City of Puyallup’s Credit Rating Improves

The City of Puyallup is pleased to announce that Standard & Poor’s Rating Services (S&P) has raised the City’s credit rating from AA- to AA. The rating upgrade indicates S&P’s increasing confidence in the City’s strong capacity to meet its financial commitments. “We think the action by Standard & Poor’s to upgrade the City’s credit rating is directly related to the financial discipline the City has exhibited over the past several years” said City Manager Bill McDonald.

In its report, S&P commented that “Puyallup’s budgetary flexibility is very strong” and that “very strong liquidity supports Puyallup's finances”. It further stated that the stable outlook reflects S&P’s view of the City's strong economy and strong management. Puyallup's adequate budgetary performance combined with an adequate debt and contingent liabilities profile, also contributed to this rating upgrade.

“It’s nice to get this confirmation that the City is going in the right direction, thanks to the Council’s conservative policy changes and balancing actions over the last few years” said Finance Director Cliff Craig. 

The city requested the rating review as an initial step toward saving taxpayer dollars by refinancing existing debt. By taking advantage of lower interest rates and the improved credit rating, the city will save more than $700,000 over the next 13 years. 

 

            

May Wake Up events at the Puyallup Library

Last Thursday was the first of four Wake Up events at the Puyallup Library focusing on business services that they provide to the public at no cost.  Puyallup Library Director, Tim Wadham, has partnered with the Chamber to invite our members in to learn about their business programs, resources and databases which can be accessed at the library in person or online.  This last week our members and guests learned how to obtain a library card, accessing the library website and tutorials that can be accessed for career advancement, job placement and more. 

The next three Wake Up events at the Puyallup Library will focus on the following topics:

     May 15^th Microsoft IT Academy
     May 22^nd: TBD (Most likely business plan program related)
     May 29^th: Reference USA/ Business Demographics

Wake Ups start at 8:00am and last an hour.  There is plenty of opportunity to network with other businesses, but its a great way to learn about local no cost business resources and share information with other business owners and representatives.  Plus, members can always stay and ask questions.

A big thank you to Tim and his staff for graciously hosting this month's networking events.  Come learn about their programs and resources and meet some of our newest members.  

Large Pierce County Delegation visits Washington DC

Pierce County was well represented this last week in Washington DC.  Four of our Chamber's Government Affairs Committee members attended the W2W DC trip with the Tacoma Pierce County Chamber of Commerce to discuss issues like transportation, JBLM, Port of Tacoma and environment.  Puyallup Sumner Chamber Board member and Chair of our Government Affairs Committee, Charla Neuman of Neuman Navigations, teleconferenced in to our Government Affairs committee meeting last Tuesday with an update on the impact of our business participation in the delegation.  They continue to report on the importance of transportation projects like completing SR 167 and I-5 near JBLM, but there was also a focus on environmental issues like Clean Water Act.   Scott Jones of Newland Homes reported that our congressional leaders are taking note of the growing number of delegates participating in the trip and how it is impacting their awareness of local issues.

If you'd like more information on the DC trip, please attend our June 3rd Government Affairs Committee meeting, 7:30am at the Chamber office, for a complete briefing.

Chamber Luncheon Discusses Local Residential Construction Trends

Last Friday's luncheon included a roomful of discussion about construction trends in the Puyallup and Sumner areas of Pierce County and quite a few comments about shopping at McLendons.
  
Our Panelists at the luncheon included Addison Gregory, Watson's Greenhouse and Nursery, Brian McLendon, McLendon Hardware Inc., Tim Mellema, PrimeLending and Wendy Grant, JK Monarch Fine Homes.  But members of our audience from businesses like Olympic Landscaping, Gateway Realty, American Family Insurance, Quality 1st Pest Solutions, Bank of America, Newland Homes, FlowHawks and more also joined in the conversation to add their firsthand knowledge about local construction, new hiring and local sales trends.

The take away from the luncheon was that the housing market is strong in Eastern Pierce County, Tim Mellema advising that he has seen some ramblers in the more desirable rural areas selling after being listed for only four hours. Construction is on a little bit of an uptick and local housing inventory is minimal, good for sellers, challenging for buyers.   Another take away from the luncheon was that a lot of different types of contractors and businesses shop at McLendons.

A big thank you to our panelists and our members who generously participated in the conversations and to sponsor, Bank of America.  

