WA S H I N G TO N
P I E R C E C O U N T Y, U S A
2 0 0 9 R E L O C AT I O N G U I D E
What’s Inside
2009 Tacoma-Pierce County Relocation Guide
FEATURES
22
18 Learning to Succeed
18
Goodwill’s New Work Opportunity Center
Conservation as a Core Concern
22
Simpson Investment Company’s Recycling Efforts
Heritage Meets Variety
31
The Neighborhoods of Historic North End
Beyond Revitalization
33
The Future of Downtown Tacoma
31
A National Gem Hosts a National Event
34
U.S. Open Comes to Chambers Bay in 2015
www.tacomachamber.org 3
Overview Business & Community Profile...............6 CommunityLink.com
1 800-455-5600
production
production manager
director of publication design
managing editor
Laura Wilcoxen
copywriting
carol cummings
MATT PRICE
Chronicle: What’s Happening Around Tacoma...................................................9
Amanda White
mAry McGlasson
gale robinette
Laura Wilcoxen
proofreader
Christina Reese
director of photography
photography
Transportation By Land, Air, and Sea.....................................13
Lisa LEHR Chip Van Glider
BCRA
Bridges of Pierce County.........................15
Goodwill
Fort Lewis
Puyallup Fair
Tacoma Rainers
Tractical Tailor
cover photo
cover design
publication design
Joanne Buselmeier Matt Price Amanda White
web site creation & support JOSH CHANDLER director of media purchasing DIANA VAUGHN
business development director of business development
director of outside sales
debbie moss
Bonnie Ebers
kathy Risley
advertising
director of ad development
ad research
ad traffic
ad design
Learning to Succeed ..................................18 Saluting Our Military....................................19 “Power Through Connections”...........20
shawna moyers
business development manager customer service director
Economy & Employment
George Prudhomme
director of inside sales NANCY ODOM marketing specialist
Branching Out...................................................16
kacey wolters Mary kopshever MILLY MASON
Tacoma Angels Help Startups Fly.....21 Conservation as a Core Concern....22 Biz Briefs.................................................................23
Amy SchwartzkoPf Carol Smith JOSh Mueller
Health
administrative support
administrative support
account support
Kathy Hagene
MultiCare Connect.......................................25
carol Smith Terri Ahner Tricia Cannedy
Franciscan Health System........................27
meredith moyers
human resources assistant
mailroom technician
Teresa craig melinda bowlin
information technology
publishing systems specialist
christopher miller
executive leadership
chairman and founder
Craig Williams
chief financial officer
Rhonda Harsy
ABOUT This book is published by CommunityLink and distributed through the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber. For advertising information or questions or comments about this book, contact CommunityLink at 800-455-5600 or by e-mail at info@CommunityLink.com. FOR INFORMATION Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, 950 Pacific Ave. Suite 300, Tacoma, WA 98402, Telephone 253-627-2175, Fax 253-597-7305, www.tacomachamber.org
© 2009 Craig Williams Creative, Inc., 4742 Holts Prairie Road, Post Office Box 306, Pinckneyville, IL 62274-0306, 618-357-8653. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
4 Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber
“It’s About [a Healthy] You!”...................29
Housing & Community Development Heritage Meets Variety...............................31 Beyond Revitalization...................................33
Arts/Culture Curtain Call.........................................................40 A Decade of Film...........................................41 The Museum Scene.....................................42
Living on the Waterfront..........................33
Recreation/Tourism A National Gem Hosts a National Event...................................................34 Come Out and Play: Tacoma Festivals...............................................36
Education State-of-the-Art K–12.................................43 College Town U.S.A......................................44 Getting Off to a Great Start.................46 Educational Alternatives.............................48
Tall Ships® 2008.............................................37 Shop and Dine Tacoma Style................38 Take Me Out to Tacoma...........................39
