Haakon Industries
1993-05-05: Canadian Company Coming to Cheney
Industry in the Cheney area is about to pick up steam as Haakon Industries, a Canadian maker of air conditioning and heating equipment, plans on opening a plant on the city's west side. A site dedication ceremony has been set for Thursday, May 13, at 1:30 pm. at the Corner of Highway 904 and Mullinix Road where the plant will be located.
The company has decided not to give away too much in the way of specifics until the site dedication next week. At that time Bryan Deardan, plant manager, will describe the full nature of the plant as well as how many people will be employed. Initial estimates are for 30 to 40 workers, said Worthington, Community Development director for the city.
Worthington says that Haakon, which is based in Richmond, B.C., is one of several companies that had been eyeing the approximately 190 acres of land recently annexed into Cheney on the city's west side. The company had reportedly looked at about 10 communities before settling on Cheney. Washington Water Power, said Worthington, was a key agency in assisting Haakon in locating in this area.
The Cheney site will be Haakon's third plant -- it's first in the United States -- and the company made the final transaction to purchase the property three weeks ago.
Worthington said that Haakon's interest in Cheney was no accident. "They were interested in a community with a good labor force," said Worthington, "As well as a community that would provide them with an identity. They also wanted good urban services." The location also provided them with access to highways and the airport, he added.
The company provides services throughout Canada and the United States.
The property that Haakon will locate was annexed into the city in December of last year. The County Boundary Review Board had been originally called on to annex 92-acres for industrial, commercial, and low-density residential property by the city of Cheney. The board decided to modify the proposal to include additional land from Mullinix to the then-existing west city limits. Several acres of county land on the north side of Highway 904 east of Key Tronic and west of Presley Drive were included as well.
Worthington said at the time that the annexation filled a void of industrial property in the city of Cheney.
2016-09-08 Haakon proposes Cheney plant expansion
Clipped from: http://www.cheneyfreepress.com/story/2016/09/08/front-page/haakon-proposes-cheney-plant-expansion/18942.html
Cheney’s Planning Department has issued a notice of application and is receiving public comments on a 45,000-square foot expansion of local manufacturer Haakon Industries production facilities at 1633 First St. The application required an environmental (SEPA) review and a new commercial building permit.
According to submitted environmental checklist information, the expansion will be raised to match the elevation of existing buildings onsite, and will require the relocation of an existing storm water swale to be replaced by a storm water collection system. The building will also be designed for future inclusion of rooftop solar panels.
The site currently contains a 115,000-square-foot manufacturing facility and a 20,000-square-foot storage building.
A public hearing is not required for this application. The comment period expires at 5 p.m. on Sept. 15. Comments or requests for information should be directed to Cheney’s senior planner, Brett Lucas, at (509) 498-9240 or via email at blucas@cityofcheney.org.
Haakon is a world-leader in the custom design and construction of large industrial and commercial heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) units.
John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.