2015 WorkWell Awards Designees Announced

WorkWell Award designees were recognized Friday, February 13, at the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber’s Chamber Luncheon Featuring: WorkWell Awards – A Celebration of the Healthy Workplace event held at the Pacific Grill Events Center, 1530 Pacific Ave.,Tacoma, Wash., 98402.

While the luncheon focused on the WorkWell program awards, which recognizes local employers who made a commitment to three designated areas of healthy eating, physical activity and tobacco-free, there were also presentations on the recently passed City of Tacoma Mandatory Paid Time Off ordinance and information surrounding the Minimum Wage discussion.  

Andy Cherullo, Finance Director for the City of Tacoma and David Schroedel of Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, spoke on the Mandatory Paid Time Off Ordinance recently approved by the City of Tacoma.  Bruce Beckett, Director of Government Affairs for the Washington Restaurant Association presented information regarding current discussions around the issue of Minimum Wage.

The Chamber celebrated the strides Pierce County businesses took to make health and wellness a priority in their work place through three levels of recognition: Gold, Silver and Bronze WorkWell Awards as well as the WorkWell Happy Heart Achievement Award which highlighted an organization’s policies, programs and/or activities that supports employee health and well-being.

AHBL, Inc., Better Business Bureau of Alaska, Oregon & Western Washington, MultiCare Health System and Nisqually Red Wind Casino were recognized as Happy Heart Achievement designees.

Gold designees AHBL, Inc., Better Business Bureau of Alaska, Oregon & Western Washington, MultiCare Health System, Nisqually Red Wind Casino, Tacoma Community House and Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department implemented changes to all three workforce health categories: healthy eating, physical activity and tobacco-free.

Silver designee Rapport Benefits Group implemented changes to two of the three workforce health categories.

In addition, the Active Transportation Advocate Award, sponsored by Downtown: On the Go! was presented to MultiCare Health System.  The award recognizes an organization that provides encouragement and incentives to their employees for using active transportation.

Chamber Rallies Businesses - Voices Heard

When businesses act together we are an effective voice to affect decisions about important issues.

After the News Tribune article last week, the Chamber shared the news with its members and asked them to weigh in. Tacoma Councilmembers have said they were flooded with emails from concerned businesses about new regulations mandating sick leave. In response, Councilmembers did not add the topic to their Committee of the Whole meeting today as initially planned. As a result, the reported intent to bring this issue to action by the Council today did NOT happen.

The issue of mandating sick leave continues to crop up in metropolitan areas across the nation where special interest groups believe they have sufficiently sympathetic civic leadership and historic support. To keep members abreast of happenings with mandated sick leave, the Chamber has established a dedicated webpage at www.tacomachamber.org/content/tacoma-employees-first. 

We expect this will not be the last attempt by special interests to propose this issue without discussions with the businesses impacted.

The Chamber will keep its members informed of developing aspects of this issue locally and will maintain this new communications link – the dedicated webpage for continuing coverage.

1Q2013 Tacoma Council Scorecard Issued

To better represent business interests with government, the Chamber is communicating to our members the voting records of elected and/or appointed officials on issues relevant to our mission.  Following is the fourth Scorecard of votes by the City of Tacoma Council.

The following scorecard presents actual votes – rather than leadership, testimony, rhetoric or behind-the-scenes work.  Votes selected for inclusion in the voting record are those issues that impact the success of new and existing businesses in our community.

The Chamber recognizes that votes are only one part of the picture of an engaged, business-friendly city, but they do illustrate consistencies or inconsistencies between Chamber membership and civic leaders. The Chamber encourages businesses to get involved with leaders and issues beyond this scorecard.

If you have any questions about the specific votes or seek a greater understanding of the issues, please contact Gary Brackett, garyb@tacomachamber.org or David Schroedel, davids@tacomachamber.org

(Click on the image for a larger view) Click here for a copy to print

Tacoma: The Premier Amateur Sports Destination of the Northwest

Tacoma is fast becoming the premier amateur sports destination of the Northwest. Recurring events, such as various high school state championships and the Hershey’s Track and Field Games, as well as other huge one time events, like the 2011 USA Men’s Gymnastics Region II Championships, take place in or near Tacoma. The list of past and current events is extensive.

Tim Waer, CEO and Executive Director of Tacoma South Sound Sports Commission, has worked enthusiastically to market Tacoma and the South Sound as the destination for tourism-generating amateur sports events.

This area, Waer told the Tacoma City Council’s Economic Development Subcommittee, is an ideal place for amateur sporting events. Tacoma has a rich sports history, diverse venues, large hotel inventory, close proximity to Sea-Tac Airport, access to I-5, university and community colleges, many local attractions, and is a medium sized city, which together form the perfect place to promote amateur sports.

Amateur sports tourism is the largest growing tourism area, and while the tourism industry witnessed an enormous downturn during the recession, amateur sports tourism either kept pace or increased. “It doesn’t matter how bad the economy gets, they just don’t cancel the state wrestling championships,” Waer said. As such, amateur sports hold many community and economic development opportunities for Tacoma. 

What is more, Waer discussed additional opportunities for Tacoma and the South Sound, such as multi-tribe indigenous games or adaptive sports, like the U.S. Paralympics or Wounded Warriors.

Waer noted that the industry touched enough sectors and provided such a huge return on investment that it needed to be a priority for the city. Moreover, while Tacoma has unique and versatile venues, such as the Tacoma Dome and the Convention Center, these venues need updating. Additional challenges include the loss of program funding and the lack of a cohesive strategy with community partners.

Council members in attendance, Marty Campbell, Robert Thoms, David Boe, Ryan Mello, and Lauren Walker, appeared largely supportive for Waer and excited over the great opportunities Tacoma South Sound Sports Commission brings to the area. Thoms noted the importance of recreational sport activities to his family and the community. Likewise, Boe expressed his desire that every high school athlete’s goal be to “Get to Tacoma”, because Tacoma is the place for high school state championships. Walker described her excitement for the Lakewood SummerFEST Triathlon, the first public triathlon in Pierce County.

Be on the lookout for upcoming events in our area. For more information visit the Tacoma South Sound Sports Commission website.