Index of Advertisers Advertiser............................... Page Number Annie Wright School............................................................24 Blitz & Co. Florist......................................................................10 Boy Scouts of America – Pacific Harbors Council......................................................8 Brookdale Senior Living......................................................26 Business Interiors Northwest.........................................21 Chambers Bay Golf Course..................................17, 39 Charles Wright Academy............ Inside Back Cover Coldwell Banker – Danforth & Associates, Inc.........................................34 Comforce Staffing Services..............................................35 Commencement Bank........................................................30 Community Health Care...................................................18 Corporate Suites, Inc............................................................48 Curtright & Son...........................................................................8 Dobler Management Company, Inc..........................24 The Esplanade...................................... Inside Back Cover Foss Waterway Seaport.....................................................40 Franciscan Health System..................................................28 Fred Tebb & Sons, Inc. ........................................................37 Freighthouse Square..............................................................30
Advertiser............................... Page Number GEICO.............................................................................................10 Heritage Bank.............................................................................40 Husky Terminal & Stevedoring, Inc................................7 International Union of Operating Engineers Local 612................................11 Jonz Catering...............................................................................15 Kelly Services...............................................................................11 King Oscar........................................................................................6 Korean Women’s Association...........................................2 Malm’s Dry Cleaning & Alterations...........................11 McLaughlin Capital Group................................................10 Metro Parks Tacoma.................................................................1 Mountain Moving & Storage...........................................14 MultiCare.................................................Inside Front Cover Narrows Glen............................................................................35 NorthPoint at Creekside...................................................45 NoteWorld Servicing Center........................................12 Olalla Recovery Centers...................................................26 Olive Garden..............................................................................40 Orchard Park Health Care and Rehabilitation Center.........................................................7
Advertiser............................... Page Number P & J Maching, Inc. ....................................................................6 Pierce College............................................................................47 Port of Tacoma..........................................................................37 R-4 Printing, Inc. ..........................................................................8 Rainier Dental.............................................................................26 Sound Credit Union..............................................................21 Spherion..........................................................................................37 State Farm Insurance............................................................45 Tacoma Community College............................................8 Tacoma Lutheran Retirement Community................................................34 Tacoma Medical Center Pharmacy...............................8 Tacoma Public Utilities..............Outside Back Cover Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc................................12 Union Bank of California....................................................18 University of Puget Sound................................................14 University of Washington Tacoma..............................18 Walden Mortgage...................................................................21 Walmart.........................................................................................48
www.tacomachamber.org 5
Business & Community Profile Tacoma-Pierce County at a Glance Compiled by Mary McGlasson
Population Tacoma, 2008...........................202,700 Tacoma, 2000...........................176,664 Pierce County, 2008..................805,400 Pierce County, 2000..................700,820
Housing Median home price, Pierce County 2007...................$275,000 Average home price, Tacoma 2007.............................$262,766
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Washington State OFM
Source: Northwest Multiple Listing Service; Money Magazine
Education Population over age 25 High school graduate or higher................... 89.3% Bachelor’s degree or higher.......................... 22.7% Colleges/universities/ professional schools within 30 miles................. 15 Junior colleges/technical schools within 30 miles..................................... 21 Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Money Magazine
