Trade and Investment Summit (July 14-15)

4^th Annual Pacific Northwest – China  Trade and Investment Summit.

The World Trade Center Tacoma Summit will include around 20 investors and trade professionals from China, most of whom are interested in food and beverages, EB-5 and other investment opportunities. 

Prices for registration, booths, and matchmaking slots can be found on the WTCT website: http://wtcta.org/event/pacific-northwest-china-trade-investment-summit .

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NuStar Energy Receives Tahoma Business Environmental Award

The Chamber annually recognizes entrepreneurial efforts that meet a high standard of excellence for environmental, preservation and protection accomplishments through its Tahoma Business Environmental Award.

The 13th Tahoma Business Environmental Award, sponsored by Taylor-Thomason Insurance, was presented at the Chamber Luncheon Featuring Tahoma Business Environmental Award event on April 10, 2014 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Pacific Grill Events Center, 1530 Pacific Ave., Tacoma 98402.

Protecting the environment is a core business value for NuStar Energy, LP, (NuStar) which works to continually improve processes and programs to ensure that the best environmental practices are shared across their numerous terminal and storage systems.

NuStar has invested heavily in voluntary site improvements which resulted in achieving OSHA’s highest honor, OSHA VPP Star Status in 2015. The NuStar Tacoma Terminal has made numerous voluntary site improvements and taken active approaches to be above and beyond regulatory compliance. Some of these environmental advances include: painting roofs to reduce metal pollutants that may be in contact with storm water; the development of a Bucket Tree to prevent empty buckets from collecting storm water, and upgrading vapor hoses to improve capture efficiency for emission at the truck rack.

This company has made internal changes which have improved storm water and air quality, as well as a significant reduction in waste.  Our award recipient has also surpassed 23 ½ years since their last reportable spill, which is almost unheard of in the oil storage industry.
Many area businesses work on environmental projects and do a great deal to improve the community’s quality of life. This year’s nominees for the award were:

• Associated Petroleum Products, Inc.
• Cartridge World
• Nisqually Red Wind Casino
• NuStar Energy, LP
• NW Etch
• Point Ruston, LLC
• Puglia Engineering, Inc.
• TPT U.S. Limited

In addition to the award presentation, the Luncheon featured speakers representing the intersection of business and the environment. ”Achieving Attainment for Air Quality” was presented by Craig Kenworthy, Executive Director, Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and “Tacoma Transportation Master Plan” was presented by Joshua Diekmann, Transportation Engineer, City of Tacoma.

Last Chance to Nominate for Tahoma Business Environmental Award

Tacoma Pierce County Chamber's 13th Annual
Tahoma Business Environmental Award

The Chamber annually recognizes entrepreneurial efforts that meet a high standard of excellence for mitigation, environmental, preservation and protection accomplishments through its Tahoma Environmental Business Award. 

The Chamber is accepting nominations of businesses that deserve recognition for their exemplary environmental protection or restoration efforts. Self-Nominations are encouraged and accepted. 

The selected nominee will receive a environmental business award to be presented by Taylor-Thomason Insurance. To self-nominate or nominate another exceptional business click here.

In addition to the award presentation, the Luncheon will feature speakers representing the intersection of business and the environment. The 13th Tahoma Business Environmental Award, will be presented at the Chamber Luncheon on April 10, 2015 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Pacific Grill Events Center, 1530 Pacific Avenue Tacoma, WA 98402.

Past Tahoma Environmental Business Award Recipients: 2014 J.L. Darling, 2013 Targa Sound Terminal, 2012 Richlite Company, 2011 Waste Connections, Inc., 2010 Walsh Construction, 2009 Carlile Transportation Systems, 2008 Pacific Lutheran University, 2007 Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc., 2006 Port of Tacoma, 2005 McFarland Cascade, 2004 Simpson, 2003 Kay Parks/Dan Meyer Auto Rebuild

Tacoma Council Adopts Mandatory Paid Leave

On Tuesday, January 27th, after a marathon council meeting lasting nearly six hours and including 35 pages of amendments, Tacoma’s City Council passed (8-1) an ordinance requiring all businesses operating within the City to provide a minimum of 3 days of paid time off to employees beginning February 1^st, 2016.  

Early versions of an ordinance brought forward by paid leave proponents suggested businesses be responsible for providing employees with up to 14 days of paid time off.  The Chamber made it clear that new mandates will make it harder for businesses to meet their employees’ actual needs rather than those thought up by others.  Furthermore, if the Council is truly focused on employees, it must minimize expensive tracking and regulatory burdens to ensure limited funds are actually spent on providing benefits rather than administration.

Thankfully, enough of the Council heard these concerns to streamline the tracking and incorporate flexibility.  The 3-day ordinance passed by Council also allows for employers and employees with unique needs options like on-call pay programs, shift swapping, minimum hours worked, and front loaded benefits.

While this phase of the paid leave discussion has wrapped up, we are preparing for the next round.  Unusual for Tacoma, the Council has decided to implement a rule making process after passing the Ordinance meaning there are numerous questions about the details.  Once these rules are published, we will be hosting sessions to get businesses up to speed.  At a minimum, all businesses should plan on reviewing their personnel policies and handbooks to ensure they meet the allowable usage requirements in the ordinance.

Previously, the Chamber has shared status updates on this issue.  We will continue to provide updates as we can.

Final Reading on Mandatory Paid Leave

The Chamber has been actively working on the Tacoma City Council's Mandatory Paid Leave Ordinance (link). Now the Council has placed a draft ordinance on their agenda for final reading on Tuesday, January 27th at 5PM. The proposal requires all businesses operating that are located in or doing business in the City of Tacoma to provide 3 days of paid time off to every employee. However with the final reading tomorrow night, they could amend the ordinance in any way. Some Councilmembers are actively working to more than double this requirement to 7 days of paid leave and make it more difficult to track hours and prevent abuse. Join with other business leaders and share with your Councilmembers how this ordinance, and particularly these proposed amendments, will impact your business. Sign up for public comment to express how this will affect you. Click the following link for procedures to speak at the City Council Meeting (link).   The meeting will be held at Tacoma City Council Chambers, 747 Market Street, First Floor, Tacoma, WA 98402 on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 at 5:00 p.m.  If you can't attend, please contact your councilmembers directly. Their emails and phone numbers are at: http://www.cityoftacoma.org/government/city_council