​Last week, the City of Lakewood in partnership with Living Access Support Alliance (LASA) began accepting applications for the Lakewood COVID-19 Rent Assistance program. 
 
LASA, a community-supported nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing temporary and recurrent homelessness, was awarded $407,640 from the Lakewood City Council as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds it received from the state of Washington.  It is anticipated these funds will help assist 175 Lakewood households. 
 
Applicants for this program need to meet the following minimum requirements to be eligible for receiving one-time rental assistance for up to $1500 paid directly to the landlord:

• Household must live in Lakewood as a renter, with their name on the lease or rental agreement;
• Household’s income has been impacted by COVID-19 on March 12th or later; and
• Household’s total combined income is currently $60,000 per year ($1,200/week or $5,000/month) or less.

 
If technical assistance, translation assistance or special accommodations is needed, call LASA’s Homeless Prevention line at (253) 582-5320 Monday thru Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
 
Click here to apply to the Lakewood COVID-19 Rent Assistance Program.

The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber currently has seven Board of Director positions open, and the following people have been nominated to serve:

SLATE OF BOARD CANDIDATES

• Kevin Donovan, SVP, Director of Wealth Management Columbia Bank
• Sherri Jensen, Founder and CEO at Valeo Vocation
• Danny Hankins, Co-Founder, Blue Shift Media
• Debbie Lee, CEO Tool Gauge
• Jerod Pierce, President, Mercurio’s Heating & Air Conditioning
• Grant Twyman, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Specialist, Clover Park School District and Executive Director, Uncommon
• Monique Valenzuela, Executive Director, Tacoma Youth Marine Foundation

Additional names of candidates for directors may be nominated by petitions bearing the genuine signatures of at least (25) qualified members of the Chamber, limited to one signature per member firm.

Such petition shall be filed with the Board Nominating Committee by August 6, 2020 at Noon (12:00PM). Provide petition to Michelle Matheson via email document or a physical copy delivered to the Chamber office. Determination of the Board Nominating Committee as to the legality of the petition(s) shall be final. For a copy of petition or more information please contact Michelle Matheson at (253) 627-2175 or michellem@tacomachamber.org.
​
Best wishes,

The following letter was presented by the Chamber as testimony prior to voting at the June 30 City Council meeting.

On behalf the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, we are encouraging a Yes vote on the three following resolutions on the City of Tacoma City Council Agenda for June 30, 2020.
 
Resolution No. 40620: Wear Face Masks: Passed - See Resolution
To date, progress has been made in our fight again the transmission of Covid-19, and the increasing number of people gathering with the nicer weather we must remain vigilant.  We do not want to lose ground and are actively working with community partners like the TPCHD, PC ED, and others to both reinforce current expectations and show examples of businesses doing the right thing.  People need confidence as we reopen our local economy, and the only way to do this is to reinforce everyone, including businesses, are taking public health seriously.  Face masks are one critical component of this.  We support the measure and look forward to partnering with the City on this important communication effort.
 
Resolution No. 40621: Communications Protocol for Deaths in Police Custody: Passed - See Resolution
The people of Tacoma and of the state have overwhelmingly said they want more transparency when it comes to the use of police power, especially when the power kills.  The overwhelming passage of Initiative 940 in 2018 shows how important transparency is to the people.  The City of Tacoma should prioritize compliance with this law and establish clearer lines of communication when a death occurs while under the care of City government.  Furthermore, by sharing the details of a death more quickly will increase faith in the process and the City’s leadership.  We support this measure and look forward to helping hold our community accountable for the care of all citizens.
 
Resolution No. 40622: Ending Racism: Passed - See Resolution
We as a Chamber are focused on the need to end systemic racism and support the efforts to stop racism and transform Tacoma.  This effort, however, will take work from everyone in our community including our business leaders, and we are focused on moving this issue forward and finding ways to resolve the problem.  
 
As a Chamber, we remain focused on making the South Sound the best place to do business in Washington State. We can only accomplish the goal with the entire community squarely focused on ending systemic racism.

Application Open to Review, Submissions to Begin June 19
 
GIG HARBOR, WASH. (JUNE 12, 2020) -- On May 28th, the Gig HarborCity Council passed a resolution authorizing the creation of a Small Business Stabilization Grant program to support local businesses and the economy. 

The program is funded with $308,000 from a portion of the City’s CARES Act stimulus package distribution. Each awarded grant will be at least $1,500.

Businesses are eligible to apply for a grant if they meet the following criteria:
The business:

• Must have had a Gig Harbor business license before March 1, 2020
• Must be physically located in the City of Gig Harbor
• Must be a for-profit business. The City provides other avenues of support for non-profits, including lodging tax grants and creative endeavor grants.
• Had ten or fewer full-time equivalent employees (FTE) as of March 1, 2020. To determine the number of FTEs employed, for each employee, enter the average number of hours paid per week, divide by 40, and round the total to the nearest tenth. The maximum for each employee is capped at 1.0.
• Is not owned, or partially owned, by employees or public officials associated with the City of Gig Harbor.
• Must have suffered a financial loss due to executive order or proclamation made by Governor Inslee related to COVID-19.