Major Employers: All Sectors Quality of Life Air Quality Index (% of days AQI ranked as good)........92.6% Movie theaters within 15 miles...................28 Restaurants within 15 miles...................2,381 Public golf courses within 30 miles..........111 Libraries within 15 miles............................70 Museums accredited by AAM within 30 miles............................ 9 Ski resorts within 100 miles........................10 High temperature in July (°F).................76.1° Low temperature in January (°F)............35.1° Racial diversity index (100 is national average).....................155.5 Mileage to Seattle, Wash.............................34 Sources: Money Magazine; Rand McNally
Rank................. Organization.................... Employees....................... Industry 1 ................ U.S. Army Fort Lewis (Total)...................40,091.....................................Defense Uniformed................................28,719 Civilian..................................11,372 2 .................Local Public School Districts....................13,434.................................Education 3................. U.S. Air Force McChord AFB...................10,443.....................................Defense Civilian & Reserve...........................6,693 Uniformed.................................3,750 4 ................ Washington State Employees....................8,099........Government/Public Offices 5.................... MultiCare Health System.......................5,832..........................Health Services 6 ...................Franciscan Health System.......................4,041..........................Health Services 7 ........... U.S. Army Madigan Medical Center...............3,796............................... Health Care Civilian...................................2,421 Uniformed.................................1,375 8 ..................Pierce County Government......................3,220........Government/Public Offices 9 ........... Washington State Higher Education...............3,170.....................................Colleges 10 ...........Washington State National Guard.................2,711......................................Defense Source: Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County, 2008
6 Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber
Taxes
Economic Indicators Taxable Retail Sales Tacoma, 2006.........................$4.54 billion Source: Washington State Department of Revenue
Labor Force, Pierce County, April 2008 Total Labor Force........................... 395,750 Employed....................................... 374,750 Unemployed.....................................21,000 Unemployment Rate........................... 5.3% Job Growth, 2000–2006................... 7.53% Source: Washington State Employment Security Department; Money Magazine
Income, Pierce County Average Annual Wage, 2006.......... $37,687 Median Hourly Wage, 2006..............$17.76 Median Family Income, 2007........ $52,964 Source: Washington State Employment Security Department; Money Magazine
Cost of Living, 2Q2008 .............................. Tacoma..............U.S. Overall........................111.8..................100 Food...........................120.6..................100 Utilities........................81.8...................100 Miscellaneous..............110.5..................100 Source: The Council for Community and Economic Research
2008 Pierce County Property Taxes 2008 Tax.................2008.............$ Change............ % Change City.................................... Rate.................Tax............. From 2007..........From 2007 Incorporated Auburn ............................ 10.6496% ..........$3,968 ...............–$170 .....................–4.11% Bonney Lake .................... 10.7266% ..........$3,546 ............... $264 ....................... 8.04% Buckley ............................ 10.1738% ..........$2,653 ..................$2 ......................... 0.08% Carbonado ......................... 9.794% ............$2,047 ................ $38 ........................ 1.89% DuPont ............................. 9.2757% ...........$2,719 ................–$26 ......................–0.95% Eatonville . ........................ 9.0781% ...........$1,959 ................ $28 ........................ 1.45% Edgewood . ...................... 10.5703% ..........$3,876 ............... $177 ....................... 4.79% Fife ..................................... 9.02% .............$2,462 ...............–$336 ...................–12.01% Fircrest . ........................... 10.2451% ..........$3,062 ...............–$131 .......................–4.1% Gig Harbor ....................... 8.5701% ...........$3,816 ................ $10 ........................ 