Grease Interceptors and Transportation Major Topics at Gov. Affairs Meetings

Grease interceptors are a consistent topic at our Government Affairs Committee meetings for past several months.  Representatives from Pierce County Public Works Dept., Puyallup Public Works Dept. and Sumner Public Works Dept. have met with our committee to discuss the challenges of opening restaurants in the jurisdictions within our Chamber's focus area.  The committee remains engaged in conversations with Pierce County, Puyallup and Sumner as we work towards an education program that assists with the development of restaurants in our area.  

Our Government Affairs Committee has also maintained ongoing communication with our state legislators regarding transportation issues and completion of SR 167.  In May, Rep. Drew Stokesbarry and Sen. Bruce Dammeier both attended our meeting to give reports from the House and the Senate regarding transportation, education funding, the state budget and more.

If you would like to learn more about the issues and topics discussed at Government Affairs meetings, please contact our office at 253.845.6755 to be added to our email list.  Meetings are the first Tuesday of every month at the Chamber office and there is no cost to attend.

Puyallup and Sumner Go To Washington

Puyallup Sumner Chamber of Commerce Chairman, Kent Hojem
and Chair elect, Dave Radcliffe, on Pennsylvania Ave.

Over 40 Pierce County delegates made their way to the nation's capitol in May as part of a regional advocacy effort.  Issues like reduction of troops at JBLM, funding of federal and state highway infrastructure, environmental regulations, import/export bank, and more were all represented by local businesses and chambers of commerce.  This year the Pierce County delegation partnered with the State of Alaska Chamber of Commerce to join the discussion of how important our ports' to our businesses.

If you are interested in joining our chamber at next year's delegation trip to Washington DC, please contact our office.

Congressman Denny Heck meets with Puyallup Sumner
Chamber delegation in Washington DC.
Kent Hojem, Dave Radcliffe, Charla Neuman & Shelly Schlumpf.

Chair, Kent Hojem, meets Senator Patty Murray

Chair, Kent Hojem, meets Senator Maria Cantwell

Norm Dicks, Rep. Denny Heck, Eddie Westmoreland

Rep. Denny Heck and Kent Hojem

Gov Affairs Chair, Charla Neuman and Rep. Denny Heck

Mr. and Mrs. Gary Brackett from Tacoma Pierce Co Chamber

Sean Egan, Port of Tacoma, enjoys quip from Rep. Denny Heck

Tapco CEO. Carlyn Roy, and TPU Board Member
Monique Trudnowski with Shelly at Dept. of Defense

Rachel Petro, Alaska State Chamber, Toby Murray, Murray Pacific Corp
Sharmila Swenon, PSE and Linda Nguyen Workforce Central wait ouside
Senator Cantwell's office for next delegation meeting.

Charla Neuman and Sean Egan wait outside Sen. Cantwell's office too.
Familiar territory for Charla who used to work for Senator Cantwell.

Rep. Derek Kilmer gives Pierce County delegation the midnight
tour of the capitol rotunda in DC.

Kent Hojem and Shawn Bunney walk and talk on the way
to our next congressional meeting.

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rogers joins the delegation for dinner.

Dave Radcliffe meets Abe Lincoln during the Capitol tour.

Norm Dicks and Kent Hojem in deep conversation about the
Washington State Fair and scones.

Leadership Institute Participants Get Ready to Graduate

The Leadership Institute Class of 2015 is slated to graduate on Tuesday, June 23rd.  Seen here at Green Mt. Coffee Roasters, the class completed their last day focusing on leaders in the community and building effective teams in the workplace.

A big thank you our class facilitators, Tana Hasart and Sandy Maynard, pictured here center, and Green Mt. Coffee Roasters for allowing us to use their facilities and provide everyone with a great cup of coffee to perk up our 8:00am class activities..

Left to right, Ashley Krebs, Laura Vitale, Janel Tobar, Ellen Mak, Megan Dazey, Tana Hasart, Nick Vujnich, Sandy Maynard, Renne Gilliam, Maretha Baltimore, Daron Uphaus, Heather Smith, and Donnelle Dayao.  Not pictured, Melissa Huston and Jennifer Quaife.  Congratulations Class of 2015.

