MOSES LAKE- Although Phillip Bloom closes the doors of his first engineering firm in Idaho due to the economic recession in the early 1980's, he never let his dream of owning a successful business fade.

Phil took an engineering job with Moses Lake in 1983, moving with wife, Diana, from Sandpoint, Idaho. After nine years with the city, Phil decided it was time to be an entrepreneur again.

The couple established Columbia Northwest Engineering mid-year of 1992, and this time, things worked in the Blooms' favor and the company is celebrating 20 years in Grant County.

"It started with just two of us," said Phil, who oversees a staff of 11. "And we've managed to survive."

The engineering firm worked on dozens of major projects during the years, including Loring Drive water, sewer and street infrastructure improvements in Moses Lake, the water wells and water storage reservoir at Sunserra in Crescent Bar and the utility crossings at Yonezawa Boulevard in Moses Lake.

Columbia Northwest Engineering worked on development projects for many industrial sites in the Wheeler Road industrial corridor.

Since business expanded during the years, the Blooms established Columbia Water Systems about three years ago. Columbia Water Systems designs and manages water systems, as well as water rights assessments and transfers.

"We design a lot of water systems as an engineering firm, so it seemed like a logical extension to have a separate company," Phil said.

Columbia Water Systems serves Grant and Adams counties and parts of Douglas and Lincoln counties.

Phil got his start in the engineering and surveying business while serving in the Army's map service. He spent about a year and a half surveying land in Ethiopia, he said. When he returned to Idaho, Phil earned a civil engineering degree from the University of Idaho.

"It's been a good time and we've enjoyed being here in Moses Lake and working with the community," Phil said. "It's been a busy 20 years."

The Blooms are active in the community, and said they particularly enjoy being a part of the Grant County Sheriff's Posse.

With a current work load of more than a dozen projects, the Blooms are looking forward to many more years of business in the area, they said.

Diana said the company's success is largely due to their team of engineers and planners and other office personnel.

"We have a great team to work with and have the ability to accomplish much," she said.