 
Applications for Small Business Stabilization Grants will be accepted starting at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, June 19, 2020. The application deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, 2020. Applications may be submitted at any time - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - until the deadline.

A preview of the application can be found here.

The application will ask businesses to provide the following information:

•  A UBI number for the business (must be associated with an active City of Gig Harbor business license)
• Proof of hardship: monthly Department of Revenue excise/sales tax returns for either April 2019 and April 2020 or May 2019 and May 2020, OR your two most recent quarterly or annual excise tax returns
• A description of the financial loss to your business due to an executive order or proclamation issued by Governor Inslee related to COVID-19

In the event the total number of qualified applicants exceeds 205 in number, the City will randomly select 205 of the qualified applicants to receive the $1500 grant award. The City Council reluctantly implemented the lottery system in order to ensure a consequential minimum grant amount of $1500.

If there are fewer than 205 total qualified applicants, the entire $308,000 will be divided equally between the applicants.

Selected applicants will be required to sign an agreement with the City for the award of grant funds. The agreement template can be found here.

A W-9 form will also be required for payment.

To read more about the grant program and the application process, please visit the Small Business Stabilization Grant webpage.

If you wish to be notified of updates to this program, please sign up for notifications. If you have any questions, please contact Josh Stecker.

Labor & Industries this week enacted emergency rules to fine businesses found to be open in violation of Governor Jay Inslee’s Stay Home Stay Healthy order in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
​
Businesses found to be in violation of Inslee’s four-phase reopening plan will be directed to close or make immediate safety adjustments. Those who do not comply will be subject to a fine of nearly $10,000 or more, according to this recent L&I announcement.

See here for more details

COVID-19 RESOURCES HERE

Washington—May 15, 2020, the Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, released the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Application and detailed instructions for the application.
The form and instructions inform borrowers how to apply for forgiveness of their PPP loans, consistent with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).  SBA will also soon issue regulations and guidance to further assist borrowers as they complete their applications, and to provide lenders with guidance on their responsibilities.

The form and instructions include several measures to reduce compliance burdens and simplify the process for borrowers, including:

• Options for borrowers to calculate payroll costs using an “alternative payroll covered period” that aligns with borrowers’ regular payroll cycles
• Flexibility to include eligible payroll and non-payroll expenses paid or incurred during the eight-week period after receiving their PPP loan
• Step-by-step instructions on how to perform the calculations required by the CARES Act to confirm eligibility for loan forgiveness
• Borrower-friendly implementation of statutory exemptions from loan forgiveness reduction based on rehiring by June 30
• Addition of a new exemption from the loan forgiveness reduction for borrowers who have made a good-faith, written offer to rehire workers that was declined

The PPP was created by the CARES Act to provide forgivable loans to eligible small businesses to keep American workers on the payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The documents released today will help small businesses seek forgiveness at the conclusion of the eight week covered period, which begins with the disbursement of their loans.
​
Click Here for Application and Instructions.

With the increase in unemployment benefits, unemployment fraud is on the rise. The Seattle Times reported that over 700 fraudulent claims were reported this month, adding up to over $1.6 million.  

How does this impact employers and what should you do?
Pay attention! When you receive a notification of an unemployment claim…read it! Have you laid off that individual? Are they still working for you? Many employers, especially under the current conditions with layoffs abounding, are inclined to dismiss the notification, as they don’t plan to contest the claim. This is dangerous, as it may be the only way the fraud is identified in a timely manner. While it may take time to sort through the paperwork, track who is working, who is not, how many hours, etc., it is worth the effort!

Contact employees! Communicate with impacted employees to verify the information. Did they apply? If they did not apply, refer to the reporting steps below. If they did apply and they are still working, then you have a completely different disciplinary issue to discuss with the HR Hotline! 

Notify IT! Let your IT department know of the fraudulent claim so that system security can be checked to ensure that the data breach did not come from your end. If it did, it should be addressed immediately and a data security attorney or your cyber security insurer should be contacted, and employees must be notified.

Report it! Employers should promptly notify the Employment Security Department (ESD) that the employee is still working, and the claim is suspected to be fraudulent.

Provide the steps below to affected employees. Cyber-crime investigators are recommending the following steps for anyone who knows, or believes, they are a victim of unemployment fraud:

Step One – Contact HR

• Contact your organizations HR staff to coordinate and report the incident to your employer.  

Step Two – Contact WA State ESD

• Call the WA State Employment Security Dept (ESD) at 800-246-9763 to report the fraud or contact ESD via an online form.

Step Three – File a Police Report

• File an online or non-emergency report with the agency whose jurisdiction you live in.
• If you live in Seattle you can file an online report.
• Start keeping a file folder or journal with the information from this incident, including any case numbers. Some government services and accommodations are available to victims of identity theft that are not available to the general public, such as getting certain public records sealed.

