 Welcome to the members who joined our business community in April 2026:
Main Street Is Growing in Tacoma: How Entrepreneurs Are Strengthening Local Business Districts5/12/2026
GUEST AUTHOR: Tomi Wimbish, Comcast Business  There’s a quiet confidence building across Tacoma’s small business community. It shows up in the storefronts downtown, the independent businesses lining neighborhood corridors, and the entrepreneurs choosing to invest in one of Washington’s most resilient and creative business communities.
Tacoma doesn’t have just one Main Street; it has many. From downtown Tacoma and the Stadium District to Proctor, Sixth Avenue, Lincoln District, and South Tacoma Way, the city is defined by neighborhood business districts filled with independent restaurants, retailers, coffee shops, professional services, and creative ventures. These districts function as Tacoma’s Main Streets, each with its own identity and strong local customer base. Organizations like the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber continue to support that ecosystem through advocacy, economic development, workforce partnerships, and direct support for entrepreneurs. As Tacoma continues balancing growth, redevelopment, and strong neighborhood identity, chamber leadership plays a major role in helping small businesses succeed. Nationally, 57% of aspiring entrepreneurs say they plan to launch a business this year, even if economic conditions aren’t perfect. Tacoma reflects that same entrepreneurial momentum. As one of Washington’s largest cities and a major economic hub for the South Sound, Tacoma supports thousands of small businesses across health care, logistics, retail, construction, hospitality, manufacturing, and professional services. This new generation of entrepreneurs is reshaping what business ownership looks like. They’re opening restaurants, breweries, fitness studios, family-owned retail shops, consulting firms, and digital-first ventures that still depend heavily on strong community relationships. Many are first-time owners helping shape Tacoma’s next chapter. At the same time, the reality of running a small business has changed. In 2026, success requires more than a great product or excellent customer service. Business owners need to be AI-ready, cybersecurity-aware, and confident using technology to manage operations, reach customers, and compete effectively. That can feel overwhelming when owners are also balancing staffing, inventory, finances, and customer experience. Technology should reduce friction, not create it. When connectivity is unreliable or systems aren’t secure, growth becomes harder. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way. With the right technology foundation in place, small businesses can spend less time worrying about infrastructure and more time focused on customers and community. Reliable internet, built-in security, and scalable solutions help businesses operate smoothly while staying ready for tomorrow. At Comcast Business, we’re proud to support entrepreneurs across Tacoma and Pierce County. Our goal is to help businesses plant strong roots by providing technology solutions that grow alongside their ambition. Main Street in Tacoma isn’t making a comeback; it’s expanding. With the right support systems in place, local entrepreneurs can continue to strengthen neighborhoods and build a stronger regional economy for years to come. Tomi Wimbish is an Account Executive for Comcast Business serving Tacoma. She may be reached at [email protected] or (253) 345-9023. Adapted from a template article provided by Comcast Business. As Sound Transit looks to balance rising costs for ST3, we need more than ever to hold them accountable to their commitment to connect the spine to the Tacoma and the South Sound.
AUTHOR: TOM PIERSON, INTERIM PRESIDENT & CEO  The 2026 Washington State Legislature adjourned March 12th after passing 267 bills. The session delivered significant new costs and regulatory pressures for businesses. Budget
The 2025-27 supplemental operating budget increases the total spending amount for the biennium to $80.2 billion – an increase of $2.4 billion for the biennium. This includes a $880 million transfer from the rainy day fund, marking the state’s continued increase in spending. Over the past decade, state spending has increased by 116%, far exceeding the inflation rate of 34% in the same time period. This trajectory highlights the ongoing concerns about the long-term sustainability of the state’s budget and the likelihood of continued fiscal pressures in future cycles. In direct harm to businesses, Governor Ferguson decided to veto $500,000 in the state’s supplemental operating budget that was dedicated to combating organized retail crime. This is a major setback for the business community, our employees, and our customers. The business community has consistently talked about the impacts of retail crime, underscoring that dedicated state investments like this are not optional - they are essential to maintaining public and operational safety. This funding is not new; in 2024 the legislature provided $1 million to launch the now successful pilot program in King, Snohomish, and Spokane counties, which focused on coordinated responses to organized retail crime. This funding delivered measurable results, including 402 program-driven law enforcement responses, and generated 5,868 organized crime reports, among many other measurable outcomes that helped businesses. Eliminating this investment is discouraging to the business community when we are asking for meaningful partnership, support, and action. Without additional funding, businesses are left without support they desperately need. While we understand the state is working under budget constraints, if the state is serious about protecting local economies, supporting frontline workers, and maintaining safe retail spaces, prioritizing this type of funding must be a priority. We look forward to working with legislators to restore it. Income Tax The legislature passed the first income tax, under the guise of it being a “millionaires’ tax.” This statewide income tax impacts households with income exceeding $1 million dollars – which is $500k/year for people filing jointly. Income taxes, coupled with other anti-business and anti-economic development policy decisions, make Washington less competitive and drives residents and businesses out of state. This is especially harmful when Washington already ranks near the bottom nationally in tax competitiveness and overall business climate. The Legislature’s rationale for the tax is to generate additional revenue to make up for the current 2025-27 budget deficit, which sets itself up to expand the tax further in 2027-2029 as they continue to fail in balancing the budget with new revenue. But to be clear, Washington does not have a revenue problem - it has spending and fiscal management priority and policy problems. Data Centers In a devastating blow to businesses, ESSB 6231 was passed and signed by the Governor, repealing a sales and use tax exemption for the refurbishing of data centers. This tax exemption is meant to attract these facilities to Washington since they bring millions in investments, create lots of local jobs, generate additional tax revenues, and promote economic