Goodwill "blue" Grand Opening in Sumner

Terry Hayes, Goodwill CEO, accepts $90,000 check from
Barbara Mitchell Briner, Senior VP, Chase Commercial Banking

Sumner welcomed a new business to the downtown core last Thursday and the Chamber served up tasty rhubarb pie from Berryland Cafe and a cup of Dillanos coffee to more than 150 guests who showed up to see first hand what the Goodwill "blue" boutique was all about.  Goodwill representatives commented that this was the largest opening crowd they'd had since opening their first "blue" boutique and hope this is an indicator of the customers to come.   Chamber members like Brian McLendon, McLendons Hardware, commented that they were pleased to see the new business on Main Street because new customers help all the downtown businesses, including theirs.  Berryland Cafe owners commented that after the event, they had several representatives from Goodwill and Chase Bank visit the restaurant to eat.

Goodwill estimates this boutique in Sumner will produce seven jobs, $750,000 in area economic stimulus and fund job training and placement for another 250 unemployed over the next five years.  And those are the kind of statistics our Chamber enjoys hearing about.

Congratulations to Goodwill for an outstanding event and on behalf of our Chamber, our members wish you much success in the coming months and years.

Ambassadors join the Goodwill blue welcome.

Ambassadors serve Rhubarb Pie from Berryland Cafe
and Dillanos Coffee.

Sumner Mayor Dave Enslow and
 Councilwomen Kathy Hayden and Cindi Hochstatter

Debbie Garrison, Heritage Bank,
leaves store with blue treasure.

Bldg owner, Jim Merritt, and Mayor Enslow
 are all smiles at the Blue Grand Opening.

South Sound Coalition Plans for Mid-Year Event

Last Friday chamber leaders from Renton, Covington, Kent, Southwest King County, Auburn, Puyallup, Sumner and Fife met with lobbyist Carolyn Logue for the May meeting of the South Sound Chamber of Commerce Legislative Coalition.  Local chamber representatives received a legislative update from the lobbyist regarding transportation and completion of SR 167, education funding and budget issues, as well as the topic of minimum wage in Seattle and the region.  

The SSCCLC continues to keep the issue of Transportation and SR 167 in the forefront of most discussions with legislators, but the coalition is also interested in presenting suggesting possible solutions for funding education and transportation on behalf of the regional business community.  To that end the coalition is now planning for a mid year event for legislators, businesses and chamber representatives to provide an opportunity for discussion on the topics of transportation, education funding and minimum wage.

The breakfast event is tentatively scheduled for September 24th at 7:30am at Emerald Downs.  If you have any specific stories or concerns you would like addressed at the meeting, please contact the Chamber office at 253.845.6755.

Pierce College Puyallup Hosts Blue Review Tour of Campus

Pierce College Puyallup President, Dr. Marty Cavalluzzi, leads an Ambassador Blue Review tour of the campus earlier this week.  Dr. Cavalluzzi introduced our ambassadors to a running start student who is a senior in high school this year and will start next year as a college junior as a result of her advanced classes at Pierce College and scheduled a stop at the college choir room to listen to a class rehearsal.  They even ran into State Rep. Hans Zeiger on the tour of the campus.

The Chamber group toured the new Arts and Allied Health Building, roamed the campus and visited classrooms with Dr. Cavalluzzi for an up close look at what is going on at the college and how our businesses can connect for job internships, continuing education and professional growth of existing employees and more.

A big thank you to Dr. Cavalluzzi for being an enthusiastic tour guide and for the education passion he has brought to our business community in the past year.  If you'd like to meet Dr. Cavalluzzi, come to one of our Thursday morning Wake Up networking meetings or enroll in our 2014-2015 Leadership Institute program which begins in October. 

 

 

So. Hill Taco Del Mar Grand Re-Opening

Our Chamber Blue was the perfect color to wear to the ribbon cutting and grand re-opening of the Taco Del Mar on So. Hill near TJ Max.  Owners, Anwar and Shanna Meherally, welcomed our Chamber Ambassadors and Puyallup's mayor, John Knutsen, to their in-store celebration last week where they also honored their employees as an integral piece of their business success.  Also joining our event were customers who dropped in and restaurant vendors who brought flowers and cards congratulating them on their success.

Rob Lewis, Chair of our Ambassadors, is a big fan of the owners as well as their restaurant and admits that his favorite thing to order is the fish taco.  We want to thank Anwar and Shanna for being such gracious hosts and providing some new appetizing entres for us all of us to try.  Be sure to stop in and say hi and then try some of their menu items.  Tell them the Chamber sent you.