#TheBizVoice - Accelerating Tomorrow Today

March 13, 2019 | Issue #77

The Bellevue Chamber is a catalyst for sustainable growth within the local business community. We provide information, access, connections and resources to position you and your team for business success!

Prepare to Be Inspired As We Honor Bellevue's Top Companies

This year, we celebrate the 30th Annual Eastside Business Awards. The Eastside is fortunate to have so many companies large and small that emulate an entrepreneurial spirit! Be part of the celebration, find out who wins, and prepare to be inspired.

Award categories include:

Eastside Business of the Year
Eastside Small Business of the Year
Eastside Nonprofit of the Year
Groundbreaker Award

Connecting & Convening Leaders

The Business Lunch:

Compass - Guiding the Market

March 21, 2019 | 12-1:30 pm

Westin Bellevue

Last year, NYC-based Compass announced its entry into the Greater Seattle and Bellevue real estate market. Join us at the next Business Lunch and find out the details behind the Compass merger with Bellevue-based Avenue Properties, a high end residential property brokerage. What does Compass hope to accomplish here and what does this say about the long-term viability of our growing market?

Presenting Sponsors

2019 Chamber Day Gallery

View here >

Chamber Day Hits It Out of the Park

A record number of business leaders from 10 Eastside Chambers convened at the state capitol on February 27 ^th for the annual Chamber Day lobbying expedition. We briefed two-dozen legislators on our priorities for 2019: housing affordability; mobility solutions; and career and technical education.

Thanks to Chamber members TransWest for providing transportation to the state capitol, and The Bellevue Collection for allowing us to park for the day!

Get the full story in this week’s Bellevue Blitz >

Cultivating Talent

Bellevue Young Entrepreneurs to Pitch Business Ideas

March 20 | 5:00 - 7:30 pm

BitTitan

Nineteen companies are being launched by Bellevue students through the Young Entrepreneurs Academy! Cheer them on as they pitch their ideas in front of an investor panel. Add your funding support to help them reach their goals!

More Info

The Young Entrepreneurs Academy is a groundbreaking educational program that takes students in grades six through twelve through the process of starting and running real businesses over the course of a full academic year. Donate here >

Champion for a Stronger Community

Advocacy in Action - Your Voice Matters

Carbon Policy Advances in Olympia

Last year, voters statewide rejected Initiative 1631, carbon fees, by a vote of 56% to 44%. Now, legislators are considering SB 5116, the clean energy transformation act, which has passed the Senate and moved to the House. The Washington Business Alliance has looked at how this carbon policy bill could affect greenhouse gas emissions and utility rates.

Read the report here and let us know what this could mean for your business.

Sound Transit 550 to Leave

Transit Tunnel

The main express bus connection between Downtown Bellevue and Downtown Seattle will soon move back to surface street operations on both sides of Lake Washington. As part of Sound Transit’s service changes slated for March 23, the ST 550 and several other routes will cease operations in the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel.

The move is predicated by the closure of Convention Place Station and the planned expansion of the WA State Convention Center. Learn more at Sound Transit’s “ride with us” webpage.

Career and Technical Education

Featured at Public Affairs

This Week

Please welcome former Seattle Chamber CEO Maud Daudon to Public Affairs on Thursday, March 14 ^th at Noon.

She’ll tell us how Career Connect WA is promoting career pathways for students of all ages.

This is the third of our monthly discussions on how the business community can have an impact on the legislative process in Olympia.

Local Economic Indicators

How does Washington rank in competitiveness? How are our local educational institutions performing? Find out in the Local Indicators section of the 2019 Eastside Economic Strategy Guide - packed with 50 pages of information, market intelligence and insights designed to save you time and effort!

Download the Strategy Guide here >

Catalyst for Business Success

Ribbon Cutting Celebrations

Mission Healthcare at Bellevue

March 14 | 4:00 - 6:00 pm

2424 156th Ave NE

Bellevue, WA 98007

Central Hub for Business

Morning Business Builders

Connect with other Chamber members to grow and market your business.

March 20: The art of perseverance

March 27: Show & Tell

Looking for Affordable Meeting Space?

Did you know the Bellevue Chamber has space for your group of up to 40 people?

Bellevue Blitz

News You Can Use

More on Chamber Day; Meydenbauer Bay Park Grand Opening; BelRed Transformation

Members get discounted event tickets. To get your discount, be sure to login at www.bellevuechamber.org/login

Need your login? Contact [email protected]

Members Making News

Here's what our members have been up to lately:

Southwest Airlines begins service to the Hawaiian Islands
Bellevue College becomes first higher education institution to launch Landed

View more news >

Have a story to tell? Let us know >

Save with the Office Depot Program

Did you know you can save up to 55% on some of the office supplies (and up to 50% on school supplies) you use every day? Chamber members and their employees qualify automatically for these great savings!