50 years of family fun in Puyallup: Skate Tiffany's is now KING Family Fun Center

We were so looking forward to holding a special Chamber After Hours / 50th Anniversary celebration with our friends at Skate Tiffany's last month. Unfortunately we've had to postpone the celebration, but we want you all to know about their recent rebrand & name change to KING Family Fun Center.

This beloved business has been family owned & operated in the Puyallup community since November 1969. Owners Dennis & Melinda King pride themselves on being family oriented and always putting safety first. Be sure to check out our conversation with Dennis here (or click the image).

When it's safe to do so, we hope you'll bring your family to roller skate, hit your hole in one at the KING (18-hole!) Mini Golf Park, and check out their new Arcade Game Room.

Learn more at kingfamilyfuncenter.com.
The Rivers delivers 101 pizzas to MultiCare

Our friends at The Rivers at Puyallup handed out 101 pizzas last week to MultiCare social workers, ER staff, pharmacists, skilled nursing workers, and seniors in the Puyallup community. Shout out to Jeni Jones and Chef Bob from The Rivers Puyallup and also to State Representative Kelly Chambers who helped deliver! Check out the video here .
Inslee releases additional Safe Start Phase 1 guidance

Gov. Jay Inslee released additional guidance last Friday for businesses and services under Safe Start Phase 1, including the ability for retail outlets to provide curbside service, pet walking and landscaping.

  • Drive-in spiritual services with one household per vehicle
  • Auto/RV/Boat/ORV sales
  • Retail open for curb-side pick-up orders only
  • Car washes
  • Landscaping
  • Some pet services (not including grooming)
  • Essential travel and limited non-essential travel to engage in Phase 1 activities is permitted.
Statewide alert regarding fraudulent unemployment claims

The Associated General Contractors of Washington sent an alert to members regarding fraudulent unemployment claims last week, and it appears that this is an issue facing many companies across many industries in our state.

A representative from the state's Employment Security Department’s Fraud (ESDF) division told AGC WA that each individual with a fraudulent claim must individually contact ESDF at 1(800) 246-9763 or send an email to [email protected] and provide the following information:

  • Name
  • Last four SS# digits
  • Date of birth
  • Home address

The individual must either state (if calling) or write (if emailing) the following:
"My employer told me that someone is filing a claim on my benefit account. Please deny and cancel the claim."

If ESDF determines that a claim week was filed and paid out, then the individual will receive a notice from ESDF. If no monies were paid out, then they will lock the claim and no notice will be sent out.  

For the employer, on the Employment Security Separation Notice (the notice that the employer uses to respond back to Employment Security about a claimant), ESDF suggests that the employer attach a notice listing the company name, contact name, email and phone number and state "fraudulent claim," and fax to ESD at (800) 301-1796.

Learn more about unemployment benefits fraud at esd.wa.gov.
Getting back to work: A toolkit for re-opening

We have formed a Back To Work Task Force with representatives from City of Puyallup, City of Sumner, Pierce County, our state legislature, Puyallup Main Street Association, Sumner Downtown Promotion Association and business leaders. One of the resources we're rolling out is a Back To Work Toolkit that has been adopted by several Chambers of Commerce around the Puget Sound area.

We have included the toolkit downloads on our website, along with updates from our task force and other relevant information, at puyallupsumnerchamber.com/backtowork.
Our weekly Wake Ups, open to Chamber members and non-members, have pivoted to Zoom for the time being, but they're still a great way to check in with one another, make and hear announcements from local businesses, and even win some giveaways.

If you've never attended our Virtual Wake Up, we'd love to see you! If you have been attending, we encourage you to invite someone new!
Thursday, May 14, 2020
8:15am - 9:15am

Zoom Meeting ID: 327 531 124

Chamber/City/County COVID-19 business resource teleconference

Please join us this Thursday for our weekly Chamber/City/County business resource teleconference. Last week we hosted some of the brilliant minds behind cutting-edge work happening right here in Pierce County to help communities quickly detect and respond to a possible resurgence of COVID-19. If you missed it, you can check it out (as well as all archived recordings) at puyallupsumnerchamber.com/connects.

This week's teleconference will be hosted by Chamber CEO Tara Doyle-Enneking. Panelists TBD; but we will hear updates from Pierce County, City of Puyallup, City of Sumner, and others.