Step Four – Contact Credit Bureaus

• Obtain your free credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion at Annual Credit Report.
• Report to the credit bureaus that the fraudulent claim was made using your identity and provide them with the case number from your police report. You can have a fraud alert put on your identity or freeze your credit. Doing either is free by law.
• A fraud alert is free and will make it harder for someone to open new accounts in your name. To place a fraud alert, contact one of the three credit bureaus. That company must tell the other two.
• Check your credit activity at least once a year. As a victim of identity-theft you have the right to check it monthly if you choose.
• Consider placing a Credit Freeze on your report or any dependents in your household. If you do not have upcoming large purchases, such as a home, you may want to freeze your credit for more protection. It is free and you can do it yourself.

Step Five – FTC & IRS

• File a short report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and give them the case number for the local police report. More info here.
• Consider setting up an IRS account. If you create an account with your social security number, it will prevent criminals from creating an account using your identity.
• Another option is to lock your social security number (the next wave of this cyber-attack may be IRS tax fraud.)
• All of this reporting seems redundant, but you should make sure you are recognized as a victim by the local, state, and federal government. Also, the more people who report it, the more support Law Enforcement agents will get to pursue the perpetrators.

Step Six – Keep Your Notes

• Hang on to any notes, copies of emails, etc. This is the paper trail that you can reference if you face any identity issues or locate inaccuracies on your credit history sometime in the future.

​
If you have reason to believe someone has applied for unemployment benefits using your information or used a scam to obtain your private information, the ESD urges you to make a report at esd.wa.gov/unemployment/unemployment-benefits-fraud.

Please be aware that you will need the following information:

1. Your full name
2. Last 4 numbers of your Social Security number (never put your full SSN in an email)
3. Your address
4. Your date of birth
5. Brief description of how you found out an imposter-fraud claim was filed using your information
6. Please let us know: If an imposter-fraud claim was filed using your information, do you give us permission to deny and cancel it?

Additional steps you can take if you believe you are a victim of fraud:

• Go to the FTC identity theft website: www.identitytheft.gov for resources on reporting
• Request your free credit reports via www.annualcreditreport.com and review them for other fraudulent activities
• Go to atg.wa.gov/recovering-identity-theft-or-fraud for additional tips from the Washington State Attorney General

​As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak continues to impact our region, we want to keep you informed on the work the American Red Cross is doing to fulfill our mission and support our partners during this health crisis.
 
Mental Health First Aid for COVID-19
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is challenging individuals and families in new ways. Mental health first aid, the practice of recognizing and responding to people experiencing crisis-related stress, can be used to help yourself and others to cope in the face of stressful events.
To help, the American Red Cross is offering a free Mental Health First Aid for COVID-19 online only course during the pandemic. 
The course content is based on guidance from the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). This online course is designed for anyone interested in learning techniques for supporting mental health during the COVID-19 crisis. Topics include:

• Recognizing Stress in Adults, Teens and Children
• Practicing Mental Health First Aid
• Caring for Yourself
• Supporting Your Family
• Supporting Yourself and Coworkers at Work

Individuals may access and enroll directly in the 60 minute course online by clicking here.
 
Humanity in War
Also now available online: a free course to train policy professionals, government officials, academics, and the general public on the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law.
This course prepares participants to recognize key concepts in international humanitarian law, including:

• The Types of Armed Conflict
• The Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols
• Fundamental Principles and Protections for Persons and Objects
• Distinction Between Combatants and Civilians
• Civilian Direct Participation in Hostilities
• Role of the Red Cross and Other Humanitarian Organizations in Armed Conflict

“Even War Has Rules” is offered at 1 p.m. Pacific Time on Wednesdays and 11 a.m. PT on Fridays. For a more detailed schedule or to sign up, email  Andrea Sonntag : andrea.sonntag2@redcross.org.
 
Critical need for Diverse Blood
Right now, African American blood donors are critically needed to help patients battling sickle cell disease following a significant decrease in diverse donors amid this coronavirus outbreak.
Unfortunately, since mid-March we have seen the number of African American blood donors drop by more than half. Understandably, we believe this number has decreased in large part due to blood drive cancellations at businesses, churches and schools, as well as disproportionate COVID-19 infection rates for African Americans compared to other ethnicities.
While we recognize this challenge, the Red Cross needs the help of African American blood donors to ensure a diverse blood supply. Blood transfused to patients with rare blood types, like those with sickle cell disease, must be matched very closely to reduce the risk of complications.
Without a readily available blood supply, sickle cell patients can experience severe pain, tissue and organ damage, acute anemia and even strokes. Furthermore, sickle cell patients are at high risk of serious complications from coronavirus infection and blood transfusion can be a lifesaving treatment for these patients.
This is the time to take care of one another, and blood donation is essential to ensuring the health of those in our community. If you are feeling well, please make an appointment to give by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

MultiCare Occupational Medicine provides three screening & testing services for employers to support restarting employment and our economy. These can be useful for employers to minimize the risk of COVID-19 exposure at work, so long as the employer and employee are aware of their limitations. There are no screening or test tools currently available which guarantee an employee will not spread COVID-19 at work.
If you decide to use one or more of these tools, we hope to be your provider. But regardless where you source the services, we want you to have the facts needed for an informed decision.