development. These exemptions have been particularly critical for Pierce County as our data center has brought high paying job opportunities and generated millions of tax revenue. Transportation The legislature did approve a $16.6 billion transportation package. The package emphasizes additional preservation and maintenance of existing infrastructure including, road and bridge repairs, ferry system preservation, highway safety improvements and more. In addition, it is estimated this package could support up to 30,000 jobs statewide. Veterans In a big win for our veteran community, the Governor signed ESHB 2534 which promotes education stability for children of military families. Our team advocated for this bill, and we are happy to see the Legislature’s support for our veterans and military families. The 2026 Legislative session, with few exceptions, proved to be a challenging one for Washington’s business community, marked by increased costs, new regulatory pressures, and continued spending growth without any long-term solutions. We will be closely monitoring the impact of these policies in the months ahead while continuing to advocate for a more competitive, sustainable economic and fiscal environment by supporting our local business community through the challenges ahead. My question for you, when you interact with your legislative members can you ask them this simple question: What exactly did they do for your business to make the South Sound the place for business?  In mid-February, the Chamber's advocacy team took a group of members to Olympia to advocate for the business community at the Chamber's annual Legislative Advocacy Day. The group included Chamber staff, board members, small business owners, and community members, and met with a variety of Representatives, including Representative Richards (District 26), Representative Valdez (District 26), Representative Keaton (District 25), among others. The team met with these Representatives individually to give Chamber members the opportunity to share their perspectives on proposed legislation and to strengthen relationships with their elected officials. These conversations allowed the group to highlight the real-world impact of proposed policies and ensure that the business community's voices were effectively represented. While down in Olympia, several legislative priorities were advocated for, including:
Meeting directly with lawmakers reinforced the importance of civic engagement and collaboration between the public and private sectors. Advocacy Day serves as a reminder that meaningful change begins with open dialogue, strong relationships, and a commitment to representing our community’s interests. The advocacy team is grateful for the opportunity to engage in these important conversations and will continue to advocate for policies that support economic growth and opportunity in the Puget Sound.  The Chamber is thrilled to welcome two new team members: Pachia Paul, Senior Growth Officer, and Anna Terrano, Community Engagement Coordinator.
Welcome to the members who joined our business community in February 2026:
Author: Jennifer English | Program Director, Spaceworks Tacoma Last week, I had the privilege of stepping out of my usual role at Spaceworks Tacoma and into the halls of our state capital. I joined a coalition of passionate advocates for Arts, Heritage, and Science Week 2026, spending the day on February 4th representing Legislative District 27 and Pierce County. It was inspiring to stand alongside fellow champions of the creative sector, including partners from ArtsWA, Hilltop Artists, and Arts Impact. Together, we met with legislators to make one thing clear: the arts are not just an amenity; they are a vital driver of small business, tourism, and community identity in Washington state. While celebrating the creativity that defines our region, we focused on two critical legislative issues that will impact the creative economy here in Pierce County and beyond: 1. Protecting Non-Profits and Presenters (ESSB 5814) We advocated for clarity regarding ESSB 5814, a bill concerning sales tax on live events. It is crucial that we define which activities are not considered taxable live presentations. Getting this definition right ensures that non-profit arts organizations and presenters can continue to operate without being saddled with unintended tax burdens, keeping our cultural spaces accessible and sustainable. 2. Defending ArtsWA Grant Funding We urged lawmakers to protect ArtsWA's grant funding. Currently, there is a proposal to cut $600,000 from their grant programs - nearly one-third of their entire capacity. These are the funds that flow directly back into our communities, supporting local creative programs, partnerships, and the organizations that make Pierce County a vibrant place to live and work. A cut of this size would significantly destabilize the ecosystem that relies on this support.
This experience was a powerful reminder that the work of Spaceworks extends far beyond Tacoma. Whether we are supporting small businesses, installing public art, or showing up in Olympia, our mission is to fight for the resources that help our communities thrive, inspire creativity, and fuel economic growth. I’m proud to have brought the voice of LD 27 to the conversation, ensuring our legislators understand that investing in the arts is investing in the economic and cultural future of our state. The annual event shared valuable perspectives, explored key trends and emerging issues affecting businesses, and featured insights from notable community leaders.  2026 keynote speaker, Paul Eitelman, CFA, of Russell Investments. Held at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center, the Chamber welcomed nearly 400 South Sound community members early in the morning on January 28 to hear from industry leaders, subject-matter experts, and prominent business owners. Guests started their morning in the Coffee Connections area, where they could network with fellow attendees and business professionals before the program. Once the doors opened, the program began with a welcome from Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber Board Chair Chyna Willman, Owner of Grit City Wellness. Willman was then followed by a lineup of featured speakers from the South Sound community:
A usual highlight of the Horizons Economic Forecast is the release of the Pierce County Economic Index (PCEI) Report. This year’s report was authored by a team of economic experts from the University of Puget Sound. During the PCEI Report segment, Tom Layson of Northwest Now and KBTC PBS discussed key findings with the report’s team lead, Andrew Monaco, Associate Professor of Economics at Puget Sound. Finally, the event concluded with an economic panel and Q&A featuring Commissioner Marzano, Paul Eitelman, Jimmy Ng, Andrew Monaco, and Renee McClain. This gave the audience the opportunity to ask key questions and to hear input from local leaders. Thank you to everyone who spent their morning with us, as well as to our incredible keynote speaker, PCEI Report authors, and featured event speakers! And special thanks to our generous event sponsors:
Welcome to the new members who joined our business community in January 2026:
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