Expeditions
Does an item's ongoing bonus apply once you play it with a worker, before it is upgraded?
The rulebook's Play section defines ongoing benefits as applying while the card is active with a worker on it.
- Expeditions rulebook · Rulebook · Play
Yes. An ongoing benefit applies while the card is in your active row with a worker on it, including the turn you place the worker, so it works while the item sits in the played row.