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As is true in any other area, doing business in Columbia County has its pros and cons. Below are some of the factors that may help determine your fit for Dayton.
Workforce
Columbia County's agricultural history has produced a labor force that tends to be less skilled than the state average but more loyal to employers. The available labor pool declined over the last century as agriculture became more mechanized and the farm population moved to the city for jobs. Columbia County's unemployment rate hit an all-time high in the early 1980's as reductions in the local food processing industry caused massive job cuts. However, efforts by the community to diversify the economy have worked and our unemployment rate, while still higher than the state average, has declined greatly and is at a reasonable level for rural eastern Washington. As of November 2007, the total labor force stands at 1,480, with 1,380 employed for an unemployment rate of 7.2%. Click here for a pdf of historical unemployment rates in Columbia County. The available workforce includes not only the 100 or so unemployed residents, but a large number of underemployed people choosing to live in Columbia County for reasons other than full employment. The regional workforce also tends to be very mobile, meaning Walla Walla and the Tri Cities can be considered part of our available labor pool.
Columbia County employment needs are served by the WorkSource Walla Walla office which provides services for both businesses and workers.
Detailed labor market information for Columbia County can be found at the Workforce Explorer website.
Workforce Training and Education
The Dayton School District offers K-12 high-quality education in Dayton. They recently received a "School of Distinction" award for the progress made by students toward meeting the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) requirements.
Walla Walla Community College is located 30 miles southwest of Dayton in Walla Walla and houses a cutting edge enology and viticulture school, nursing school, and many other specific industry trainings and is home to a new water and environmental center.
Walla Walla is also home to Whitman College and Walla Walla Univesity, both 4-year institutions of higher learning.
Washington State University is located 85 miles to the northwest in Pullman, and Eastern Washington University is located 119 miles to the north in Cheney.
The Eastern Washington Workforce Development Council provides funding for programs in our region that train incumbent workers as well as prepare workers to meet industry skills needs.
Columbia County wages tend to lag behind state averages in many industries. Visit the Workforce Explorer website for more detailed info.
Available Buildings and Land
In addition to the vacant land available at the Port of Columbia's Industrial Park and the Seneca Business and Industrial Park office building there are other properties available in the community. What Columbia County has that other areas may lack is open space - and some of the open space is zoned industrial or commercial. Please contact the Port of Columbia directly for more details on properties that are not listed on the Port website or with local realtors.
Here are links to the local real estate agencies serving Columbia County:
Windermere/Blue Mountain Real Estate
254 E. Main
Dayton, WA 99328
509-382-2020
www.windermeredayton.com
Christy's Realty
206 W. Main
Dayton, WA 99328
509-382-2100
www.christysrealty.com
Coldwell Banker
Mary and Gene Warren
813 E. Clay
Dayton, WA 99328
509-386-3538
www.coldwellbankerfirstrealtors.com
Transportation Linkages
Air:
The Walla Walla airport is 28 miles from Dayton and offers commercial service through Horizon Air and accommodations for corporate jets. Rental car service is available.
The Pasco Airport is 60 miles from Dayton and offers commercial service from lseveral larger airlines as well as corporate, business and general aviation services.
Barge:
The Columbia County Grain Growers operates a barge loading facility at its Lyons Ferry facility. The Port of Columbia owns an adjacent parcel that could be developed into an additional barge loading facility if needed.
Rail:
Rail service is provided by the Blue Mountain Railroad on Port of Columbia-owned tracks from Dayton to Wallula. Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad hump yards are near Wallula for easy access to the main lines. NW Grain Growers also has a barge loading facility at Wallula serviced by the rail. The Seneca Business and Industrial Park in Dayton has a rail siding and loading facility that is currently unoccupied and available for lease. The Union Pacific operates a rail line through the Lyons Ferry area in north Columbia County that could be accessed through the construction of a siding.
Roads:
- Highway 12 is a two-lane state highway that runs east-west through the middle of Columbia County. Highway 12 stretches from the Puget Sound area through Washington, Idaho, Montana, etc., all the way to the east coast.
- Interstate 82 (at the Tri Cities) is about 50 minutes from Dayton via Highway 124. This interstate goes through Yakima to interstate 90 at Ellensburg linking Dayton with the Seattle area.
- Interstate 84 (along the Washington/Oregon border) is another hour past the Tri Cities and links Dayton to Portland, Oregon to the east or Boise, Idaho to the south.
Taxes
- Washington State has no income tax.
- Washington State does have a B&O tax.
- Columbia County tax levy rates and exemptions can be viewed at the Columbia County Assessor's webpage.
- Dayton School District M&O levy tax rates are among the lowest in the state.
- The City of Dayton's Historic Preservation Commission offers a tax credit for restoration of historic properties under certain conditions. This has sparked investment in many ways, such as the restoration of the Weinhard Hotel in downtown Dayton. The business was taxed at the pre-restoration rate for 10 years, enabling the business plan to work.
Rural Tax Incentives
Columbia County meets the state's definition of a "Rural" County making the following incentives available to businesses here:
- Rural County Sales & Use Tax Deferral/Waiver for Manufacturing Facilities
- B&O Credit for New Employees in Manufacturing and Research & Development in Rural County
- B&O Credit for New Employees in Software Programming & Manufacturing in Rural Counties
- B&O Credit for Third Party Help Desk Services in Rural Counties
Visit the Washington State Department of Revenue's Rural Incentives for detailed information.
You can also visit "Doing Business in Washington" for licensing and other information.
Infrastructure and Utilities
The cost of utilities in the northwest continues to be lower than other areas nationwide.
Electricity:
Garbage:
- Basin Disposal, Inc. serves both city and county residents
Water:
- The City of Dayton has 4 deep wells that provide water for Dayton residents.
Sewer:
- The City of Dayton operates a wastewater treatment plant that serves city businesses and residents.
- The town of Starbuck has a gray water treatment program in tandem with septic usage.
Telecommunications:
Demographics
Dayton's population continues to change with the community. Changes in agriculture caused out population to shrink for decades, but economic revitalization turned that around in the 1990's. Our median income continues to rise, and Dayton received a Great Strides Award from the Northwest Area Foundation in 2006 for our success in reducing poverty. But while our total population is slowly rising and our economic status is improving, our school-aged children and the younger demographic continues to shrink. Community leaders are dedicated to providing jobs in the community so that young families can live and work in Columbia County.
Population |
City of Dayton |
Town of Starbuck |
Columbia County Total |
| 2000 census actual |
2,655
|
130
|
4,064
|
| 2007 census |
2,613
|
125
|
3,986
|
Other demographic data:
Quality of Life
Columbia County has continued to embrace its agricultural heritage while at same time recognizing that diversification of the economy is essential. Dayton's Main Street underwent a major revitalization in the early 1990's and is now reaping the benefits. The commercial district is lined with essential service businesses as well as unique shops, Victorian lodging and some of the best restaurants in the state. The natural beauty of the surrounding landscape changes with the seasons, and the nearby recreation in the Blue Mountains to the south and at the Snake River to the north make Columbia County a wonderful place to live and work.
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