0.26% Lakewood ........................ 11.7574% ..........$3,344 ............... $198 ....................... 6.29% Milton . ............................. 8.6652% ...........$2,424 ...............–$284 ...................–10.49% Orting ............................... 10.819% ...........$2,450 ............... $103 ....................... 4.39% Pacific ............................... 9.5295% ...........$2,097 ................ $92 ........................ 4.59% Puyallup .......................... 10.4555% ..........$2,964 ................ $19 ........................ 0.65% Roy .................................. 10.6275% ..........$2,132 ............... $104 ....................... 5.13% Ruston .............................. 9.7014% ...........$2,916 ...............–$189 .....................–6.09% South Prairie .................... 10.6858% ..........$2,258 ...............–$158 .....................–6.54% Steilacoom ....................... 10.2135% ..........$3,579 ...............–$183 .....................–4.86% Sumner ............................. 9.8966% ...........$2,596 ................–$64 ......................–2.41% Tacoma ............................ 11.6749% ..........$2,871 ...............–$102 .....................–3.43% University Place ............... 12.6863% ..........$4,324 ............... $109 ....................... 2.59% Wilkeson .......................... 9.6129% ...........$1,856 ................–$44 ......................–2.32% Unincorporated Gig Harbor Peninsula ....... 9.2171% ...........$4,037 .................–$1 .......................–0.02% Key Peninsula ................... 8.8904% ...........$3,894 ...............–$-66 . ....................–1.67% Parkland .......................... 10.7401% ..........$2,496 ..................$1 ......................... 0.04% South Hill ........................ 11.0044% ..........$3,228 ................ $98 ........................ 3.13% Spanaway . ........................ 10.533% ...........$2,702 ................ $54 ........................ 2.04% Source: Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer
HUSKY TERMINAL AND STEVEDORING, INC. Steven M. Bassett – Vice President 253-680-2801 ° 253-680-2852 fax
www.tacomachamber.org 7
City of Tacoma Business and Tax Incentives Office and Retail • Washington State Job Skills Program • Wired City Advantages • Internet service providers do not pay B&O tax within the City of Tacoma • City of Tacoma business loan programs • City of Tacoma B&O tax credit for new job creation • Tacoma’s Neighborhood Business District Program
Competitive Broadband The greater Tacoma metropolitan area benefits from being in the unique position of actually having competitive broadband. Along with Comcast and Qwest, the greater Tacoma metro area also enjoys broadband service from the municipally owned Click! Network. Clearwire wireless broadband, a new Internet service provider, is also now serving Tacoma. Discussions of the capability of broadband technology to create a better business environment, more effective economic development, improved health care, enhanced education, and a more efficient government are happening throughout the country in major cities. That Tacoma enjoys competitive broadband services puts it one step ahead of its competitors.
8 Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber
Industrial • Industrial revenue bonds • Washington State sales and use tax exemption on machinery and equipment • Washington State Job Skills Program • Wired City Advantages • City of Tacoma business loan programs • City of Tacoma B&O tax credit for new job creation
Historic Building Rehabilitation • Federal Investment Tax Credit Program (20 percent federal income tax credit for rehab costs) • City of Tacoma financial incentives for historic properties Renewal Community/Community Empowerment Zone • A selected geographic area within the City of Tacoma has been designated as both a Renewal Community by the federal government and a Community Empowerment Zone by the State of Washington. Employers who locate within the RC/CEZ and meet certain hiring requirements may be eligible for tax credits as well as financing and contracting programs.
For more information on City of Tacoma incentives, as well as information on state and federal incentive programs, visit www.cityoftacoma.org. To view available commercial properties in Tacoma, visit www.tacomaspace.com and www.districtspace.com.
FREE DELIVERY
Special Packaging of Medicine 3 TH 3T 3TE s 4ACOMA 7!
(253) 383-4732 s WWW TMCPRX COM
Chronicle: What’s Happening Around Tacoma
A I V I R T L A L ?C
now? Didja K