Symptom & Temperature Screen:
The medical provider relies on patient-provided symptom answers and a temperature reading to determine if symptoms are of concern or not. This screen is not indicative of past exposure, nor a guarantee the individual is not infected or a contagious carrier of the virus.

Antibody Serology Test:
Positive result:

• Indicates previous or current infection. A positive antibody test cannot distinguish between active or past COVID-19. If there is concern for active infection, molecular testing (PCR) is recommended.
• At this time, it is not known whether the presence of antibodies confers protection from reinfection with COVID-19, how long the antibody response lasts, or the association between antibody response and clinical outcomes of individuals with COVID-19
• A positive test does not prove the individual is not contagious. Social distancing is still recommended

Negative result:

• Indicates either
  The individual has not been infected with COVID-19, or
  There is not a detectable level of antibody present. Explanations for this may include very recent exposure (not enough time has elapsed to generate an immune response) or the immune response has decreased below the detectable level.
• A negative result does not rule out current or past infection with COVID-19, as antibodies may not develop until 14 days after onset of symptoms. That is, “false negatives” are possible. Social distancing is still recommended.

CDC guidelines on Antibody testing:


PCR Nasopharyngeal Test:
Positive result:

• Indicates the virus is present in the sample. The individual may be pre-symptomatic (they will develop an active infection), already have an active infection, or are a carrier of the virus.​

​Negative result:

• Indicates the virus was not found in the specimen, however false negatives have been reported with early stage infected individuals.

​
Antibody Serology Test:
All these services are “snapshots in time.” The individual may be exposed and infected after the service is performed.

For questions, more information or to enroll for services:
​
Tel: 888-580-5513 opt 1
email: occmed@multicare.org
web: www.multicareoccmed.org

Pierce County Emergency Small Business Relief Loan Program has expanded its criteria to help more Pierce County businesses!
The Pierce County Council expanded this loan program on April 21, 2020 to include employers with up to 20 employees for businesses located anywhere in Pierce County, including incorporated cities. New criteria is as follows:

• Be a business physically located anywhere in Pierce county including incorporated cities
• Have 20 or fewer employers (including ownership)
• Be in operation for one or more years
• Demonstrate at least a 25% reduction in revenues attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic

​Find out more here  Emergency Small Business Relief Loan Program

COVID-19 Leads to Greater Employer Focus on Response Planning, Employee Education and Flexible Work Arrangements, Alera Group Study Finds
COVID-19 is leading many employers to implement or re-evaluate their infectious disease response plans, ramp-up their employee communication efforts, and offer flexible work arrangements to address childcare and remote work challenges, a new Alera Group study finds. The Alera Group COVID-19 Employer Pulse Surveyexplores the impact of the pandemic and offers insights into how employers throughout the country and in various industries are navigating employee health, benefits and human resources issues in the changing landscape.
The study identified five key findings:

• Over 50% of employers surveyed with 100 or more employees will implement formal infectious disease policies as a result of COVID-19.
• Most employers, regardless of size, region, or industry, are educating their employees several times a week about prevention techniques, COVID-19 symptoms and employee benefits.
• Hiring freezes and social distancing measures are prevalent and layoffs and furloughs are rising as a result of shutdowns.
• The majority of employers surveyed are allowing employees to use their paid time off and some are assisting with childcare issues. Telemedicine is becoming more of a focus.
• The impact of COVID-19 varies by industry, with manufacturing, non-profit, healthcare, professional and finance/insurance organizations having a slightly more positive outlook.

See Survey Results

Lapse in Appropriations Notice: SBA is unable to accept new applications at this time for the Paycheck Protection Program or the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)-COVID-19 related assistance program (including EIDL Advances) based on available appropriations funding.
EIDL applicants who have already submitted their applications will continue to be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
To learn more about other relief options available for small business, click here.
SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have issued this joint statement appealing to Congress for additional funds to pass.

​The U.S. Chamber unveiled its Save Small Business Initiative to address the immediate needs of the small business community, mitigate closures and job losses, and mobilize support for long-term recovery in the wake of the economic destruction of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to a call to action for the larger business community and government to help small businesses, the four-part campaign includes supplemental financial assistance, advocacy, resources, webinars and guides, and research.

The U.S. Chamber Foundation is supporting the supplemental financial assistance by launching their Save Small Business Fund. Funded by contributions from corporate and philanthropic partners, the U.S. Chamber Foundation will be providing $5,000 supplemental grants to small employers in economically vulnerable communities.

Applications for the Save Small Business Grant Fund will open this Monday, April 20, 2020, at 3:00 p.m. ET. There are several eligibility requirements which can be foundhere.  We encourage you to share this information with your members so they can apply for a supplemental grant if they are eligible. Chambers of Commerce may also apply if they meet the eligibility requirements

For more information on the Save Small Business Grant Fund including qualifications, the application process and FAQs, please click here.

PSE is making $11 million in funds available to help our customers who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes customers who recently became unemployed, partially unemployed, or cannot work. Please feel free to share this to any people or organizations who might find it helpful. 
 
