CHAMBER ADVISORY BALLOT

Chamber members are encouraged to vote in this general election.  Ballots were mailed mid-October, but returns must be postmarked or delivered to an approved station by Tuesday, Nov. 5, 8:00 p.m.

The Chamber’s advisory ballot:

NO      Tacoma’s Prop 1 to increase Tacoma’s utility taxes

NO      Washington I-517 which enables initiative canvassers’ trespass rights on private properties

NO      Washington I-522 which inaccurate, unnecessary, costly and harmful to farmers

The Chamber’s Voice for Business voters’ guide is available here for additional information on these ballot issues.

Chamber members may also reference the Voice for Business voters’ guide here for responses from candidates about issues and attitudes critical to the local business environment.

Also, the Chamber notes the independent Tacoma-Pierce County Business Alliance PAC has made these endorsements for their best business-oriented candidates in contested races. 

NO      Tacoma’s Prop 1

YES    Connie Bacon, Port of Tacoma Commissioner, Position 1

YES    Robert Thoms, Tacoma City Council, Position 2

YES    Joe Lonergan, Tacoma City Council, Position 5

YES    Victoria Woodards, Tacoma City Council, Position 6

Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber Opposes State I-517

The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber’s Board of Directors voted to oppose State Initiative 517 which intrusively expands the initiative process.

The Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee’s recommendation to oppose the initiative derived from the following reasons:

•    Infringes on private property rights by allowing signature gatherers inside your business/school/sports stadiums on signature-gatherers' terms.

•    Businesses already receive numerous complaints of aggressive signature gatherers.

•    Impedes businesses’ ability to deal with aggressive signature gatherers.

•    Local governments and businesses will expend significant resources in court addressing illegal and unconstitutional local ballot initiatives.

Tell It Like It Is!

The Chamber's 27th annual Washington-to-Washington, D.C. delegation will once again carry the local business advocacy agenda to our state's Congressional delegation and federal agencies.

Here is your opportunity to help us set the Chamber's business and community agenda that will be carried to the nation's capital so that we may effectively be your advocates to our Congressional delegation. 

Click here to take the survey now!

Horizons 2012 Economic Forecast Event

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Washington gets a 10th Congressional Seat!

It is official.

Based on the latest Census results, Washington will gain a new congressional seat.

The News Tribune has more information and an interactive national map produced by the Census Bureau outlining the population shift at this link.

Governor Gregoire, commenting on the new Census results said, “I’m proud of the work of our citizens – many worked tirelessly to ensure Washingtonians were counted, and because of their effort, our state’s mail back participation exceeded the national average. Their effort is an important part in ensuring democracy and representation.”

Lilah Gael, U.S. Census Bureau said, there was a 9% increased response rate from Pierce County and "it could not have been done without the Chamber." Many will recall the numerous marketing and advertising support and the use of office space for Census taker training that the Chamber gave the Census to increase our response rate.

It worked and it produced positive results!  In addition to more Congressional clout, the state and Pierce County will be advantaged by an enhanced federal allocation for the next decade.

Economy Upturns for Tacoma-Pierce County

Data lag about the economy for local areas is finally catching up with the news about national stats. 

So, if the nation is past the recession, where is our own community.  According to new compilations of data available from the FDIC, we too are out of the recession.  The Fed's Regional Economic Conditions (RECON) was originally designed to assist the FDIC in the examination process by providing economic information at the state, MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area), and county levels. It is helpful in the analysis of risks facing financial institutions.

Using RECON, anyone with Internet access is able to drill down to any state, MSA, or county to view standard graphs, tables, and maps depicting economic conditions and how they have changed over time.

Our drill down produced these results (data is available for Pierce County, the Tacoma Metropolitan Division - which is Pierce County, or both):

Total Housing Permit Growth in Pierce County had been doing better than Washington State or national stats for about the previous year, until the final quarter of 2009.  While these larger areas picked up sooner, Pierce County is also showing improvement.

And for an anecdotal perspective, consider The News Tribune's recent article about apartment construction.  Noted industry specialist Mike Scott, Dupre and Scott, observed that Pierce County vacancy was 7.6% this spring, falling to 5.2% in the fall. 

Employment Growth shows an even more marked improvement.  The low point for the nation, Washington and the Tacoma metro was the third quarter of 2009.  None have yet hit positive growth numbers, but the trend shows clearly we're approaching a breakeven point for employment growth.

And yes, this employment growth (or slowing loss) has translated into improvement in the unemployment.  Again, all three levels of government show a trending dip in unemployment after hitting its peak in the first quarter of 2010. 
 
Although the Feds haven't produced info on retail sales, the BE (Business Examiner) Daily (online newsletter) yesterday reported that taxable retail sales during the second quarter of 2010 inched up 0.76% in Pierce County and 0.17% in Thurston County, when Washington suffered a statewide decline of 1%.
 
A particularly bright spot reported by the BE Daily was that sales of new and used cars were up 4.3% to $1.8 billion and accommodations (hotels) and food services (restaurants) were up by 2.4% to $2.9 billion.
 
