Planter party
Matthew Weaver/Columbia Basin HeraldMoses Lake business owners Vern Hellewell moves pallets holding planters to be placed around the downtown area late Tuesday afternoon.
MOSES LAKE - There will be even more flowers in downtown Moses Lake this summer.
Members of the Moses Lake Business Association began setting out 66 approximately 100-pound concrete planters Tuesday evening.
The newest planters join 68 set out along Third Avenue last year as part of the association's downtown beautification efforts.
"Last year, when we got our (business and occupation, or B&O) tax money and we wanted to start our beautification, we did all the research and we bought these pots, because these are the ones we liked," explained association Executive Director Sally Goodwin. "We knew we were going to expand it when we started it, and we had the B&O tax money again, so we expanded it."
The tax money was obtained through the state's Main Street Tax Credit Incentive Program.
The new planters were set out along Fourth Avenue, Broadway Avenue and the cross streets, Goodwin said.
Ten students with the Columbia Basin Job Corps were on hand to help the association members fill the planters with soil.
Job Corps Business-Community Liaison Jennifer Thomas said the program "strongly" feels students need to learn how to be good community citizens and more than simply a trade.
"Community service is a large part of what we believe in at the Job Corps," Thomas said. "We believe in the downtown project and we are honored to be a part of it. It's a great partnership, the Moses Lake Business Association and the Columbia Basin Job Corps."
After a week of watering, Goodwin said, the association will begin planting flowers.
"As soon as it warms up," she said.
Response to the original planters was positive, Goodwin said.
"Everybody likes them," she said. "Eventually, I think the flower program will be increased as we spread out our area here."