Government Affairs Committee Works with Cities and County re: Grease Interceptors

For the past several months the Chamber has been working with chamber restaurant businesses and the cities of Puyallup and Sumner, as well as Pierce Co. to discuss the cost, timeline and permitting process for installation of Grease Interceptors.  At our April 7th Government Affairs Committee meeting all three jurisdictions attended to discuss process and requirements of installing Grease Interceptors in our local eating establishments.  

The goal of these discussions is to improve the Chamber's business advocacy for our local restaurants in Puyallup, Sumner and So. Hill and to provide resources for entrepreneurs interested in starting a new restaurant or food business.  During our April discussion, Ryan Windish, Sumner Sr. Planner, pointed out that restaurants are the number one draw to a downtown, and independent restaurants are the number one requested item when residents are surveyed regarding a downtown draw.  He emphasized this is a basic element of economic development in our Central Business Districts.  

If you are interested in attending our Government Affairs meetings, contact the Chamber for more information and request to be included in our committee contact list.

The Chamber thanks the City of Puyallup, City of Sumner and Pierce County for their participation in these discussions.

Chamber Bash Hosted Flappers & Coppers

Our second annual Chamber Bash and Auction brought out the Roaring 20's in our favorite members and community leaders.  Held at the Station House 726 in downtown Puyallup, the historic venue was a perfect backdrop for all the feather boas, suspenders and dancing shoes that showed up to support the Chamber and enjoy a night on the town.

A special thank you to Jamie Gregory, our auctioneer for the evening, and his lovely assistants, Daffodil princesses in their traditional yellow gowns, and Corey Kolilis from Puget Sound Entertainment.

We also want to thank our Ambassadors and Board Members and the following businesses who supported our event:  Neuman Navigations * The Old Cannery Furniture Warehouse * SignDog Media * PSE * American Party Place * Maryhill Winery * Washington State Fair & Event Center * Crockett's Public House * Columbia Bank * Anchor Bank * Gateway Real Estate, CC Lucas * Funballz NW * McLendon's Hardware * Evergreen Groundworks * Wesley Homes * Josh Buffington, Man Cave Metal Art * Congressman Denny Heck * Biz IT Pros * Windmill Gardens * Ridgewells Catering * Bob's Burger & Brew * Sumner Veterinary Hospital * Cascade Regional Blood Services * Northwest Trek Wildlife Park * Wild Waves Theme Park * Impressive Signs * High Cedars Golf Course * Sportsman Warehouse * Windermere Real Estate, Cathy Morris * Aveda, So Hill Mall * YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties * Eterna Vein & Medical Aesthetics * Act 1 Theater Productions * Fairfield Inn & Suites * Sunset Chevrolet * Lane Tanabe, Absher Const. * The Washington State Governor Executive Mansion * Briske's Custom Cleaning * Burbon St. Cafe * Taco Del Mar * Dillanos Coffee Roasters.

 

Senate Passes Transportation Package Today

A Transportation Package was approved by the Senate today, which includes widening of the Interstate 5 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and completion of the last six miles of SR 167 from the Puyallup terminus to the Port of Tacoma.

The Puyallup Sumner Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the following senators who voted for the package:  Sen. Bruce Dammeier 25^thDistrict,  and Sen. Angel, Bailey, Baumgartner, Becker,  Braun, Brown, Conway, Darneille, Fain, Hatfield, Hewitt, Hill, Hobbs, Honeyford, King, Liias, Litzow, Miloscia, Mullet, O'Ban, Parlette, Pedersen, Rivers, Schoesler, Sheldon,  and Warnick

The Senate Transportation Package represents a shot in the arm for the state's economy and our region.  We need to get our freight moving, our commuters unstuck from those traffic jams and help grow jobs long term.  This package will do that.

It is important that the transportation funding source be the gas tax.  These funds are guaranteed under the State Constitution to be utilized for roads and transportation projects.  Low Carbon Fuel Standards and Carbon tax do not have this guarantee.  This means that the Senate package ensures we can see where our money is going. It also ensures that we know what projects will be funded.  It does not just raise a tax that could be diverted at any time and leave our region once again in a transportation quagmire.

The transportation package is now moving on to the House of Representatives and, if approved there, to Washington State voters.

Again, a thank you to all our legislators who voted their support of our businesses, investment in our regional freight corridors and future job creation in Washington State.