ame erican n the m A e iv f the Nat other o ms from ich means “M e t s ” a wh com Toyota ame “Ta acobet,” ks the c u r t • The n t. Rainier, “T p f picku for M r line o in his la u .” p By Mary McGlasson s o r e p t dhood oured a s il it W h c d e a Arm acom y. ta nam • Toyo a after the cit rote of his T rporal,” “The f Tacoma,” w o m o C o Tac tigan rt stories “ st Children low Won’t B o rd Brau o • Richa iographical sh and “The Gh l So The Wind autob he Auction,” nished nove s desen it wa inus h Car,” “T as in his last fi w r e ’s monik ern term as well ay. Tacoma ailroad’s west e m w a A c e ll R It A acific tiny” b lbum y of Des he Northern P road in 1873. an” (on the a she it C “ • t il ic • Tacoma was ranked No. 2 among midsize cities in Inc. magazine’s 2008 ra er as hich ignated anscontinental Thrice All Am to Tacoma, w ct of the list of best U.S. cities for doing business — up 12 spots “ for its tr Neko Case’s by) is an ode also the subje a • ll from their rank of No. 14 last year. Inc. ranked Tacoma u ma is L m he Roo n. Taco Tacoma?” e w c o a t n 1907. T es e r u m in No. 14 among all U.S. cities, up from its ranking of F o s I t h il r ig u e c B b n Pla w rs h conside bley song, “Ho9 is a fire statio ter of Historic ws its No. 50 last year. e is e r . g b e W o R t N n a l h Jaso • Outside Magazine proclaimed Tacoma the “Fifth-Best Nationa e House a pub t • Engin s placed on the ilding houses Town in America” in its August 2008 issue. actors wa e bu as were building. Currently, th , a m o • Milken Institute’s 2008 report on “Top-Performing in Tac in 1975 r. 1930, as born ood. w Cities” ranked Tacoma among the top 10 — at No. 8. e e y b b f 1929– of the n s o o r r w ow e r C t e in d g ir Un the w r Bin gines • Tacoma was ranked among • Singe la Reed and Bla er shortage in y from the en it w e o ic r m the top 100 “Best Places for Pa ay p lect acoma g a 30-d d with e art of T movie p Business and Careers” in a • Durin a was provide exington. l, o o he Tacom carrier USS L ium High Sch locations for t 2008 by Forbes magazine. d g a ft t in a S r c lm air • Peninsula High School in Gig Harbor, -year-old as one of the fi he 100 w Emerald Ridge High School in Puyallup, and Graham- • T ublic Schools, About You. P te a gs I H Kapowsin High School in Graham were each ranked among 10 Thin the top 5 percent of high schools in the nation by Newsweek in 2008. To Market To Market • The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area was named among the top 10 “Knowledge Worker Metros” in 2007 by Expansion The Tacoma Farmers Market, “firmly Management magazine for having one planted in downtown Tacoma since 1990,” of the best-educated workforces offers Tacoma and Pierce County residents the in the nation. finest and freshest local produce every year • The Seattle-Tacomafrom May to October. Bellevue metro area was A nonprofit organization, the Market named among the has become a downtown tradition and has top 10 “Best Metros for swelled to include anywhere from 80 to 90 Future Business Locations” vendors serving 4,000 to 6,000 customers. in 2006 by Expansion The Tacoma Farmers Market is a key local Management magazine. food source that actively supports America’s • Tacoma was ranked “locavore” movement. among the top 50 “Smart The Market is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Places to Live” by Kiplinger’s each Thursday from mid-May through midPersonal Finance in 2006. October. For more information, call 253-272• The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue 7077 or visit www.tacomafarmersmarket.com. metro area was named among the top 50 “Hottest Cities” in 2006 by Expansion Management magazine. • Tacoma was recently listed as one of the most walkable cities in the country by Prevention magazine.
How Tacoma-Pierce County
Measures Up
www.tacomachamber.org 9
Do the Puyallup
Dome Sweet Dome One of the largest wood-domed structures in the world, the Tacoma Dome welcomes more than 1 million guests annually to a variety of live entertainment events that run the gamut from concerts, to professional bull riding, to trade shows. In 2008, the Dome celebrated 25 years of operation. The arena and its attached Exhibition Hall host over 300 days of events each year, and its unique design allows the capacity to fit nearly any type of event. With 65 percent
of the Dome’s seating being moveable, numerous seating configurations are available, ranging from 3,000 to 23,000 seats. The Tacoma Dome has hosted the 1990 Goodwill Games, the NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four in 1988 and 1989, and the 1987 United States Figure Skating Championships. Six professional sports franchises have called the Tacoma Dome home. For more information, call 253-272-3663.
Consistently ranked as one of the largest 10 fairs in the world, the Puyallup Fair — or the Western Washington Fair, as it’s officially known — is the single-largest annual attraction in the state. Two fair events are hosted at the Fair & Events Center east of Tacoma each year: the 17-day Puyallup Fair in September and the Puyallup Spring Fair, held over four days in April. Both events offer music and comedy, a rodeo, rides, animal exhibits, an art show, and — for the kids — fun at Sillyville, Toonzille, and the Mutton Bustin’ children’s rodeo.
