BECU (Boeing Employees’ Credit Union) has an expansive history in Washington State dating back to 1935. On February 19, it celebrated the grand opening of the Pierce County Financial Center located in Central Tacoma.  
 
Joining the festivities were the City of Tacoma’s Mayor Victoria Woodards; Rhubarb from the Tacoma Rainiers;, Dona Ponepinto, President and CEO of United Way of Pierce County; and an prodigiously supportive crowd of community members. Food and drink was provided by two local businesses for attendees to enjoy before the ceremony started.  
 
Bev Anderson, BJ Hunsicker, and Jason Rudman — who make up the Leadership team at BECU-- each spoke about their time at the credit union and the impact they have seen. Out of the 1.5 million total members, there are over 180,000 BECU members located in Pierce County. The BECU Pierce County Financial Center is the first in the area, and the team has combined experience of over 50 years. As Hunsicker said, “[the financial center offers] a full one-stop-shop experience.”  
 
Remarks from Mayor Woodards gave everyone a great laugh with her reminding folks that while the building may be called Pierce County Financial Center, that they are in Tacoma and BECU should consider rebranding already, “because BECU stands in Tacoma first, then it goes Pierce County!” All jokes aside, Mayor thanked BECU for being a partner of the City of Tacoma and for engaging in local programs to strengthen the community.  
 
Dona Ponepinto President and CEO of United Way of Pierce County spoke about the two entities’ relationship. Ponepinto said, “Mayor Woodards is a tough act to follow, but I am grateful to be speaking today.” And while Rhubarb cannot speak, he was most enthusiastic flashing thumbs-ups and ‘raising the roof’ during the speeches.  ​

Kitsap Bank celebrated its newest branch opening in Tacoma, achieving 21 locations across Western Washington.  
The celebration of this business milestone took place on Thursday, February 13, with a ribbon cutting. Though it started to snow, attendance was high with over 30 people gathered to recognize Kitsap Bank’s operational achievement.

Guests mixed and mingled before the Chief Executive Officer Steven Politakis gathered everyone for remarks. Politakis gave a sincere testimony of his time with Kitsap Bank and his fellow executive team while he gave shoutouts to employees and thanked them for their dedication to the bank. Politakis was joined by Olympic Bancorp Board of Directors’ Chairwoman, Cydly Langer Smith, who shared the same sentiment.

Recalling the annual staff retreat that generated the idea of acquiring the location Politakis said, “[I heard who owned the building] and I thought ‘Hey I know those guys. They are super smart...they are really good guys...and they love Tacoma – we can do business with those guys! This is great.’ [We got connected], put together a lease and we are off and running.”
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Chamber Board Chairwoman, Kierra Phifer, initiated the ribbon cutting in front of the branch’s main entrance. Attendees were invited to sign the framing matte commemorating the ceremony as they enjoyed bites during the open house. 
Please join the Chamber in welcoming Kitsap Bank to downtown Tacoma! ​

The vision of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber is to make the South Sound the most equitable, inclusive, and thriving place to do business in Washington State. By fostering a pro-business environment, we aim to provide businesses in the South Sound with advocacy efforts that safeguard the rights of business owners, stimulate economic growth, increase our private sector workforce, and improve the overall business climate.
 
This legislative cycle, we must have a united business community voice at the state capitol. A strong presence will ensure our region’s unique needs are heard and addressed, laying the groundwork for sustainable growth and a thriving economy.

2025 Legislative Goal

Improve the business climate, grow businesses, and create private sector jobs in the South Sound
 

Top Legislative Priorities
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• Protect the Puget Sound Gateway, Connecting Washington, and Move Ahead Washington transportation packages and existing incentives to help meet our economic development needs. These investments are critical for keeping goods moving, connecting communities, and supporting South Sound businesses.
• Support legislation to achieve Washington’s BEST Manufacturing Act, SHB 1170 (2021 Legislative Session), “goal of doubling the state’s manufacturing employment base, the number of small businesses, and the number of women and minority-owned manufacturing businesses” by 2031 through strategic workforce development assistance programs, tax incentives and business growth.
• Support legislation that protects small businesses from new taxes and fees like gift card sweeps and delivery taxes.
• Support policy solutions to the housing shortage, like rental assistance funds, while avoiding policy choices that discourage housing development like price and market controls.
• Improve public safety for our community’s businesses, their customers, and their employees.

 
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Take Action on the Hill
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As a member of the South Sound business community, your voice is essential to shaping the policies that impact our region. Join us in advocating for a stronger business climate by participating in Chamber events, connecting with your legislators, and staying informed about our legislative priorities.

For questions regarding the Chamber and its advocacy efforts, please contact David Schroedel, Executive Vice President, or Ryan Spence, Program Director for the Manufacturing Industrial Council.
 
Together, we can make the South Sound the best place to live, work, and do business.

Learn more about becoming a Chamber member here.

The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber (TPCC) held its annual Horizons Economic Forecast at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center in downtown Tacoma on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.

Rising with the sun were more than 400 people in attendance. The agenda was set for attendees to learn more about the 2025 economic projections nationally and for Pierce County. Attendees began the morning by networking during Coffee Connections sponsored by Commencement Bank; tehaleh; Virginia Mason Franciscan Health; and educational organizations: Bates Technical; Tacoma Community; Clover Park Technical; and Pierce College, before they were seated for breakfast. Formal programming kicked off with a literal bang via a performance from the talented youth of Lincoln High School Drumline.

Over a seated breakfast guests heard from a handful of speakers including Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland; Congresswoman Emily Randall; Port of Tacoma Commissioner Position #2 Dick Marzano; Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello; Neal Johnson, Ph.D. of Sound Resource Economics; and Keynote Speaker Angelo Kourkafas, CFA® Senior Strategist, Investment Strategy at Edward Jones. Following opening remarks and insights, Tom Layson, Managing Editor & Producer-Host of Northwest Now, KBTC Public Television, led a Q&A with Mr. Kourkafas and Dr. Johnson regarding pressing economic issues that face the region and nation.

The event featured emcees Andrea Reay, President and CEO of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, and Kierra Phifer, Board Chair for the Chamber and Public Engagement Manager Northwest for DoorDash. David Schroedel, Executive Vice President of the Chamber gave a heartfelt tribute to Dr. Bruce Mann, a beloved Economics professor at the University of Puget Sound who passed in October 2024 and contributed over the past several decades to the community and Horizons as an expert and teacher.

Guests received a copy of the Pierce County Economic Index Report for 2025 at the event. This report is a pivotal tool for understanding the county's economic health and prospects. The report, authored by Dr. Johnson, highlights a mix of growth and challenges alongside trends in GDP, labor markets, housing, and retail sales, while forecasting moderate growth and ongoing challenges for key sectors in 2025.

“This PCEI Report gives our members the insights they need to navigate the year ahead with resilience while acknowledging the headwinds still facing Pierce County. While we’re seeing progress in personal income and job creation, challenges in housing affordability and retail spending underscore the lingering effects of high interest rates and inflation,” said Andrea Reay, President & CEO, TPCC. “We hold a cautiously optimistic outlook for Pierce County. From job creation to housing affordability, this report helps our community take informed steps toward building a stronger, more equitable economy. Our commitment is to ensure that businesses—big and small—have the tools to succeed.” ​

If you have not already filled out our post event survey, please do so. You may find the survey available online here.

We are always looking to expand what we have to offer Pierce County as we strive to make the South Sound the most equitable, inclusive, and thriving place to do business in Washington State.

Thank you to everyone who spent their morning with us. We hope to see you at our next event soon!​