Every five years, the EDB Tacoma Pierce County reaches out to the community’s economic stakeholders to secure the funding for the important work they do in promoting Pierce County and ensuring a vibrant and growing local economy.  Through their work, the EDB Tacoma Pierce County creates and retains quality, good-paying jobs by recruiting new businesses to the South Sound and helping existing employers expand and thrive here.

With these goals in mind, the EDB has officially launched the Elevate Tacoma Pierce County campaign to fund its new 2026-2030 strategic plan.  Three of the community’s most respected business leaders have agreed to serve as co-chairs:

• Bill Robertson – CEO, MultiCare
• Bett Lucas – Senior Vice President, SeaPort Sound Terminal
• Brian Marlow – Washington Market President, Key Bank

Collectively the three co-chairs reflected on what the Elevate Tacoma Pierce County Capital Campaign means to them, “We commend the EDB’s board of directors, staff, and investors for their work in creating a five-year plan that aligns with the needs and opportunities of the community’s economic stakeholders and signals the organization’s intent to evolve and adapt to the current environment for economic development.  We are optimistic that this plan will produce economic growth and prosperity for Tacoma Pierce County and are confident that it will resonate with private and public sector investors.”

The EDB’s pursuit of growth and prosperity for Tacoma and Pierce County will focus on three core objectives over the next five years:

1. Improve the Business Environment in Tacoma – Pierce County
2. Attract, retain, and create quality jobs
3. Create a long-term vision for Tacoma Pierce County

According to Bett Lucas, 2025 EDB Tacoma Pierce County Chair, “The Elevate Tacoma Pierce County Campaign is fortunate to have a strong team of public and private sector leaders serving on the Campaign Leadership Council.  Their commitment of time, energy, and financial resources reflects the importance of the EDB’s work and its impact on our shared economic future.”

The leadership team will rely on other members of the Campaign Leadership Council including:

• Eddie Bratko – MultiCare
• Don Clark, Jr. – Sound Credit Union
• David Moore Devine – Umpqua Bank
• Lisa Goodman – The Benaroya Company
• Matt McLennan – Kidder Matthews
• Herb Simon – Simon Johnson

Honorary Leadership Council

• Eric Johnson – Executive Director, Port of Tacoma
• Ryan Mello – County Executive, Pierce County
• Victoria Woodards – Mayor, City of Tacoma

In the coming weeks, look for more information about the new five-year plan and the Elevate Tacoma Pierce campaign updates in future newsletters.