The $11 million are carry-over funds under PSE’s Low Income Program. With approval from the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, PSE made revisions to its program to make these funds available to a broader group of customers. This program will be available to PSE’s residential customers in Island, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Lewis, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston and Whatcom counties, who meet the household size and income criteria. More information on the criteria, and how to apply can be found via our website www.pse.com/covidhelp or via the attached form.
 
In addition, PSE continues to offer payment plans, allow customers to change a bill’s due date and not charge late fees. PSE will continue to offer its other assistance programs, including the Warm Home Fund, PSE Home Energy Lifeline Program and Weatherization Assistance Program for income-eligible customers. A Customer, co-Customer on the PSE bill, or a customer care agent acting on a Customer’s behalf must first submit a complete and accurate application to the Company.

TACOMA, Wash. – The Tahoma Business Environmental Award is presented annually by the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber to a local business for its outstanding environmental stewardship.
 
This year’s award recipient is Courtesy Auto Service & Tire of Tacoma

Courtesy Auto took great steps in 2019 to reduce their carbon footprint in Pierce County. Some key features include:

• Converting and rewiring every light fixture to LED, roughly 640 - 4 foot bulbs switched out
• Took 4 in ground lifts out of service, drained & sealed them, and installed 2 above ground lifts- migrating any underground contamination
• They recycle used oil and transmission fluids, burning it in a special unit for heat in the shop
• They recycle scrap metal, and wastepaper
• All old oil filters are recycled according to the Department of Ecology’s parameters

 
Visit Courtesy Auto for more information.

More information on their green business practices can be found here
 
The Chamber is proud to recognize forward-thinking businesses and organizations throughout Tacoma and Pierce County. Congratulations, Courtesy Auto! 
 
The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber is a member-based, business and economic-growth organization, dedicated to making the South Sound the best place to do business in Washington State.

(Updated 3/10/2020)
​
According to the Pierce County Health Department, Pierce County currently 14 cases of COVID-19.

POSTPONED SIGNATURE EVENTS
Out of an abundance of caution, for the rest of March the Chamber is postponing events with more than 100 attendees.

1. Happy Hour Business Expo has been rescheduled for May 14.
2. Pierce County Outlook has been rescheduled for June 29.

EVENTS THE WEEK OF MARCH 8

1. CANCELLED: Military Affairs Forum - March 11. 
   Madigan Army Medical Center Commander Col. Bundt has informed us that due to high demand for his time when it comes to COVID-19 response, his services are needed on JBLM.  Madigan has responded to this public health threat by coordinating with 1st Corps, Army Public Health, and local public health authorities for guidance, collaboration and response planning. More from Madigan on COVID-19
2. STILL ON: Chamber Luncheon - Development Updates - March 13.

Check our events page for the latest information on individual events.
CLICK HERE FOR CHAMBER EVENTS

​

​PIERCE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR BUSINESSES
The Pierce County Health Department has provided instructions on how to prepare for COVID-19 in your business.

• Actively encourage sick employees to stay home.
• Ensure your sick leave policies are up to date.
• Prepare for increased number of absences.
• Notify employees of any confirmed COVID-19 cases.

In addition, as of March 10th, TPCHD is recommending additional precautions for the most vulnerable populations.  Those at higher risk include:

• People with weakened immune systems from medical conditions or medical treatment.
• Adults over age 60.
• Pregnant women.

For these groups, TPCHD is recommending they 

• Avoid gatherings of 10 or more people including social gatherings
• Minimize errands and when possible getting friends or family to assist or using online services
• Explore flex and tele -work arrangements with their employers

More details on the TPCHD blog
 
The TPCHD “does not broadly recommend that organizations cancel public gatherings, keep people who are not sick home from work or close schools.”

CLICK HERE FOR MORE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM TACOMA-PIERCE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT​



​WASHINGTON COVID-19 CASES BY COUNTY

This month, the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber recognized local ​employers who are committed to making health and wellness a priority in their workplaces through the WorkWell Awards. Through a selection committee, the nominees were placed by ​implemented changes to the following categories – healthy eating, physical activity, and tobacco cessation.

​WORKWELL GOLD AWARD: Received by an employer who has implemented changes to all three categories – healthy eating, physical activity, and tobacco cessation.
 
Pierce Transit

Physical Activity
In 2019 Pierce Transit held 3 physical activity challenges; 2 that were team based . One of the challenges was administered via an app to entice those who use their smartphones to make it easier to participate. Pierce Transit hosted local 5k’s for staff at community parks with trails. .

Healthy Eating
Pierce Transit updated their vendor agreement to ensure healthy food choices were provided and ensured sufficient refrigerators were available to staff as well as an onsite kitchen for meal prep/cooking.

Tobacco Cessation
Pierce Transit revamped their tobacco cessation program with the intent to increase the promotion of the program in 2020.

WORKWELL SILVER AWARD: Received by an employer who has implemented changes to two of the three categories – healthy eating, physical activity, and tobacco cessation.
 
Greater Tacoma Community Foundation

Physical Activity
They provide their employees the opportunity to take a health survey through their health insurance for a free Fitbit. Employees also participated in the South Sound American Heart Association Walk in September.

