April 19, 2019

Where are we now?

‘State of’ addresses tout economic opportunity in South Sound

Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier and City of Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards recently gave their state of addresses and both highlighted economic development themes among their remarks.  Here are our top-three takeaways from each address:

2019 State of the County highlights:

  • Local businesses are expanding and new businesses are coming and bringing jobs. AIM AerospaceTool Gauge and Carlson Paving Products are expanding operations and adding jobs. In Frederickson, Best Buy is building a 400,000-square-foot warehouse center, and Chicago-based Logistics Property Company will add five new buildings to the landscape. San Diego-based ScaleMatrix opened a facility in early March on the South Hill Puyallup Centeris campus, bringing new technology that will attract even more companies and jobs to the region. (Read more about that in an upcoming issue of Teamwork.)
  • We’re not done helping businesses come to and grow in Pierce County. A proposed ordinance presented to the Pierce County Council is designed to further remove barriers to doing business here, and the County’s Red Tape Reduction Taskforce helps streamline codes and create a one-stop shop for permits.
  • Leveraging technology to make county government more transparent and accountable. The County’s online portal and online site provide easy access to data from across county government. Watch for more features of the Open Pierce County initiative, including online access to the County’s checkbook and the ability to see if construction projects are on schedule and on budget.
Watch and listen to the full State of the County address (and learn more about the “Pierce County Way”) here.

2019 State of the City highlights:

  • It’s all about living wage jobs. The city will continue to partner with local anchor institutions like the EDBTacoma-Pierce County Chamber and Manufacturing Industrial Council, to strengthen our economy and grow local opportunities, and look for better ways to communicate with employers and entrepreneurs investing in Tacoma. That includes making green jobs a priority.
  • We’re keeping our eye on on medium- and small-sized businesses. For 2019-20, the City of Tacoma plans to increase outreach to businesses with 5 to 50 employees by nearly 50 percent.
  • Reducing barriers to doing business. Efforts to simplify and streamline the commercial permitting process will continue.
Watch and listen to Mayor Woodards’ full address (including more about her Coffee With the Mayor event series) here.

What’s happening around the rest of Pierce County?

Other local municipalities also provide annual or periodic city updates, and they all support the importance of economic development. Here’s where to find the addresses:
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