​On May 11th Image360 was given an opportunity that they had only dreamed about.  They had recently watched a video from HQ about casino acrylic partitions and sent it to a client/vendor with whom they had a 16+ year relationship.  He was just finishing some large digital displays for the new, multi-million dollar casino, Emerald Queen, which was set to open right as Covid 19 was starting to hit.  

He passed the video on to his business partner who has a great relationship with the Tribe who agreed to have Image360 install the acrylic partitions.  That was exciting, but now they had to figure out how to make it happen.  Fortunately, they have an employee who thinks like an engineer!  He easily figured out what was needed and how to make the partitions work without drilling into the machines. This project could not have happened without his know-how and leadership. The project also would not have happened without Image360’s partnerships with Pacific Machine, who ran hours of water jet cutting of PVC parts. 

A company called Polymershapes also proved to be vital to the success of this project. After getting recommendations for acrylic vendors, Image360 secured their first 400 sheets from them. Image360 quickly realized, however, that they could not keep up with routing all the acrylic guards (3000+) and the PVC components for installation, so they asked Polymershapes if they knew of someone with router capabilities.  And they did!  Polymershapes had three of their own in-house machines and were able to provide both the material and the cutting service!  

Since completing the first casino, Image 360 has started working on a second one, and has gotten an opportunity for providing 200 guards to a third, and they have yet another inquiry for a fourth casino. This has snowballed. And once they were in the casinos, other opportunities availed themselves, such as buffet sneeze guards, acrylic table covers, and cashier guards.  It has come down to who has the acrylic and can jump as high as asked. Image360’s team has become very good at catapulting over a very high bar. In total they have produced and installed over 3400 acrylic partitions.

More opportunities are presenting themselves as they continue to ride this wave!  They could not have done it without the support of their franchise, an amazing team, and local partners.  In addition, they are proud that, even during the shut-down, they were able to funnel thousands of dollars to local business.

Visit Image 360

WestRock Tacoma is donating 3,600 KN95 masks to support the Tacoma and Pierce County community through the COVID-19 pandemic response. The masks are being distributed to Tacoma and Pierce County first responders (Fire, Police, EMTs), and to Tacoma Urban League for small businesses. 
 
WestRock is donating them, in collaboration with the Manufacturing Industrial Council for the South Sound, in gratitude for first responders who help keep us all safe and small business owners who are critical to restarting our local economy.
 
“Thank you to our community’s heroes and the Tacoma community that has supported our operations here for more than 130 years.” John Brandt, WestRock Tacoma general manager.

www.westrock.com   

WestRock

Tacoma Urban League

Manufacturing Industrial Council for the South Sound

We all want to get back to work, and we know, when the time comes (or even if we're already back at our jobs) we're going to need Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in order to comply with COVID-19 workplace safety practices and protect employees and customers. 

The good news is that Pierce County is offering FREE PPE to businesses located in Pierce County exactly for this reason.

This program is funded through $158 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act federal dollars. A total of $30 million will be focused on economic stabilization and recovery projects in Pierce County.

To receive PPE for your business you must fill out a PPE Request Form indicating the type of PPE needed.

Once you submit the form, you will receive an email certificate that you will need to have with you when picking up your PPE. 

PPE will be ready for distribution June 1-3, 2020 while supplies last. Available PPE includes disposable, non-surgical masks and no-touch infrared forehead thermometers. PPE will be distributed June 1 - June 3, and businesses that request PPE will receive additional details regarding pick-up locations in Pierce County. Businesses must be located in Pierce County to be eligible. 

+ PPE Request Form

Contact Information:
Pierce County Economic Development
950 Pacific Ave. Suite 720, Tacoma WA 98402
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 253-798-6150

This pandemic is hanging on longer than any of us could imagine, and, although we’re finding some ways to open up a little, things aren’t going to bet back to any sense of normality for some time. With all the other disruptions this is causing, legal issues are also arising. Thankfully, there are lawyers out there who are trying to help. 

For instance…

Meaghan Driscoll at Connelly Law Offices has worked to set up a pro bono legal program with the TACOMA Pierce County Bar Association for people with questions about Coronavirus and it’s legal impacts. Legal aid programs are now ready to help low-income people and displaced workers affected by the COVID-19 public health emergency and there are free resources to address legal issues. You can find a list of assistance options here.

In addition, Jerimy Kirschner & Associates is offering free 30 minute consultations with Pierce County business owners to review their legal options as a result of the COVID-19 shutdown. This includes helping with questions on how to resolve potential problems with landlord and/or lenders.  You can find out more about Jerimy Kirschner & associates here. 

Thank you to all our professionals who are helping create community and offer assistance to those in need. I’m sure there are others doing wonderful work. If you are one of them, or know any, please let us know, either in the comments below, or email us at [email protected]

Stay safe and healthy.

Here's some good news! As we begin to open our businesses, we're going to have to figure out how to keep our employees and customers safe. That will probably involve supplying personal protective equipment ​such as masks, which is going to be another expense. And who can afford another expense at the moment? The good news is that Business Health Trust is working to get masks in the hands of local small businesses at nearly no cost!