What's been the most obvious difference in our local economy, as compared to the nation and even our neighbors within the state:  18,000 soldiers returned from deployment - beginning in the second quarter 2010.  That return extended through the third quarter, so more good news is hoped for when next quarter's data comes out.

Contracting Procurement Workshop

WPC’s 8th Annual Environmental Policy Conference & Luncheon

On Thursday, July 29, 2010 the Chamber will co-present the Washington Policy Center’s Annual Health Environmental Conference. The event, Politics or Science: How Do We Make Environmental Policy? will be held at The Westin in Seattle from 8:00am-1:30pm. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Roger Pielke, Jr., a Professor at the University of Colorado’s Environmental Studies Program, Senior Fellow of the Breakthrough Institute and Fellow of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences. Dr. Pielke will address the failures of the scientific process in climate science.

The conference will also feature panel discussions on:
GMA Costs vs. Benefits: Time for An Independent Audit
The future of energy
Effective environmental stewardship
A review of the 2010 Legislative Session and preview of 2011’s Legislative Session

Register online at the Washington Policy Center’s website

WPC's 8th Annual Health Care Conference

Washington Policy Center (WPC) will present their annual Health Care Conference on Friday, June 4, 7:30 am to 1:30 pm at the SeaTac Doubletree. The event will feature health care policy expert Professor Regina Herzlinger of the Harvard Business School and Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna.

The Attorney General will give an in-depth legal analysis on the new health care legislation while discussing the upcoming legal action related to the state’s participation in a nationwide lawsuit. Morning panels will feature discussions on new federal rules affecting employers and businesses based on the new health care legislation. Additionally, the panels will review the changing legal eligibility requirements for Medicaid and Medicare, and how individuals and businesses will now qualify for new health care subsidies. Professor Herzlinger will provide insight and analysis on the new health care legislation, and the changes we should expect to see in federal law.

Cost for the event is $65 Lunch & Conference. Register online at WPC's website.

Recognizing Business Environmental Achievements

This event has been rescheduled and will be announced in forthcoming communications. 

Join the Chamber on Tues., April 27, 2010, from 7:30 to 9 a.m. for breakfast at the Best Western Tacoma Dome Hotel, recognition of four nominees, the annual presentation of the Tahoma Business Environmental Award sponsored by Taylor-Thomason Insurance, and a keynote presentation by Alan Hardcastle, Ph.D., WSU’s Extension Energy Program.

Q: What do farm workers and electricians have in common? A: In 2009 they were the most widespread green occupations in Washington state. It isn’t just about wind turbine technicians and solar panel installers anymore.

We don’t want to give away the farm but...the number of private-sector green jobs in 2009 was substantially higher than in 2008. Find out why this is when our breakfast speaker, Dr. Alan Hardcastle, provides focus about the green economy in Pierce County and Washington state.

Dr. Hardcastle is the lead author for the just released 2009 Washington State Green Economy Jobs study. He has over 20 years of research and consulting experience through a broad range of public and private-sector clients in industry, organized labor, education, workforce and economic development. Dr. Hardcastle has studied production systems, organizational culture and education/training systems at companies that include Toyota-GM (NUMMI), Hewlett-Packard and McDonnell Douglas.

2010 Tahoma Business Environmental Award nominees are:
 NuStar Energy L.P. Tacoma Community College
 Walsh Construction Company
 Washington United Terminals

Date: Tues., April 27, 2010
Time: 7:30 to 9 a.m.
What: Environmental Awards Breakfast
Place: Best Western Tacoma Dome Hotel
2611 East E Street Tacoma 98421
Register online at the Chamber's website

State Revenue (and Economy) Forecast Improves

Just released is the update for the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast:

The national and Washington economic recovery is progressing largely as we expected in November. As a result, our revision to the forecast for the current biennium is a relatively minor $31.5 million increase in the revenue forecast (excluding noneconomic changes). Output has now grown for two consecutive quarters including a 5.7% surge in the fourth quarter of 2009. As in November, we expect positive job growth for both the U.S. and Washington beginning in the current quarter. Though our baseline forecast expects the recovery to continue, significant risks remain. Consumer confidence remains low, credit remains tight, and the housing recovery may falter after the home buyers credit expires. We believe the Washington will outperform the U.S. economy in the recovery thanks to our export orientation and the relative stability of our key basic industries, aerospace and software. . .the forecast is up by $31.5 million. This is the first forecast to extend through the 2011-13 biennium. The General Fund-State forecast for the 2011-13 biennium is $32.2 billion.

WA Unemployment Comp Rises

Employment Security says unemployment insurance tax rates will rise in 2010 for many employers.

Last week, the Employment Security Department began mailing 2010 tax-rate notices to more than 150,000 Washington businesses. The average tax rate in 2010 will be 2.38 percent, up from 1.55 percent in 2009. The 2010 tax rates will range from 0.95 percent to 6 percent.

WashACE reported late last year on all the labor costs in Washington State.

To Be or Not To Be Effective

The State is seeking a new mission (and has a new name) for its principal agency charged with business assistance and economic development.

