JUNE 5, 2018
WASHINGTON POLICY CENTER

Join business owners and community leaders Friday, June 8th to hear from policy experts. Attendees will explore and discuss the most important issues impacting both our state and the Pierce County region's policy climate.

Why the coming Supreme Court ruling in Janus v. AFSCME means Washington may become a right-to-work state
Erin Shannon, WPC's Center for Worker Rights Director
 
Carbon tax efforts in Washington state
Todd Myers, WPC's Environmental Director
 
  The latest on the Pierce County response to the Seattle jobs tax
Paul Guppy, WPC's Vice President for Research

Washington Policy Center (WPC) is a non-profit, non-partisan, independent think tank in Washington state. WPC works to improve the lives of Washington state citizens by providing high quality, free-market solutions.
CAPITALIZING ON ANTI-BUSINESS CLIMATE
SMART STRATEGY FOR THE SOUTH SOUND
With the passage of the Head Tax by Seattle City Council, Pierce County leaders cleverly used this opportunity to capitalize on any hesitation potential employers may have to locate or expand their businesses in Seattle, by offering tax credits to organizations already located or looking to locate in the South Sound.

Frustration with doing business in Seattle does not lie simply with this one tax, but the compounding tax hikes that have plagued Seattle and King County Businesses in recent years.

BREWS FOR A BETTER TACOMA
Sit down for a beer (or other beverage) with Mayor Victoria Woodards . This is the perfect opportunity to have a casual conversation and discuss how to make the South Sound the best place to business in Washington State.

GROW THE ECONOMY THROUGH CREATIVE COMMUNITIES
The 2016 Arts and Economic Prosperity Study tells us that, when we support the arts, we not only enhance our quality of life, but we also invest in the City of Tacoma’s economic well-being.

Communities that invest in the arts see an uptick in jobs, economic growth, and an improved quality of life. Join Spaceworks for their annual fundraiser this Friday, June 8th at Alma Mater to support the programs that help local businesses grow and the local arts scene to thrive.

MEET GWEN KOHL

Spaceworks Incubator Program Coordinator and YEA! Manager

CHAMBER WINS VALOR AWARD
Yesterday Veterans and Business Coordinator Rachel Turner-Bensen accepted the Chamber of Valor Award. This award is presented to state and local chambers , industry associations, and business development organizations that support the Hiring Our Heroes ' (HOH) mission to create a movement across America to help military men and women find employment in the
communities where veterans and military families return every day.  
CONNECT WITH A TALENTED, VETTED WORKFORCE

Camo2Commerce offers several different employment and training programs for transitioning service members and active duty spouses including the WorkEx program. 
 
Veteran-friendly companies can apply to host service members and spouses for an 8 week program. A successful WorkEx experience could lead to further support of a compensated on-the-job training for the service member or spouse. 
 
ASST. CHIEF OF POLICE RECEIVES CITIZEN-SOLDIER AWARD
In Partnership with the Tacoma Kiwanis, the Chamber presented the 37th Annual Howard O. Scott Citizen-Soldier award to National Guardsman and Tacoma Police Department Assistant Chief of Police to Lt. Col. Mike Ake.

The Citizen-Soldier Award memorializes Howard O. Scott who grew up in Tacoma and served the nation when called upon during World War II- as part of America's Greatest Generation.

NEW FACES AT THE CHAMBER
Last week the Chamber welcomed three new interns from the University of Puget Sound . Sarah Griffin will be supporting Advocacy Efforts and the BIA, Matthew Tetreault will be supporting Communications and Events, and Sara MacConnell will be supporting Spaceworks programs.

"The maturity, dedication, and sheer talent that UPS produces is incredibly impressive," said Jennifer Chernut, Director of Strategic Engagement. "We have watched a number of students walk through our doors, and their contributions to the Chamber and the South Sound community are significant and inspiring."

Make sure to introduce yourselves to Sarah, Matthew And Sara when you see them around!
EVENTS AND RESOURCES
Check Out the Chamber's Award Winning Video
TACOMA-PIERCE COUNTY CHAMBER
950 PACIFIC AVE SUITE 300 TACOMA, WA 98402
| 253.627.2175 | INFO@TACOMACHAMBER.ORG| WWW.TACOMACHAMBER.ORG