Healthy Eating
To combat unhealthy food options in the workplace The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation continues to offer healthy eating options to their staff, adding fresh fruit and a monthly healthy snack delivery from SnackNation.

The Doty Group

Physical Activity
The Doty Group encourages physical activity in a way that fits the lifestyles of their employees. Employees often pair up to visit downtown gyms and studios as workout buddies. They have a wellness program that rewards health screenings and good habits with a $100 gift card.

​Healthy Eating
Tax season is a particularly high-stress time of year for employees at the Doty Group. And it’s easy to develop poor snacking habits during the long working hours. To combat this, the Doty Group makes sure their offices are well stocked with with fresh vegetables and fruits. Although the midnight oil might be burning, the emphasis remains on staying healthy.

WORKWELL BRONZE AWARD: Received by an employer who has implemented changes to one of the three categories – healthy eating, physical activity, and tobacco cessation.
 
Better Business Bureau Northwest & Pacific

Healthy Eating
The Better Business Bureau Northwest is known for its accreditation of businesses, but it can’t do the work of its mission without great employees The BBB revamped the healthy snacks they provide for their employees including adding more fresh produce for snacking and adding dispensers for trail mix, granola and healthy cereal.

YWCA

Wellness Activity
The YWCA has a wellness committee with a budget to promote health and wellbeing for staff as well as all our program clients. They buy everyone on staff a copy of Trauma Stewardship since they work in domestic violence and the work is hard with many stories of violence that can cause vicarious trauma. The YWCA cares that their staff takes care of themselves.

 
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ADVOCATE AWARD: Received by an employer who provides encouragement and incentives to their employees for using active transportation.
 
Kaiser Permanente
Effective programs include Kaiser Permanente’s robust commute program implemented in 2019, which including discounted ORCA passes, carpool and van matching, subsidized vanpools, commute concierge service, monthly awards, and a $5/day cash incentive for employees who are taking alternative transportation to/from work.

​Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
In 2019, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department began a smart commute incentive program to offer personal holidays based on their employees use of active transport to work, such as walking, biking, or by bus or carpool. Along with this, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department’s ORCA Choice program was created to make it easier to ride the bus, and designated parking spaces for carpools and vanpools. They happily report that these efforts, on top of effective marketing and carpool match making have removed at least 16 cars from their parking lot, along with all related miles, gas, and emissions that go with them.
 
HAPPY HEART AWARD: Received by an employer who demonstrate a broad and long-term commitment to employee health and wellbeing.
 
CHI Franciscan
In 2019, CHI Franciscan continued to build a strong culture with the main goal to help employees establish and maintain good health habits. This included providing education on leading a healthier lifestyle when it comes to nutrition, supporting a tobacco-free campus, and a no-hiring policy for tobacco users.

CHI Franciscan heavily encourages and promotes the need to use alternative commute options for the health of their employees and the environment.

In 2019 CHI Franciscan conducted a campaign in all cafeterias, Rethink Your Drink, started a monthly wellness e-newsletter, onsite Health and Wellness fair, onsite Farmers Markets, and financial wellness online seminars.

No matter what a CHI Franciscan employee’s interest is, they provide information, programs, challenges, and incentives to keep employees motivated and engaged.

City of Tacoma
In 2019 the City of Tacoma continued their commitment of wellness training for their employees as part of their Continuous Development/Training classes. Employees can enjoy these classes during the workday without having to use PTO.

These classes vary from financial wellness/retirement, to all aspects of health and wellbeing.

The city’s Wellness Program encompasses total wellbeing by encouraging employees to earn points via a variety of healthy activities; getting an annual physical; participating in a certified weight management program; being active, eating a healthy diet; getting adequate sleep; attending a city sponsored wellness or webinar class; participating in a behavior change program; and completing a health risk assessment. By meeting a 1,000-point goal through RedBrick Health, they earn a significant discount towards their health insurance premium contribution.

​Lastly, the City of Tacoma offers health fairs at the Tacoma Police Department, Municipal Building, and at Tacoma Public Utilities. Over 1,000 employees attend these events!

MultiCare Health System
​In 2019, MultiCare Healthy@work supported the opening of five mini onsite gyms at various MultiCare clinics to support employees desire to exercise at work while on breaks or before and after shifts.

MultiCare offers healthy food options in the cafeterias, as well as, grab and go options.

The Healthy@work program offers points for employees who go through the tobacco-cessation program.

The MultiCare Smart Commuter program offers employees ORCA cards, bike racks and financial assistance for employees who choose to commute by taking the bus, vanpool or Sounder Commuter Rail.

In 2019, the Healthy@work program introduced the Well Workplace Scholarship Program. This program provided a limited number of scholarships to help MultiCare locations improve their environments. The funds distributed support employee health and well-being in the workplace. Winners receive equipment for relaxation rooms; exercise equipment for onsite gyms and even bike helmets for those employees working downtown.