Thursday, May 14, 2020
3:00pm - 4:00pm 

Zoom Meeting ID: 390 036 164
Chamber Paint Night with Pinot's Palette

Fun was had by all who participated in last Friday's Chamber Paint Night with Pinot's Palette. A Virtual Paint night is a great way to gather with friends and family online. Check out some of our work!

Learn more at pinotspalette.com/southhill .
Pierce County COVID-19 Emergency Small Business Relief Loan

Pierce County is still accepting applications for their Small Business Relief Loans, which have been opened up to businesses that are not in unincorporated county areas.

Advisors Corner

We’re assembling a list of advisors who are able to assist business owners navigating this economic crisis. Areas of expertise include legal, financial, human resources, marketing and more.

Whether you're looking for an advisor or would like to be included in our advisor list, visit puyallupsumnerchamber.com/advisors.
Lean In & Lean On Wednesday follow up meetings

Elements owner Robert Kaelin organized a group, Lean In & Lean On , dedicated to helping small business owners navigate the struggles of this crisis. 

Whether or not you were able to attend the virtual brown bag lunch on May 2, you can still join the group for Wednesday follow ups.

Wednesday, May 13
7:30pm

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 732 2159 8155
Password: 027767

South Sound (Virtual) Business Summit is live and on-demand - for a limited time!

Now in its sixth year, the annual South Sound Business Summit is now LIVE and online! If you want to get inspired and hear from fantastic speakers, check this out. For just $35 (discounts available for veterans), you'll have access to the full program online and on-demand.

Ticket sales are only available through May 31st and the online program will be live until August 1st.

The Puyallup / Sumner Chamber is a sponsor of this event, along with other South Sound Chambers, and any profits from this event will support the Washington Small Business Development Center (SBDC). The WSBDC is a network of more than 30 expert business advisors working in communities across the state to help entrepreneurs or small business owners start, grow or buy/sell a business.

Presentations:

Eradicating Entrepreneurial Poverty - Mike Michalowicz
Mike Michalowicz is the entrepreneur behind three multimillion dollar companies and is the author of Profit First, The Pumpkin Plan and what BusinessWeek deemed the
entrepreneur’s cult classic, The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur.

IMPACT: A Crash Course in Leadership - Elisa Hayes
Empathy Fueled Solutions and Author of “Letters to My Daughter," Elisa will help you transform your life. By applying the lessons, you will turn weakened staff into star performers, and refashion your organization into a whole-hearted, connected community.

Choosing the Positive Path to getting where you want to go - Barry Long
Barry was 22 years old when a near-fatal motorcycle crash completely and permanently altered almost everything he knew about life. He discovered early in recovery that choosing to live with a genuinely positive attitude, setting realistic and achievable goals and learning to ask for help makes anything possible.

Check out the Virtual Summit today! Visit SouthSoundBusinessSummit.com.
Get timely resources at the dedicated COVID-19 area on our website
We have created a dedicated area on our website as a one-stop shop for all COVID-19 related information. Here you'll find pages devoted to resources for businesses & employers, health & safety info, supporting local businesses and restaurants offering takeout & delivery.

We'll continue to update these pages as the situation evolves.

Please keep us informed if you have news related to your own businesses: [email protected].

Here's an update on upcoming Chamber events

Formal Wake Ups are suspended for the time being; that said, we are holding Virtual Wake Ups every Thursday at 8:15am.

Our Government Affairs Committee (GAC) meetings in April and May 5 were held virtually via Zoom, and our June meeting is likely to follow suit.

Our Women in Business Luncheon that was scheduled for May 8 has been rescheduled for July 31.
Have news to report in Chamber Chatter? Email [email protected] for more information.
Through a partnership between Pierce County and the Economic Development Board of Tacoma-Pierce County, Invest Pierce County was launched in mid-2019 to assist organizations that are considering doing business in the region, providing a listing of sites and buildings.
The Washington SBDC is your resource for no-cost expert advising, management training, market intelligence and more! They even have a local representative right here in our community who offers one-on-one confidential advising to help you make the most of your business. We encourage all Chamber members to check it out!

Learn more at  wsbdc.org
Did you know that our Chamber offers health benefits for your company? Email [email protected] if you are interested in learning how you can save money with this great Chamber member benefit.