Kennewick city staff told visiting legislators on Jan. 7 that the expansion of the 3 Rivers Convention Center is moving toward a March groundbreaking and that the project will add roughly 100,000 square feet — including an approximately 61,000-square-foot exhibit hall — and generate substantial economic activity.

City Manager Erin Erdman said the expansion, undertaken in partnership with the Kennewick Public Facilities District (PFD), includes back‑of‑house office space and additional meeting rooms. The city projects the expansion will attract about 200,000 additional attendees over time and about 70,000 additional nightly room rentals once fully built out.

Erdman said PFD-related bills are pending in the Legislature that could expand resources for PFDs; the city will monitor those bills and coordinate with the Kennewick Public Facilities District and their lobbyists. She said hotel development partners have design completed and are preparing permit submittals, with financing work ongoing.

Council members urged staff and lobbyists to provide legislators with data on the convention center’s economic impacts and guest-room demand to support funding conversations. City staff said they would provide lists of contacts and legislative champions and encouraged legislators and lobbyists to use visits and events in Olympia to press the case for state assistance.