​TACOMA, Wash. – Chamber Luncheon, featuring the WorkWell Awards is a Chamber awards program that celebrates local employers who are committed to making health and wellness a priority in their workplaces. On Friday, February 14th, we recognized the following Tacoma-Pierce County businesses and organizations.
 
Congratulations to this year’s award recipients:
 
WORKWELL GOLD AWARD: Received by an employer who has implemented changes to all three categories – Healthy Eating, Physical Activity, and Tobacco Cessation.
 
Pierce Transit
 
WORKWELL SILVER AWARD: Received by an employer who has implemented changes to two of the three categories – Healthy Eating, Physical Activity, and Tobacco Cessation.
 
Greater Tacoma Community Foundation
The Doty Group
 
WORKWELL BRONZE AWARD: Received by an employer who has implemented changes to one of the three categories – Healthy Eating, Physical Activity, and Tobacco Cessation.
 
Better Business Bureau Northwest & Pacific
YWCA
 
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ADVOCATE AWARD: Received by an employer who provides encouragement and incentives to their employees for using active transportation.
 
Kaiser Permanente
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
 
 
HAPPY HEART AWARD: Received by an employer who demonstrate a broad and long-term commitment to employee health and wellbeing.
 
CHI Franciscan
City of Tacoma
MultiCare Health System
 
 
 
---###---

MEDIA CONTACT
Jerrol Anonuevo
Social Media & Content Coordinator
Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber
jerrola@tacomachamber.org
(253) 682-1729

​After a fairly robust 2019, slower economic growth is anticipated for the Tacoma-Pierce County region for 2020.

That seems to be the overriding message in this year’s Pierce County Economic Index report, presented this week at the Tacoma-Pierce County Chambers’s Horizons Economic Forecast breakfast at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center.

The report, pulled together by Neal Johnson of Sound Resource Economics, is compiled annually. Last year’s presentation emphasized uncertainty given the partial government shutdown at the time. This year’s report shows 2019 actually offered areas of surprising growth.

"Income growth in 2020 is forecast to continue, with a 3.2 percent increase in total real personal income and a 1.2 percent gain in real personal income per capita.”
It also notes “a likely decrease in the number of workers who are employed only part-time for economic reasons, which has continued to see declines at the state level.”

WHERE IS EVERYONE WORKING?
There’s no question job creation is happening here and elsewhere, much of it in King County.

Overall, just about half of employed residents from Pierce County work somewhere else, and lower housing costs here may continue reinforcing the live here, work somewhere else motif.

About 35 percent of Pierce County’s employed residents worked in King County in 2017, the latest year for data, according to the report.

“The big surprise in the 2018 labor data was the relatively weak growth in both the labor force (up 2.1 percent) and the number of employed Pierce County residents (up 2.3 percent) compared to the higher 2.7 percent growth in in-county jobs,” the report states. “This was reversed in 2019, with a 4.0 percent jump in the labor force and a 3.8 percent increase in the number of employed Pierce County residents, with in-county jobs increasing only 1.9 percent.”

With more people looking for work here, the county has struggled competing with its neighbor to the north in terms of job creation.

“Pierce County’s ratio of jobs to employed residents, which increased from 2010 to 2015, has since trended downwards,” the report states. “While the long-term trend for Pierce County has been a gradual increase in this ratio, indicating more local jobs available per Pierce County worker, the recent trend likely indicates local job creation is being swamped by the higher job growth outside of the county.”

Construction saw the most jobs added, 1,700. Leisure and hospitality along with professional and business services sectors each added 1,400 jobs, with growth slowing in trade, transportation and utilities, government, and education and health services, which combined added 1,000 jobs in 2019, according to the report.

“While in-county job growth is expected to continue, it will be at a slower rate, with approximately 6,225 jobs added in 2019 and another 5,300 forecast for 2020, bringing Pierce County nonfarm employment to 335,000 by the end of 2020,” the report states. “The number of employed Pierce County residents grew by an impressive 15,100, or 3.8 percent, in 2019. The forecast for 2020 is for 3.0 percent growth, with the total number of employed reaching 439,300 by the fourth quarter of 2020.”

“The higher employment gains relative to in-county job growth runs counter to the nearly equal jobs and employment growth seen in 2018.”

Other report highlights:

HOUSING 
Concerns over tariffs and retaliatory tariffs kept recession fears lingering in 2019 but also kept 30-year mortgage rates low. Those looking for homes in Pierce County faced a drop in new listings for inventory compared with 2018, along with rising home prices here (though still much lower than in King County). Permits for new construction for homes and multifamily units in the county also were down a combined 3.7 percent through November.

An estimated population increase of more than 17,300 per year for 2019 and 2020 by the index “will continue to keep rental rates above an inflationary increase.”

THE PORT OF TACOMA
The port, operating as part of the Northwest Seaport Alliance with the Port of Seattle, definitely has taken its hits when it comes to international tariff battles.

According to the report: “While a threat of further tariffs has been withdrawn, and tariffs have been reduced, some of the impact has been built into the current trade flow and the impact is likely to linger through 2020. Consequently, 2020 container volumes are likely to be significantly lower than forecast.”

