Good Fruit Grower / Web 2011 / Design process begins for Clore Center

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Design process begins for Clore Center

Clore center receives a $2 million federal grant.

With the final funding piece now in place, the building design process for the Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center begins immediately.  The Clore Center and Port of Benton County learned in mid-April that it was awarded a $2 million public works grant through the federal Economic Development Administration.

The Clore Center, named to honor Washington State University horticulturist Dr. Walter Clore, who began research at WSU’s Irrigated Agriculture Research and Center in 1937 and is credited as the father of Washington’s wine grape industry, has been in the works for more than six years. Construction on the facility will start in 2012.

The grant represents the final capital required for construction of the $4 million agri-tourism and education center that will be located along the banks of the Yakima River in Prosser, Washington. Other funding for the center comes from public and private resources of the federal Housing and Urban Development, state department of commerce, Port of Benton, Benton County, City of Prosser, Prosser Economic Development Association, Hanford Area Economic Investment Fund Committee, Washington State University, Washington Wine Commission, and private companies and individuals. A volunteer group of industry members and the Clore Center board of directors have worked to find funding sources for the project.

Through a joint operating agreement, the Port of Benton will oversee construction and own the building, while the non-profit Clore Center organization will operate the facility. Conceptual designs for the center include a 15,000 square-foot building and grounds that will offer indoor and outdoor venues, including a tasting room, demonstration kitchen, agricultural exhibits, classrooms, conference rooms, retail shop, instructional vineyards, interpretative and production gardens and a walkway along the river.

Fundraising is still ongoing to finance many aspects of the center, including furniture, fixtures, and equipment. Learn how you can help at www.theclorecenter.org.