the Manhattan Project National Historical Park Act.
Businesses say the flood of tourism would be a welcome boost.
Jeremy says, "Richland is a beautiful town and we could really use some more business this way."
M Hotel Sales Manager Jeremy Sunderland says, "It's been better for us."
The hope is that things could get even better, with more tourists.
Our region already sees more visitors since free tours to the B Reactor and other landmarks were offered. Now the push is to make the B Reactor a National Historical Park.
Senator Maria Cantwell says,"People in the Tri Cities brought it to my attention that it was something they wanted to preserve they wanted to make sure that the story got told about it's contribution to our country today."
Senator Maria Cantwell knows the site is critical to our economy.
It currently brings in about one-and-a-half million a year.
Making it a National Park could mean even more.
Especially to those in north Richland.
Jeremy tells KEPR, "When folks come in off the highway and they want to hit the hotels we're the last one they hit on George Washington Way so I think if that happens we'll see a pretty good increase because we're the first one they hit because they come the opposite direction. "
Cantwell says, "When you have a facility like this and it's advertised as a part of our National Park System it starts to be promoted from places you never expected."
Senator Cantwell recently got a commitment from the U.S. Department of Energy to stay on track for the one year deadline that would establish the Manhattan Project National Historical Park Act.
Businesses say the flood of tourism would be a welcome boost.
Jeremy says, "Richland is a beautiful town and we could really use some more business this way."
