Jan Robinson and Greg McClure, of the Chehalis River Basin Land Trust and Local 612, respectively, conduct a ribbon-cutting ceremony at their new office location on Tower Street on Tuesday. The union recently purchased the building and rents space to the Trust.
The Local 612 Union of Operating Engineers and the Chehalis River Basin Land Trust had an official ribbon-cutting ceremony at their new office location in Centralia on Tuesday afternoon.
It marks a move for both organizations from Carpenter Hall on Pearl Street, and representatives from both organizations said the new location serves their needs well.
Union Vice President Greg McClure said they bought the building outright, which should position them well for the future.
“We’re proud to anchor Tower (Avenue),” he said.
Like other development businesses and organizations moving to the area, McClure said he feels that economic growth moving both north and south along the Interstate 5 corridor has potential to jumpstart the local economy.
“It’s getting to the point where it’s like a tube of toothpaste,” he said of economic growth being squeezed out of major metropolitan areas.
The union has been operating in the area since the 1930s, and McClure said he’s looking forward to providing potential engineers resources to get into the job market.
Jan Robinson is the board president for the Chehalis River Basin Land Trust, which rents space in the building.
She said the Trust protects some 4,000 acres of land, and their organization complements the union.
“We need green places, we need houses, we need businesses,” she said.
Robinson also said she hopes the new location will increase their visibility.
The building is located at 620 S. Tower Ave.
The previous home for both organizations, Carpenter Hall, was part of a property purchased by Twin Transit as the future location of a transit center.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday was provided by the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce.