Business Health Trust has taken on an initiative to help small employers return to work and equip them with face covering and mask options at nearly no cost to employers.
 
We have partnered with a member company, GOUSA (Wenatchee) to help provide employers with no-cost face coverings, disposable masks, and KN95 masks to our small businesses. Businesses will be able to conveniently order online and simply pay for shipping (around $10 per order). 
“It is important for small businesses to be equipped to re-open and for them to be able to provide adequate protective supplies for their employees and customers.  We are able to provide 20,000 face coverings and masks for Washington State’s small businesses without burdening businesses with the cost.” said Executive Director, Sarai Childs.
 
Sarai Childs speaks with business owners and operators daily and indicated that this initiative not only will help support a tangible business need but also give businesses choices. “We know that every business and industry has different needs. This program will help provide several options so that employers can make the decision that is best for their work force.”

Thank you BHT and GOUSA!

You can find out more about their program on their info PDF flyer

Theory Real Estate wants to help out and loves T-shirts. So how does one combine the two. Well... they launched a campaign last month to feature local businesses all around the Pacific Northwest who have been impacted by Covid-19 and to learn how the community can support them. They wanted to spread even more awareness and raise some money for charity, so they made T-shirts! 
100% of the proceeds will be donated to the Tacoma Rescue Mission, an organization that serves some of the most vulnerable members of our community. The shirts are $25 each with FREE shipping. They are taking preorders now until May 10th, and then the shirts will be printed and shipped out. And they’ll be printed right here in Tacoma by Odegard Print Co!

Thanks Theory, for your creativity and concern for our community. We hope we see tons of your shirts around town (once we can actually be seen around town!)
​
You can order your shirt right HERE  PNWStrong.com

It was good to see yesterday that Congress passed the a second helping of the CARES Act. Hopefully some of those funds will flow into the hands of those who so desperately need it. Our member banks are working hard to get applications in. And in the meantime, we need to stay informed. And that's where our member media organizations have been stepping up.

Historic Tacoma Living
For instance, Mike Skiff, owner and publisher of Historic Tacoma Living and Life at the Points, is offering small-business spotlight interviews via Facebook Live. They are broadcast publicly to shine a light on what our local businesses are doing to keep moving forward and to show how the community can continue to support and do business with them during this time. He also has been conducting virtual happy hours via Zoom every other week, bringing in experts from different arenas to share a few thoughts (marketing resources, government aid resources, etc.) and then host robust discussion and Q&A around those topics (they also use the time to unplug a bit and enjoy one another’s company in true happy hour fashion). In addition, Mike has been conducting high-impact business strategy sessions via Zoom; 45-minute complimentary business strategy coaching sessions not only for his clients, but the general small business community here locally. These are aimed not only at marketing strategies and ideas specific to this time, but also general business coaching and strategizing to position your business for massive growth on the other end of this particular season. If any of these would be of value to you or you would like more details on, please let Mike know. [email protected]

KNKX Radio
KNKX has put together a resource of virtual arts performances, civic events, and other online ideas at our website. www.knkx.org/knkx-community. They have also been covering the outbreak over the last month with a podcast called Transmission. It's available here and anywhere people listen to podcasts: www.knkx.org/programs/transmission. If you have any questions, you can talk to Erik Hanberg - Marketing and Communications Manager - KNKX | 88.5 [email protected] | 253-993-5615.

ShowCase Media
On March 26th, ShowCase Magazine launched the Covid 19 Compassion Project. Their goal has been to support local businesses and their initiatives have been two fold:

1. To encourage those that can to buy gift cards through local businesses and order take out.
2. To tell stories of those heros that are emerging during this time to unselfishly provide support during this trying time.

To that end, they developed a shop local social media application that allows Facebook users to change their profile picture to encourage shop local.
You can see more information and examples on their website. www.showcasemedialive.com
They can also provide pictures and quotes. Please advise them about what you will need.
Robin Lucas, Publisher, ShowCase Media
phone 253.826.9001 fax 253.799.9189
showcasemedialive.com

We know there are many more of you doing great things, and we'll try to give a shout out to all of you. You deserve it.

Stay safe. Stay healthy. And thank you for all you do.

Yes, it’s true, there’s unfortunate news coming out of the SBA today. The SBA has lapsed in appropriations for disaster funding. This can only mean that more people will be in need. Fortunately we have many Chamber members who are stepping up to the plate – no pun intended – by doing what they can to offer food to those who need it.
 
For instance:
Ocean 5 is providing Community Meals, Monday-Saturday from 2PM - 4PM for any community member who is in need. No questions asked, just come by and they will make sure you have a meal. Two partners have joined them to help support this effort - Sysco & Pacific Coast Fruit.
 
Georgio’s Catering has partnered with the local Master Builders Association-Pierce County who is soliciting membership for donations, by matching donations of up to 40 meals. You can make a donation here.
 
And Bliss Ice Cream is taking ice cream to local health care workers a few times a week. Photos and details can be found on their Facebook page  https://www.facebook.com/blisstacoma and they are accepting donations here.
 
And this is far from the end of the list of people, businesses, and organizations that are making a difference – specifically in terms of food. We will continue to shout out their great work as the weeks continue. Thank you for all you are doing.

​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.