WE'VE HAD A BUSY 2021
Figuring out ways to safely continue our mission with the pandemic's continuing interference has created challenges that we hope we've lived up to. Here are some of the things, in no particular order, that we've been doing to keep our members informed and engaged, to keep the economy moving for all our businesses, large and small, and to make the South Sound the most equitable and inclusive place to do business in Washington State.
WE DESIGNED AND HOSTED THE PROGRESS PROCESS
In 2020 we changed our mission statement to read, "Making the South Sound the Most Equitable and Inclusive Place to do Business in Washington State." Our first external step toward that end was to help our business community navigate a roadmap to practice and achieve levels of equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. The Progress Process offered a 6-session exploration of an interactive and transformative approach to organizational change with a lens for equity and anti-racism. The sessions were designed to engage a range of participants who were looking for space to discuss equity literacy and organizational development. Although it was just a beginning, we were able to reach more than 100 participants engaging over a 6-month period.
WE BROADCAST OUR 100TH EPISODE OF THE BUSINESS INFO SERIES
When the pandemic began, businesses needed help. Disseminating information to help business stay afloat never was more important, and we stepped up to the plate with 3 informational webinars per week. We reached hundreds of businesses throughout Pierce County connecting with the help they needed. We kept the pipe line going for more than a year and in June, recorded our 100th episode!
WE HELPED CREATE AND IMPLEMENT THE PIERCE COUNTY BUSINESS ACCELERATOR
The Pierce County Business Accelerator (PCBA), is a program of Pierce County, administered by the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, and funded through an allocation from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). It serves entrepreneurs and business owners throughout Pierce County with a focus on BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) veteran, and women-owned businesses to help foster innovation and create wealth-building opportunities.
SPACEWORKS BEGAN THE BLACK BUSINESS ACCELERATOR 
This new program prepared Black-owned businesses for new commercial spaces coming to Hilltop. In addition to a 6-week training program, participants also worked with a dedicated accountant, business coach, photographer, and marketing professional. 
SPACEWORKS BECAME A KIVA MICROLOAN HUB 
The City of Tacoma asked Spaceworks to pilot a new microloan program with Kiva, offering 0% interest loans ranging from $1,000 to $15,000. We were the first Kiva hub in the Pacific Northwest and raised $111,000 in our first six months. The Black Business Accelerator and the Pierce County Business Accelerator both work with their cohorts to obtain funding through Kiva.
WE ORGANIZED AN INTER-CITY CONFERENCE TO STUDY NASHVILLE
Our Aspire Inter-City Leadership Conference had been on hold for over a year due to the pandemic. In October we decided we could safely conduct the trip, and took a group of 20 business, organization, and community leaders to Nashville. Each year through Aspire, the Chamber visits cities around the nation to investigate new programs and initiatives and learn how to adapt best practices in order to meet the growing needs of the South Sound. Aspire offers opportunity for personal growth and the development of strategies to secure the future of our region as an economically vibrant and culturally rich community. This year's was a great success despite the pandemic. Watch for next years, tentatively scheduled for October 2022.
THE MANUFACTURING AND INDUSTRIAL COUNCIL FOR THE SOUTH SOUND SUPPORTED WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATIVE BILL 1170 - BUILDING ECONOMIC STRENGTH THROUGH MANUFACTURING
Washington's 6,600 manufacturers are responsible for more than 265,000 jobs and generate more than $63 billion annually in economic output. Substitute House Bill 1170, the Building Economic Strength Through Manufacturing (BEST) Act, would provide a framework for the state to add 300,000 new manufacturing jobs over the next 10 years. The bill also seeks to double the number of small manufacturing firms and the number of women- and minority-owned manufacturing firms in Washington.
THE MANUFACTURING AND INDUSTRIAL COUNCIL SUPPORTED THE PASSAGE OF THE TIDEFLATS NON-INTERIM REGULATIONS
The MIC helped lead the work through the very complex issues of energy, jobs and growth in the context of dynamic systemic change. We are proud of this contribution. Our community shared values of economic vitality, environmental protection, and social equity as our true north, fortified our pathway and ability to deliver the cleaner, future-driven and visionary products made in Tacoma, for Tacoma, and by Tacoma. The public rightly expects ports and cities to balance economic growth with societal and environmental impacts. Achieving new land use regulations this year helps bridge the divide from our present to the future for the public good and the City of Tacoma.
WE CELEBRATED OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS (and ourselves!)
It's been a long two years and celebration is in order. With this in mind, and knowing how hard our public officials have been working for us - to keep us safe, to keep us informed, to keep our economy going, etc. etc. etc. - we decided to hold our Public Officials Holiday Reception in person. Upwards of 100 public officials and more than 300 guests attended the gala event. Lots of good food, lots of good cheer, lots of catching up - a great way to start the holiday season! (Plus we learned that December 7th has been declared Tom Pierson Day in Pierce County!)
SOUND BITES BROUGHT NEW LIFE TO DOWNTOWN TACOMA
The Downtown Tacoma Partnership is constantly thinking up ways to entice people to come downtown and enjoy all that Tacoma has to offer. This has been especially important for businesses during the pandemic. With this in mind they launched Sound Bites, a new summer concert series in Downtown Tacoma. Every Friday Night in August, with more than 60 vendors participating, there was live music, outdoor dining, a Beer garden, and a pop up market drawing hundreds of people from far and wide. Sound Bites was made possible by Alma Mater, NW Stage, The Matador, Tacoma Night Market and Puget Sound Family Health.
THE WORLD TRADE CENTER TACOMA REACHED MORE THAN 800 PEOPLE
In 2021, during their international trade training and awareness programs, the World Trade Center Tacoma reached more than 800 people virtually and in person. Making the connection between international trade and Tacoma can be of vital importance. You never know where or when introductions will make the difference in a project. For instance, Thanks to the introduction of an investor to the City of Tacoma by the World Trade Center Tacoma's International Trade and Investment Program in 2014, the Marriott Tacoma Downtown Hotel has finished its first full year of operations giving Tacoma enough hotel-rooms to take advantage of its convention-center capacity.
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