You may help shape their agenda by taking a survey designed to gain a broad sense of the state’s opportunities and challenges to grow and improve jobs in Washington. Just click on this link.

The survey should take less than 10 minutes to complete. The survey will close on August 28.

Feedback will help inform the proposals in a report for the Governor and Legislature by November 1. The report will include recommendations about the key functions that best fit the mission and vision of the Department of Commerce. This survey does not explicitly address how the agency will be structured because they seek first to clearly define the functions they should be doing and will then organize to be successful.

Thank you for your commitment to helping shape the new Washington State Department of Commerce. If you have additional comments or ideas beyond the survey questions, you can email them.

Chamber Takes It to Olympia

A delegation of Chamber leaders held a conference luncheon with many of the Washington State Senators and Legislators from Pierce County last week in Olympia.

Rep. Larry Seaquist addresses the Chamber delegation.

Handling the leadership duties was Hans Hechtman, Comcast’s Government Affairs Manager and the Chamber’s Vice-Chair for Government Relations. He, along with the Chamber’s Contract Lobbyist, Michael Transue, lead a discussion on the Chamber’s TEACH legislative agenda. Several legislators shared their insights on critical budget issues and likely results on key business legislation in both houses during the session.

The delegation was treated to an exchange of philosophies between Sen. Mike Carrell and Rep. Jeannie Darnielle. Sen. Carrell’s observation that the legislature’s management of the forecast budget deficit, reduced by the federal stimulus infusion, was achievable by financial stewardship and frugal expenditures on raises and similar cost increases. Rep. Darnielle said that there are real consequences to individuals because of budget cuts, including the potential loss of 5,000 teachers within the state.

Business and community representatives also highlighted their interests and needs with the delegation. Among them, Dr. Patricia Spakes, Chancellor, University of Washington Tacoma, spoke of the capital needs for the campus, including the Joy Building and the minimum financial support to keep the momentum alive.

Business representatives addressed the need to protect our competitive environment and to recognize the tough choices businesses are making.

Our special thanks to event sponsors Boeing, Comcast, KeyBank, and Puget Sound Energy for hosting this event for everyone.

The Chamber has a strong program of advocacy for business issues. The Public Affairs Council is open to any interested members and meets monthly on the 3rd Thursday at 8 am in the Chamber’s office.

CERB Your Chance to Make the Decisions

The Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) currently has an open position for an executive from a large business (50+ employees) from the area west of the Cascades. As an economic development leader in Pierce County, the Chamber wanted to call the board vacancy to our members' attention. Please feel free to distribute to any interested parties.

Community Economic Revitalization BoardThe Community Economic Revitalization Board is Washington's strategic economic development resource, focused on creating and retaining jobs in partnership with local governments. CERB finances public infrastructure to encourage new development and expansion in targeted areas. CERB's objectives are to strengthen the economies of areas of the state that have experienced high unemployment rates or below-average economic growth; to encourage the diversification of economies throughout the state; and to provide incentives for expansion of employment opportunities.

CERB meetings are scheduled six times a year to consider project applications. Please see our schedule of meeting dates and application deadlines.

If you have any questions or suggestions for potential Pierce County applicants, please feel free to contact myself or Stacey Tichenor, the Governor's Executive Analyst for Boards & Commission at (360) 902-4109 or stacey.tichenor@gov.wa.gov.

Rep. Norm Dicks visits the Chamber

The Chamber’s Simpson Room was the site of a lively interview between Rep. Norm Dicks and Mike Weinman, the Chamber's contracted community relations director, as cameras captured the footage for the Chamber’s Annual Meeting video.

Mike Weinman took Rep. Dicks down memory lane as he recalled how the idea for the Chamber’s Washington-to-Washington, D.C. trip was hatched. Rep. Dicks relayed how he and David Graybill, Chamber CEO, were talking about “how the Tri-Cities and the Puget Sound Naval Bases Association in Bremerton were going back there” to Washington, D.C. to discuss issues with congressional members. Together, they wondered about doing a similar thing to advocate for “our own incredible bases here in Pierce County.”

“We wanted to tell key officials, ‘Thank You,’” said Rep. Dicks, “We had lots to talk about and the C-17s were a good one to start with.”

Rep. Dicks went on to say how there were now 44 cargo lifting C-17s based out of McChord Air Force Base. He felt the Washington-to-Washington, D.C. annual trip was one of the best advocacy programs the Chamber "accomplishes year in and year out."

The subject of the economy was reviewed as well. Citing large numbers of area military personnel, civilian employees, and retirees, Rep. Dicks stated “their sheer numbers act as a stabilizing effect” on our economy. “The millions of dollars in construction contracts and resulting numbers of local workers,” he added, “provide additional certainty during economic downturns.”

Rep. Dicks ended the interview with several statements about how the Chamber has maintained a great relationship with local officials like himself under the guidance of CEO David Graybill. He discussed how the Chamber has played a major role in the revitalization of downtown and how it has been a positive force for job creation e.g. working with him and others to convince Boeing to develop a plant site in Frederickson. He believes the overall position in the business community is well represented by the Chamber.