The Spokane-based Inland Northwest chapter of Associated General Contractors of America has opened a new office in Kennewick that will provide a location for training, events, and meetings in the Tri-Cities area.

Inland AGC has served contractors in the Tri-Cities for more than 75 years and is seeing increasing demand for training and workforce development there, says Cheryl Stewart, a Spokane-based spokeswoman for the construction trade association.

While the 1,000-square-foot office will be staffed part time initially, AGC has scheduled several training and safety classes there and will continue to add events to the calendar to be held there, Stewart says.

"We're working with contractors to see what else they would like AGC to provide," she says.

AGC's services there include an electronic plan room, open-shop apprenticeship programs, and health and retirement planning.