In regard to other competitors, “Based on traffic data through November 2019, the NWSA’s share of West Coast container traffic is projected to edge back up to 13.4 percent for the full year. Whether the Canadian ports of Prince Rupert and Vancouver resume capturing market share is a bit clouded due to the U.S. tariffs.”

Auto imports for 2019 are projected to increase by approximately 30.8 percent from 2018, and rise again (though not as much) in 2020.

2019 grain exports are estimated to drop 30.9 percent compared with 2018, “directly attributable to China’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S. grains. The NWSA’s forecast calls for no change in 2020.”

Another export has seen dramatic change, as the report noted: “Log exports through the Port of Tacoma have ceased due to high tariffs. 2019 volumes are expected to be 15.2 million board feet, down 34.4 percent from 2018, with the NWSA forecasting no log exports in 2020.”

Original Source: https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/business/article239324023.html
Written by: Debbie Cockrell, Tacoma News Tribune

Online portal streamlines access to preliminary regulatory requirements for manufacturers looking to site or expand in Sumner and unincorporated Pierce County

​OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Department of Commerce today launched Regulatory Roadmap 2.0, the latest addition to a series of localized online portals designed to help ease the process of getting preliminary regulatory requirements satisfied for expanding or siting a new facility. The new online portal guides manufacturing firms through the review process for siting feasibility in Sumner and unincorporated areas of Pierce County, with Tacoma soon to follow.
The new portal builds upon the success of the state Regulatory Roadmap program’s original manufacturing roadmaps, which guided businesses step-by-step through the regulatory process using downloadable spreadsheets. These legacy roadmaps were launched by the cities of Arlington, Lynnwood and Marysville.
Other Regulatory Roadmaps provide a range of online tools for restaurant owners in Seattle, Spokane, Spokane Valley and Tacoma, and for residential contractors in the city of Kennewick.

The newest online portal, which is accessible at http://RegulatoryRoadmap.wa.gov, allows manufacturers to walk through the review of regulatory requirements interactively, including searching by location and property use. Applicable zoning, high-level considerations and thresholds for different topics appear within the portal, streamlining the discovery phase of site selection.

“One of our core goals was to develop a Regulatory Roadmap that could be customized for specific jurisdictions yet be flexible enough for us to add additional locations and industries as it’s scaled,” said Commerce director Lisa Brown. “This creates a one-stop website that incorporates regulatory information for multiple agencies, allowing business owners to evaluate the feasibility of a particular location using a single online portal.”
Pierce County and Sumner officials played central roles in developing the new portal, serving as launch partners and providing guidance, expertise and resource support through development, testing and launch.

“With new, more powerful tools, Pierce County is better positioned to compete for the jobs and investments that are vital to the economic vitality of our communities,” said Bruce Dammeier, Pierce County Executive. “Strong web tools create a critical pathway for companies seeking a great place to do business. Now, companies can find a suitable location with our site finder at InvestPierceCounty.com and then make smart decisions regarding the next steps with RegulatoryRoadmap.wa.gov.”
“Anything we can do to make a complicated process easier is wonderful,” said Sumner Mayor Bill Pugh. “Sumner houses the largest manufacturing industrial center in the county as well as a classic Main Street, with unique local shops. All kinds of businesses will benefit from learning quickly what we have to offer here in Sumner and if it fits their needs.”

“The Manufacturing Regulatory Roadmap will help site selectors, business owners, and decision makers evaluate industrial sites in Pierce County. This tool adds tremendous value by taking the guesswork out of whether a project is permitted,” said Bruce Kendall, president and CEO of the Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County.  “The EDB and our partners are excited to help launch this tool and provide another valuable resource for our business community.”
Regulatory Roadmaps were created to streamline the regulatory experience for businesses. Knowing that most businesses conduct site selection long before they actually engage regulatory agencies, Commerce partnered with local agencies to create Roadmaps that provide valuable information for planning and assessing a project before taking on the time and cost to complete permitting and regulatory processes with a jurisdiction.
Commerce is optimistic that more jurisdictions will see the value in these planning tools and consider additional Roadmaps in other communities and for other industries.

“Working together with our local government and industry partners, we are strengthening communities by making it easier to do business and create jobs in Washington,” Brown said.

Contact :Barbara Dunn - Washington State Department of Commerce
Communications Director, (360)725-2805 | Mobile/text: (360) 481-3320

Original Source/Link: 
​https://www.commerce.wa.gov/news-releases/community-programs-facilities/commerce-launches-new-manufacturing-regulatory-roadmap-in-pierce-county/

Chamber Luncheon, featuring the WorkWell Awards is a Chamber awards program designed to recognize local employers who are committed to addressing workforce health issues.

​The Chamber celebrates strides Pierce County businesses are taking to make health and wellness a priority in the workplace. Congratulations to this year’s nominees:

• Better Business Bureau NW
• CHI Franciscan
• City of Tacoma
• Greater Tacoma Community Foundation
• Kaiser Permanente
• MultiCare Health System
• Pierce Transit
• Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
• The Doty Group
• YWCA

Award presentation will be on Friday, February 14th - 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM at the Pacific Grill Events Center.