Pierce County Update for Business: March 1, 2023

March 1, 2023

FREE Business Skills Training Now Available for Pierce County Small Business Owners!

The Pierce County Business Skills Program offers busy small business owners and entrepreneurs a way to work on their business on their own time, at their own pace. FREE, on-demand business skills training is now available to help small businesses start, grow, and stay on track. Classes focus on the basics of how to succeed in business and quickly build skills to immediately put into practice.

Click Here to Sign Up Today!

Pierce County Business Skills Program Video

Start working on key areas for business success including bookkeeping, tax reporting, business planning, business law, sales skills, marketing strategies, graphic design, web design, and intercultural communication.

The Pierce County Business Skills Program's free curriculum is developed in partnership with the Pierce County Economic Development Department and Pacific Lutheran University as part of the Pierce County Community Navigator program and is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act.

Alliance Northwest Government Contracting Training & Outreach Event March 16

Alliance Northwest is the largest business-to-government conference in the Pacific Northwest. This event, hosted by Thurston Economic Development Council, home of Washington Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), features high-quality workshops and matchmaking sessions between small businesses, government agencies, and prime contractors. Click here for registration and more information.

Pierce County Business Accelerator Program - Applications open until cohorts are filled!
Pierce County Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy + Resiliency (C-PACER) Program
Now Open: City of Tacoma Digital Sales Access Program
Washington MBDA Achieve More Grant Program - Apply by March 19
USDA Rural Development Business & Industry Loan Guarantee Program
Growth Grant for Underserved Manufacturing Enterprises - Open through April 30, 2023 or until all funds are allocated
Coming March 2023 - Washington State Department of Commerce Hospitality & Lodging Grant Program

2023 SCORE Puget Sound Women's Pitch Contest

2023 Puget Sound Women’s Pitch Contest

Brought to you by SCORE Greater Seattle, this Pitch Contest is open to women entrepreneurs and women small business owners in the Puget Sound region to pitch to investors. Finalists will be awarded cash prizes. Click here for more info and to register for a March 6 informational seminar. Enter by March 31.

Questions About Starting a Food Business?

Early contact with the Tacoma- Pierce County Health Department is important for success. New operators will benefit by learning about required permit applications, processes, and equipment. Contact the Health Department at [email protected] or (253) 649-1706. Learn more about opening or operating a food business.

Discover Local BIPOC, Women, and Veteran Owned Businesses Directory

Shop local and support BIPOC, women, and veteran-owned small businesses via a new online directory at PCBAmap.biz The directory spotlights Pierce County Business Accelerator program (PCBA) graduate businesses, offering a variety of goods and services.

About the PCBA:
The Pierce County Business Accelerator (PCBA) is a program of the Pierce County Economic Development Department funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and administered by the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce. The City of Lakewood is a municipal partner. The PCBA is managed in partnership with Next Consulting, Asia Pacific Cultural Center, The Black Collective, Mi Centro, and Korean Women’s Association. To learn more about the PCBA visit PCBA.biz.

Pierce County Economic Development

950 Pacific Ave, Suite 525
Tacoma, WA 98402
www.piercecountywa.gov/edd