Grant Saves Jobs and Businesses

Chamber President & CEO Tom Pierson participated in a press conference today where Senator Maria Cantwell announced that Tacoma's Fire Department has won a $7.7 million FEMA SAFER grant. The grant will save 37 firefighter jobs and give some breathing room for this year's city budget.

Tom had this to say at the conference:

Good fire service is good for business. Here in Tacoma we have great fire service.

Senator Cantwell and all Pierce County leaders are focused on investments that show we are 'open for business.' This grant keeps business overhead low, creating an attractive market to keep and bring new businesses and more jobs into our community.Today’s announcement keeps firefighters on the job and serving businesses in our community boosts the business-friendly environment here in Tacoma and Pierce County.

Business dependence on good infrastructure of roads, power and utilities is complimented with a healthy fire department. Every community is evaluated for its fire services. A robust fire department means lower costs for fire insurance premiums and doing business, which saves money for every business in our community and in turn, creates new jobs.

A lower cost of doing business aids in the continuing retention of jobs by our businesses and creates an attractive market to bring new businesses and more jobs into our community.

We are proud of the Tacoma Fire Department, for the men and women who put their lives on the line for us every day!

Flood Plain Plan Set Back

When the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) published its updated map of the Puyallup River flood maps in 2005, it started a long and challenging problem for the Puyallup River Valley including Fife. Tacoma and the Port of Tacoma.


Civic leaders have been working toward a collaborative solution since.  But such complex and expensive  problems are never quickly and easily solved.  One step along that process was set back when a necessary implementation step did not receive funding of  an emergency plan.  Yes, 100-year floods happen only one a century. But with the number of rivers draining to Puget Sound, one of them floods every 4 ½ years.


Although local governments have already put up $500,000, the national prioritization of such projects left the local problem behind. Still, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers did fund it this year.


The Chamber, along with others of the Puyallup River Executive Task Force will necessarily keep working to resolve the complexity of the economic and environmental knot of flood control for the Puyallup River. 

Winter Storm Damage?

The Pierce County Emergency Operations Center today will begin collecting damage information from homeowners and business owners affected by this week's winter storm. Residents and business owners in Pierce County that suffered damage should call the Pierce County Damage Assessment Center at (866) 798-6363 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Callers should have the following information available: • Name and address of affected property • Contact information (cell phone, relatives phone number, "new" mailing address) • Type of insurance • A description of damage, even if uninsured • A personal estimate of uninsured losses • Estimates of the fair market value of the damaged home or business (it is not necessary at this point for property owners to have a contractor's estimate) The findings from this assessment will be used by the Governor to request a possible disaster declaration and federal disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The process could take up to a couple of weeks or more. FEMA disaster assistance, if and when it becomes available, only covers uninsured losses. Visit Pierce County's blog for up to date emergency information.