As a business professional and certified business advisor for the Tacoma-Pierce County Small Business Development Center, Ann Zimmerman has seen how successful entrepreneurs often exhibit similar characteristics.

“They are anxious to learn, and they tend to be agile and flexible,” she says.

A willingness to shift gears is especially important when starting out. “The business owners who are most likely to make it can take hits and go back to the drawing board when things don’t necessarily go as planned,” Zimmerman says. “They are always open to conversation and ways to reconceive their initial plans.”

And that’s where Zimmerman’s free, confidential, one-on-one consulting services come in. “I can help bring and outside perspective to their business challenges and help them develop creative solutions to some of their biggest problems.”

Those challenges often center around how to let people know what the business offers. She says that when faced with so many different responsibilities, small and home-based business owners often struggle with marketing and end up “throwing spaghetti at the wall hoping something will stick.”

Her goal is to help them be more strategic and realize that getting their name—and their business name—out to the community doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. “Schedule a ribbon cutting, send a press release to the media, sign up to have a table at a networking event, and volunteer. Some of the successful businesses we’ve worked with schedule something every month to support the community.”

Ultimately, small business owners should “network to build their network.” Zimmerman says not only does that help people learn about the business and opportunities to collaborate, but it also helps get entrepreneurs out of their own silos. This is especially true for home-based business owners who don’t have an outside office or storefront presence.

“The Small Business Development Center is an advisory service that strives to be a business resource,” she says. “Our goal is to help small businesses stay connected with the community as a whole and help them recognize the resources available to them that can help them succeed.”

To learn more about all the services available to entrepreneurs, visit the Small Business Development Center website or contact Ann Zimmerman directly via email or phone, 253.268.3339.

The City of University Place has officially adopted three business districts. Do you know which one your business is in?

The 27th Street Business District is the City’s oldest neighborhood business district and was home to the first shopping center in University Place. At one point, it even had streetcar service. It is currently home to more than 150 businesses that offer retail, dining and personal services.

The 27th Street Business District is bounded by 87th Avenue West and 67th Avenue West between 29th Street on the south and 25th Street on the north.

The Northeast Business District is home to some of U.P.’s newer establishments, including personal care and wellness providers, eateries, sweet shops and entertainment businesses.

The Northeast Business District is bounded by South 19th Street on the north, Paradise Pond and Adrianna Hess Wetland parks to the south, the 27th Street Business District on the west and Mildred Street West to 27th Street West on the east.

The Town Center District now calls more than 250 businesses home, ranging from fitness providers to restaurants, grocers, home décor stores, grocers, health and wellness providers. It is also where key community amenities including the U.P. library, U.P. Police Headquarters and Homestead Park are located.

The Town Center district is in the heart of University Place along Bridgeport Way West from 30th Street West on the north and Cirque Drive West on the south.



Check out these videos about each of these three unique commercial corridors in U.P. and hear directly from the entrepreneurs who have chosen to invest in them.

Please join the community in celebrating the ribbon cutting for Osyntra at its location at 2424 Mildred St. W., Ste. A on Thursday, Oct. 22 at 5:30 p.m. The practice offers comprehensive periodontal and implant treatments.



Business owners are encouraged to attend these events since they are a great way to learn more about the variety of services available right here in University Place. 

We have been fortunate to welcome several new businesses to our community recently, including Scenthound at 3556 Market Pl. W., Suite 106 and Kiddie Academy at 2700 Bridgeport Way W. earlier this month. We are grateful that these businesses have chosen to invest in University Place and call our city home.

Customers who wish to park for free in the Village at Chambers Bay will find plenty of spots (550 in fact!) in the Village parking garage. With easy access and elevators, this is a great way to park and shop for an extended period of time.

Meters on Market Place West in the Village at Chambers Bay cover parking for up to 90 minutes on weekdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The cost is $1 for the first hour and $1.50 for the full 90 minutes. Pay with coins, credit cards or the PaybyPhone app. The meters are not active on Sundays and holidays. ADA accessibility spots are always free.

Business owners are reminded that metered spots support equitable access to parking spaces in the Village for all patrons and create opportunities for the customer turnover that supports these local businesses.

Put the Internet to work for your business with a free, four-week class on Digital Marketing and SEO from ScaleUp - Startup Washington. 

Gain the knowledge and tools necessary to adapt your marketing strategies to a search landscape reshaped by AI overviews and zero-click results. Learn how to set strategic goals and develop content that demands visibility in AI-driven search tools.



The 1.5-hour webinar classes begin Nov. 17 and are available in English and Spanish. They will be taught by experienced business trainers who can help you create a comprehensive 90-day marketing action plan designed to make your business more resilient and profitable. 



Register here.