Pierce County Update for Business: April 27, 2023

April 27, 2023

Help Shape the Future of Tourism in Pierce County

Tourism is an important industry in Pierce County and contributes to the vitality of our local economy and business community. Pierce County Economic Development, in partnership with Pierce County’s Tourism Promotion Area Hotel Commission and Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, is creating a Tourism Destination Strategic Plan. Gathering resident input is critical to understanding how tourism impacts Pierce County communities and what makes the region a great place to visit.

We would sincerely appreciate your time to complete a quick survey, which will take approximately 15 minutes. In addition, please share with your employees who live in Pierce County.

Click here to take the survey.

To learn more and for updates, visit www.PierceCountyWA.gov/TourismSurvey.

Employer & CTE Director Meet & Greet

April 27, 2023; 3:00-5:00pm

Looking for talent? Connect with Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program Directors and explore how CTE programs intersect with the job skills you are looking for. All industry sectors are welcome! A program of the Economic Development Board of Tacoma-Pierce County and Sumner-Bonney Lake School District CTE. Click here for more information and to register.

Pierce County Businesses Receive $6.29M in Statewide Grant Assistance

355 Pierce County businesses received funding through several recent grant programs via the Washington State Department of Commerce to aid in business recovery from the pandemic and assist with disaster relief:

Working Washington Grants Round 5: $ 5,217,619 (339 businesses)
Convention Center Grants: $186,327 (4 businesses)
Small Business Disaster Relief Grants: $884,104 (12 businesses)

National Small Business Week Starts April 30

For more than 50 years, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has celebrated National Small Business Week, which recognizes the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. Meet other business owners and get expert advice at a free 2-day summit May 2 and 3.

FREE Business Skills Training 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 and 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.

Pierce County Business Accelerator Program - Applications open until cohorts are filled! This program serves entrepreneurs and business owners throughout Pierce County with a focus on underserved communities. Following six-weeks of business training, graduates are eligible for grant funding opportunities.

Pierce County Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy + Resiliency (C-PACER) Program - The C-PACER program allows owners and developers of eligible properties in Pierce County to obtain long-term financing, at a lower interest rate, for qualifying energy generation, energy efficiency, water conservation or resiliency projects.

Employer-Supported Child Care Technical Assistance. For many employers it is becoming more competitive and expensive to recruit, hire and retain employees. One factor is that working families are having a difficult time finding quality child care that is affordable. What does it take for a business to consider and implement family-friendly options? Washington State Department of Commerce offers free consultations. For more information contact [email protected].

Discover Local BIPOC, Women, and Veteran-Owned Businesses at PCBA.biz

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.

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