 [12/27/22] 2022 was an exciting year for the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber and our local business community! This past year we were thrilled to get back to in-person events where we strengthened relationships with friendly faces—many familiar and many new! We also developed new ways to connect with our membership through candid conversations and storytelling. The conferences we took part in gave local leaders chances to learn, grow, and be inspired with ambitious ideas for the South Sound. We were honored to play a role in leadership development programs for business owners and entrepreneurs on the rise in our region. Advocacy to protect business interests and ensure a thriving local economy was a top priority for us on a local, state, and national level. Throughout the year, we enjoyed many different opportunities to celebrate the successes and accomplishments of our vibrant business community. Thank you to everyone who joined us this year to make an impact for business in the South Sound. We can't wait to have you alongside us for everything 2023 has in store! Read our recap of the Chamber's Top 10 accomplishments, events, programs, and moments from 2022 below!  1. LEADING THE FUTURE CHAMBER: In May, Andrea Reay joined the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber as its President and CEO to advance our vision of making the South Sound the most equitable, inclusive, and thriving place to do business in Washington State. Read a recent profile of Andrea in South Sound Business Magazine.  2. ACCELERATING SMALL BUSINESS: Throughout 2022, our Chamber has administered the Pierce County Business Accelerator program to offer support and opportunities for success to people of color, women, and veterans in addition to Spaceworks continuing its Incubator business trainings. Read "A Year of the Pierce County Business Accelerator" from South Sound Business Magazine to learn more.  3. BROADCASTING NEW CONNECTIONS: In February we launched our Chamber podcast, Making It in the South Sound, giving members and the Pierce County business community exciting new ways to connect.  4. ADVOCATING IN DC: A delegation of business, industry, nonprofit, and government leaders traveled with the Chamber to Washington, D.C. to meet with national leaders and advocate for important issues on behalf of the South Sound.  5. CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE: Happy Hour Business Expo was back and better than ever in-person after two years of virtual events due to COVID-19. Over 400 guests attended this year’s amazing event!  6. ASPIRING TO INSPIRE: Our annual Aspire Intercity Leadership Conference took place this year in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, where local leaders were able investigate new programs and initiatives to meet the growing needs of the South Sound.  7. PROTECTING BUSINESS INTERESTS: The Chamber worked to pass the data center bill, protect funding for SR167, limit business license fee increases, and support other critical business legislation with local and state governments.  8. MAKING DOWNTOWN TACOMA SHINE: The Downtown Tacoma Partnership’s Safety and Clean Teams were honored at the 36th Annual City of Destiny Awards for their work keeping Downtown Tacoma welcoming and safe for everyone.  Credit: Lonesome Dove 9. WRITING A NEW SPACEWORKS PLAN: Spaceworks engaged its alumni and community stakeholders through a participatory strategic planning process to create a 3-year plan focused on creative placemaking, business support, accessible space, and internal systems.  10. BRINGING THE SOUTH SOUND TO WORLDWIDE MARKETS: The World Trade Center Tacoma carried out a Vietnam Trade and Investment Mission with hybrid in-person and virtual opportunities for creating connections for trade, education, and supply chain to connect the South Sound to growing worldwide markets.
[12/19/22] Last Monday, December 12th, more than 400 members of our Pierce County business community came out in their holiday best to celebrate our dedicated public officials! Guests joined us at the Marriott Tacoma Downtown for delicious food and drink, live jazz music, ice sculptures, a 360-degree photo booth, and plenty of chances to mix and mingle with our community leaders. At this event, former Chamber Board Chair AJ Gordon officially passed the gavel to new Board Chair Eli Taylor. Thank you to our amazing sponsors, as well as everyone who attended and made this event a stunning success! [12/19/22] Wednesday, December 14th, the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber and Comcast hosted a reception event for 21 BIPOC, women, and veteran-owned small businesses in Tacoma selected as recipients of the Thrive Tacoma Business Fund. This fund was made possible through contributions from Comcast. The mission of the Thrive Tacoma Business Fund is to provide direct financial support for small businesses, many of which are still struggling with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Each recipient has been granted $5,0000 for their business. In addition to a total of $105,000 in grants, recipients will receive direct finance, digital access, and other technical support specifically curated to their unique business challenges, thereby ensuring greater equitable economic development in Tacoma. With help from community partners getting the word out, over 800 applicants applied for this opportunity. Thank you to the Black Collective, Mi Centro, and Asia Pacific Cultural Center. Congratulations to the 21 businesses selected as recipients of this fund! Loak Toung Thai LLC Native American Reentry Services K&T LLC dba Le Le Restaurant Buffalo Soldiers Museum Limitless Apparel LLC The Atkins Consultant Group LLC OM Michael Quality Painting LLC Pour It On LLC K. Hancock Events Johnygirl Sound Therapy & Healing Arts Studio Vigil Family Medicine Chémel Salon LLC Ellis Bookkeeping & Tax MauraMcMahon.com West Coast Beauty Lab Sabrina's Imagery LLC Nail Pro Connections Counseling & Consulting Construct N Style Elements Of Sunshine Red Elm Café. View photos from the reception below. [12/13/22] The Chamber recently joined Around The Clock Childcare in Tacoma to celebrate their grand opening, open house, and recent renovation and expansion. Thank you to everyone who came out to this fun event! View photos from the ribbon-cutting below. |
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