Doing Business In Tacoma-Pierce County

Business Climate

While much of the draw for commerce is Tacoma’s ”warm” business climate, affordable occupancy cost and guaranteed permitting, there are many other reasons to take a closer look at Tacoma. Consider this: Over the past several years, the City of Tacoma and the private sector have invested $300 million in Tacoma's telecommunications infrastructure through the Click! Network. Tacoma has long been home to global business leaders like the Russell Investments, Port of Tacoma, Sagem Morpho, and Labor Ready. Small and medium-sized firms also find Tacoma to be just the right fit, and many are moving or expanding to Tacoma from other areas around the Northwest and from around the world. The entire country"”and even the world, is taking notice of Tacoma. Over the past few years, Inc. Magazine, Business Week, The New York Times, Global Business, Entrepreneur Magazine and a number of international publications ran stories about Tacoma's pro-business environment.

Unbeatable Technology

The greater Tacoma metropolitan area benefits from being in the unique position of actually having competitive broadband. This distinction is the result of having more than one service provider of broadband service within a broad area or region, as opposed to the norm of having a single-service provider for a community, with may be another single-service provider for a sharply defined downtown district — which does not equal true competitive broadband.

Along with Comcast and Qwest, the greater Tacoma metro area also enjoys broadband service from the much-noted Click! Network.

Much of Tacoma’s business growth in the late ’90s can be attributed to a $100 million investment by the City of Tacoma in the largest municipally owned telecommunications network in the country. Known as the Click! Network, it offers a cable television and data-sharing system, which connects Tacoma businesses and residents with the global economy as never before. The availability of Click! has allowed Tacoma to market itself around the world as “America’s #1 Wired City.” As a result, more than 100 high-tech businesses relocated, opened, or expanded in Tacoma during the 18-month period ending in December 2000.

Clearwire wireless broadband, a new Internet service provider, is also now serving Tacoma.

Discussions of the capability of broadband technology to create a better business environment, more effective economic development, improved health care, enhanced education, and a more efficient government are happening throughout the country in major cities. That Tacoma enjoys competitive broadband services puts it one step ahead of its competitors.”

Downtown Revitalization

With the relatively new (opened in 2004) Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center hosting more events than ever before, the heart of the downtown area has been enjoying an influx of out-of-town event attendees.

Projects ranging from the renewal of Thea Foss Waterway including an $80 million waterfront mixed-use development with shops, restaurants, condominiums, and structured parking, to renovations and expansions of historic downtown buildings to the construction of dozens of condominiums, contribute to the revitalization efforts of downtown Tacoma.

Industry
Tacoma is quickly embracing new and exciting opportunities. By offering tax and other incentives for business expansion and relocation, Tacoma continues to look for ways to capitalize on its status as a gateway to the Pacific Rim. With the Port of Tacoma a day closer to Asian countries than many California ports, trade continues to be an important facet of business.

Port of Tacoma
The Port of Tacoma is the sixth largest container port in North America, covering over 2,400 acres, and ranks in the top 25 for worldwide container trade. The Port services more than 15 steamship lines, two transcontinental railroads, 200 inter-and intrastate trucking lines and more than 20 airfreight forwarders.

Military
From Fort Lewis to McChord Air Force Base, there is little doubt that national defense is a major driver of Pierce County's economy. Recent reports reveal that the military account for over 43,000 jobs in the county. For the past 15 years, Chamber-led delegations have visited Washington D.C. and the Pentagon to discuss defense issues with military and Congressional representatives. Supplementing this practical approach are efforts to maximize and cement civilian community relations through awards programs and community social events, including the John H. Anderson Military Citizen of the Year, Howard O. Scott Citizen Soldier of the Year and our ever-popular Evergreen Fleet Cruise. In conjunction with the Tacoma Yacht Club, the Cruise provides networking opportunities between military and community leaders. Along with other chambers in our region, the Chamber sponsors a Commanding Officers Briefing, which allows presenters to talk about the latest news on the defense front.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Sea-Tac, one of the busiest airports in the United States, is only 20 miles from Tacoma. More than 7 million passengers departed or arrived at Sea-Tac in 2006.

Healthcare
Tacoma's two largest private employers are both health care systems: MultiCare Health System and Franciscan Health System.

MultiCare is an integrated health organization made up of four hospitals, numerous primary care and urgent care clinics, multi-specialty centers, hospice, and home health service. Serving the Tacoma community since 1882, MultiCare is a not-for-profit organization that has grown exponentially over the years in response to community needs.

Founded in 1891 by the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, the Franciscan Health System employs more than 3,800 and has a medical staff of more than 1,000 primary and specialty physicians in Pierce County. Franciscan hospitals St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way and St. Clare Hospital in Lakewood were among the nation's Top 100 hospitals in 2001 because of their delivery of high-quality, cost-effective medical care.

Transportation
Running 1.6 miles through the heart of downtown Tacoma, the Tacoma Link Light Rail serves five stations stretching from the Tacoma Dome District to the Theater District. All rides on the electric-powered vehicles are free.

The Sounder Commuter Rail is a traffic-free option for commuters needing to travel from Tacoma to Seattle.

After more than five years of construction, the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge opened on July 16, 2007. Along with lane and highway improvements including the addition of new carpool lanes the $800 million project creates a safer, less-congested SR 16 corridor linking the Key Peninsula, including the city of Gig Harbor, to Tacoma and I-5.