2024 was a year marked by incredible milestones for the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber and our local business community! 2024 was a year of impact, progress, and innovation for the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber and the South Sound business community. From advocating for businesses to fostering leadership and supporting creative entrepreneurs, we accomplished so much together. Here are our top 10 highlights from 2024: 1. 140 Years of Serving Our Business Community This year marked an incredible milestone--140 years of the Chamber being the unifying voice for businesses in Tacoma-Pierce County. For over a century, we have championed economic growth, supported leaders, and strengthened our region. All the while, the Chamber has continuously evolved to meet the changing needs of the Tacoma-Pierce County business community. Thank you for being part of this legacy! 2. Distributing $983K in Microloans for Small Businesses  Kiva recipient, Lanaya Tayler, owner of Lanaya Tayler Hair Studio in Puyallup, Wash. Access to capital is a major challenge for small businesses, but we made a difference. Through partnerships like Kiva, the Chamber facilitated $983,000 (and counting) in 0% interest microloans to help small businesses grow and thrive. These loans fill a critical funding gap for emerging entrepreneurs in Pierce County that can help make businesses, rather than break them. 3. Celebrating Success in the Pierce County Business Accelerator  PCBA cohort 19 at their graduation in November 2024. The Pierce County Business Accelerator (PCBA) program continued to empower over 450 BIPOC, veteran, and women-owned businesses. By providing coaching, training, and technical resources, the PCBA fostered innovation and opened doors to wealth-building opportunities for diverse business owners. It is a travesty if you missed the PCBA Showcase this year as it was stupendous; filled with amazing food, wonderful business ideas, and business owners who embody the spirit of the South Sound in their work. 4. The Good Neighbor Village Breaks Ground  Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier joins in on helping turn the dirt that will become the Good Neighbor Village. Inspired by solutions explored during our Aspire Intercity Leadership Conference, the Good Neighbor Village project is now underway. By 2030, it will provide permanent housing and supportive care to 257 chronically homeless residents in Pierce County, restoring dignity and stability to our community members. 5. Spaceworks Tacoma: Empowering Creatives  Nori Kimura after completing the Skybridge mural between the Pacific Plaza parking garage and Theater on the Square in downtown Tacoma. Spaceworks Tacoma continued to elevate our region’s creative economy by connecting creative entrepreneurs and artists to economic opportunity. This year, the program invested $41,860 in local artists, delivered training to creative entrepreneurs, and facilitated rotating public art installations across Tacoma. Spaceworks is transforming commercial spaces and creating new opportunities for artists and creative entrepreneurs to thrive. 6. Record-Breaking Events & Community Engagement  Over 475 attendees joined the Chamber in January at the Horizons Economic Forecast to hear from local and regional business leaders on the 2024 Pierce County economy. Our events reached new heights this year, welcoming 4,936 attendees across meetings, forums, and signature events like the Horizons Economic Forecast and Happy Hour Business Expo. These gatherings fostered connections, celebrated successes, and inspired collaboration among local leaders. 7. Advocacy That Makes an Impact  Attendees of the Chamber’s 2024 Legislative Advocacy Day visit Olympia, Wash. From left to right: Curt Kohlwes, Director of Government Relations at University of Washington Tacoma; Zach Correia, Government Relations Analyst at MultiCare Health Systems; Jessica Johnson, Director of Court House Square; Andrea H. Reay, President & CEO at Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber; and Senator Chris Gildon, Washington’s 25th Legislative District. The Chamber led advocacy efforts to address critical business challenges and drive policy change:
These wins helped create a stronger, more resilient business environment for the South Sound. 8. Launch of the Tacoma Manufacturing Incubator  The Chamber and the Manufacturing Industrial Council for the South Sound partnered with local businesses to establish the Tacoma Manufacturing Incubator. The program is aligned with Chambers commitment to support entrepreneurship and the State’s goal to double manufacturing within a decade. The Tacoma Manufacturing Incubator will create scalable manufacturing spaces, support capacity building for existing businesses, and develop a manufacturing centered curriculum designed to empower manufacturing startups with a pilot cohort scheduled for 2025. The launch of the incubator is funded in part by the Washington State Department of Commerce and the City of Tacoma. 9. World Trade Center Tacoma’s Global Impact  (L to R) Michael Fowler, executive director at the World Trade Center Tacoma; David Graybill, Board Chair for World Trade Center Tacoma; Raymond Cheung, president, SeaTac Packaging Manufacturing Corp.; and Betty Capestany, director, economic development at Pierce County; celebrate SeaTac Packaging Manufacturing Corp.’s win at the 2024 World Trade Center Tacoma Globe Awards. The World Trade Center Tacoma connected local businesses to global opportunities through international trade missions and educational programs. This year, businesses benefited from partnerships forged in East Asia, helping the South Sound remain competitive on the global stage. World Trade Center Tacoma also conducted its annual flagship event, the World Trade Center Tacoma Globe Awards, in September, which recognized excellence in international trade. 10. Developing Future Leaders  Graduates of the 2024 Business Leadership Academy celebrated their achievement at a luncheon in November. We continued investing in leadership development through programs like the Business Leadership Academy and the foundation of the Candidates Academy. By equipping future leaders with skills, mentorship, and connections, we are building a strong foundation for the next generation of business and community leaders. Looking Ahead to 2025  As we celebrate these milestones, we are excited for what lies ahead. Together, we will continue to strengthen our economy, foster innovation, and empower leaders in the South Sound. Thank you for being part of this incredible journey—cheers to a bright year ahead!
 From left to right: Jon Rossman, Owner of Chuckals Office Products & Chair of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber Board; Andrea Reay, President & CEO of Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber; Eli Taylor, Vice President/Senior Private Wealth Advisor at U.S. Bank & Past Chair of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber Board; Kierra Phifer, Manager, Public Engagement-Northwest at DoorDash & Chair Elect of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber Board. Since 2006, the Washington State Department of Commerce and the Governor of Washington have been acknowledging the people behind efforts that make their communities flourish. It takes a lot to make a community vibrant; planning in areas of parks and recreation, job growth, housing affordability, economic development, homelessness, transportation, and subarea development are at the forefront of every community leader. But each city in Washington State has proven time and again that they are capable and willing to do what it takes. To really recognize and thank these local governments, the dynamic duo, Washington State Department of Commerce, and the Governor of Washington, created The Governor’s Smart Communities Awards. Seven categories of achievement are available:
Manufacturing Industrial Council (MIC) Program Director, Ryan Spence, states: "Thank you to the governor for recognizing the City of Tacoma’s Green Economic Development Strategy as a pioneering effort to build a greener economy. The strategy identifies manufacturing as a key opportunity to provide low barrier high wage jobs for a greener, more equitable and more prosperous Tacoma.” Thank you, Governor Inslee, and the Washington State Department of Commerce, for the homage. The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber and the City of Tacoma will continue to work on the betterment of our community and the beloved place we call home. To read more about the other recipient cities, click here. To learn the requirements of the categories, click here.
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