South Sound leaders create family-wage job credits

South Sound leaders collaborate for family-wage jobs
Each jurisdiction customized the one-time credit and will submit ordinances to their respective councils for consideration and a vote. The proposal for unincorporated Pierce County is to create a job credit that will be available to businesses that create at least five new family-wage jobs ($65,000 annual pay) in 2019.
In addition to Dammeier and Woodards, leaders present or represented at the announcement included Doug Richardson, chair, Pierce County Council; Neil Johnson, mayor, Bonney Lake; Mike Courts, mayor, DuPont; Kim Roscoe, mayor, Fife; Don Anderson, mayor, Lakewood; John Palmer, mayor, Puyallup; Ron Lucas, mayor, Steilacoom; Bill Pugh, mayor, Sumner; Kent Keel, mayor, University Place.
Speakers also included Mark Martinez, executive secretary of the Pierce County Building and Construction Trades Council, and Bruce Kendall, EDB president and CEO.
John Wolfe pleads strong case against tariffs

Greg Unruh winds up prestigious 35-year career
No matter how rewarding the work, there comes a time when you have to stop and smell the roses. Greg Unruh, EDB chair and Franciscan Foundation president, is retiring after a stellar 35-year career.
In just six years at the Foundation’s helm, Unruh made tremendous strides, including implementing the Corporate Partner Program and expanding funding for community initiatives around non-violence and behavioral health. He oversaw successful campaigns for the St. Joseph Medical Center Level III NICU, St. Clare Hospital’s emergency department, and CHI Franciscan’s hospice and palliative care programs, and secured millions of dollars for the new Behavioral Health Hospital
That’s what he’s done lately. Prior to joining CHI Franciscan, Unruh racked up more than 30 years in the banking industry and held senior leadership positions with Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Timberland Bank.
“News of Greg’s retirement is bittersweet,” said EDB President and CEO Bruce Kendall. “The silver lining is that he will stay on as board chair through of the year, with full support from CHI Franciscan Health CEO Ketul Patel. He will also remain a key member of our Farnborough aerospace recruitment team this summer.”
UW Tacoma pre-law program gets boost from state
