Windmill Gardens "Blooms" at the U.S. Open

Congratulations to Ben DeGoede and Windmill Gardens on their landscaping contract with the USGA for the upcoming international golfing event at Chambers Bay.  For those of you who attend the U.S. Open next week, check out the gorgeous flowers and greenery around the Pavilion.  Rhubarb Pie isn't the only thing you can find in Sumner.

2nd Annual Puyallup Food Bank Fundraiser Breakfast

The Puyallup Community turned out to support the local Food Bank bright and early on June 9th at the Bethany Baptist Church on So. Hill.  Board Member, Kent Boyle, welcomed guests and thanked Executive Director, Shanna Peterson, for her passion and commitment to the Puyallup Food Bank.  

Community leaders attended to support the organization and recognize the many volunteers that make the Food Bank so successful.  Job well done and many thinks for all you do in our community. 

U.S. Open Starts Monday

The U.S. Open is almost here.  If you've been meaning to sign up to volunteer in our visitor information booth that will be located in the Cattin's Restaurant parking lot, contact our office or visit our website to sign up.  Volunteers receive a free bright green T-shirt when they work at the booth.

Sign up now!  www.puyallupsumnerchamber.com

Meeker Mansion Hosts Puyallup Main Street Assoc. 125th City Anniversary Kick Off

The City of Puyallup celebrates is 125th Anniversay this August.  Michelle McGill, Executive Director for the Puyallup Main Street Assoc. kicked off the anniversary celebrations last week at Meeker Mansion.  Mayor Knutsen and members of the Council attended the kick off and members of the historical society hosted tours of the mansion for guests.

For a more detailed description of anniversary activities this summer, click here for a calendar of events.

Gov. Inslee Visits the Puyallup River Bridge Project

Governor Jay Inslee makes a visit to Puyallup to receive an updated report from Kevin Dayton, WSDOT, regarding the status of the Puyallup River Bridge project.  In addition to talking with some of the construction workers on the bridge project, Governor Inslee also listened to Mayor John Knutsen, City Manager, Kevin Yamamoto, and the Chamber as we listed the impact of the bridge to citizens and businesses in the Puyallup community.  We were also able to emphasize the impact of SR 167's termination in Puyallup.

Governor Inslee spoke about his support of a transportation package that included completion of SR 167 and commented that he is urging legislators to work together to produce a transportation solution for our state's freight corridors.

Community Helps Celebrate Life Care Center Ribbon Cutting

The Puyallup Community showed their support and came out to help celebrate the opening of Life Care Center So. Hill last week.  The Life Care Center leadership were welcomed by congressional representatives, state legislative representatives and local council members and show their support of our community's newest adult care facility.

Our Chamber has followed all of the hard work that has been put into this new facility and has been impressed at the outreach into the community before it was even opened.  It has state of the art therapy for it's residents and Dr. Stan Flemming, well known in the Pierce County region, has been named as the resident physician of the facility.

A big Chamber congratulations to Life Care Center.  It was an honor to assist you with your opening ceremonies and we wish you continued success in our community with your new second location.

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.