Meet Me in Tacoma The Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center (GTCTC) is the second-largest meeting and convention facility in western Washington. The trademark glass walls, breathtaking mountain and water views, impressive architectural details, and high-quality interiors anchor the GTCTC in the heart of a vibrant city. The GTCTC offers an impressive selection of over 118,000 square feet of usable event space, including a 50,000-square-foot, column-free exhibition hall and a 13,650-square-
Tacoma Office: 253-584-7755 Toll-Free: 877-454-3426
!54/ s (/-% s 2%.4%23 -/4/2#9#,% s "/!4
Home, renters, and boat coverages are written through non-affiliated insurance companies and are secured through Insurance Counselors Inc, the GEICO Property Agency. Some discounts, coverages, payment plans, and features are not available in all states or in all GEICO companies. ©2007 GEICO. The GEICO gecko image © GEICO 1999-2007
10 Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber
foot ballroom. The GTCTC’s urban setting is within walking distance of more than 400 hotel rooms and over 60 restaurants and shops. The city’s complimentary light rail system offers access to many downtown attractions, and day spas, golf, and other attractions surround the center or are nearby. The world-class GTCTC offers event planners an upscale, high-tech, and attractive space that is ideal for Northwest meetings. For more information, call 888-227-3705 or e-mail contact@gtctc.org.
Zoobilee An annual black-tie fundraising event, Zoobilee is held each summer to benefit the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma. A gala, ticket-only affair, Zoobilee offers a wide variety of cuisine from nearly 70 area restaurants and beverage retailers. Entertainment includes music from five different stages, while a premier auction features one-of-a-kind adventures and travel opportunities, gift baskets of all kinds, spa gift certificates, unique jewelry, and more. With 792 animals from 98 different species, the fun and affordable Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium covers 29 acres in Point Defiance Park. Since Zoobilee’s inception in 1991, the event has raised millions of dollars in cash and in-kind support for the zoo and aquarium. For more information, call 253-404-3657.
Taste of Tacoma
Celebrating Tacoma’s Diversity Since 1986, Ethnic Fest has provided an annual celebration of the many cultures and ethnic groups that are part of Pierce County’s diverse community. The free event, held over the course of two days each July in Tacoma’s Wright Park, is one of the Pacific Northwest’s most popular events of its kind, attracting thousands of visitors and featuring performing and visual arts, crafts, dancing, information, and foods representing cultures from around the globe. During the festival, dozens of international food vendors and 40 import arts and handcrafts booths transform Wright Park into an international marketplace. The atmosphere is flavored by continuous live music, including world fusion, jazz, blues, Celtic, and gospel. In addition, performers on two stages present comedy, magic, and traditional ethnic dance. Ethnic Fest offers special events and activities for children and adults alike in the International Fun Zone, where families can enjoy art demonstrations, special performances, tea ceremonies, and face painting, as well as creating their own art. More than 60 Pierce County community-service agencies participate in Ethnic Fest each year. For more information, visit www.metroparkstacoma.org.
Taste of Tacoma continues to up its own ante with each new festival by offering more new attractions and more entertainment every summer — and, of course, more food. Taste of Tacoma, which benefits annual charities, is held each summer at Point Defiance Park over the course of one Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The festival features dozens of restaurants and food-product companies, as well as arts and crafts vendors, the “Wine & Roses�
wine-tasting exhibit, outdoor music stages, a comedy club, beer gardens, a carnival with amusement rides, and a host of fun activities for the whole family. This Tacoma tradition plans to continue expansion with each successive festival. For more information, visit www.tasteoftacoma.com or call 425-283-5050.
Rhonda G. Schwab Senior Account Executive
/Fl CE s #LERICAL s ,IGHT )NDUSTRIAL 3OUTH ND 34 3TE s 4ACOMA 7!
Phone: 253.576.1811 %MAIL SCHWARG KELLYSERVICES COM
www.kellyservices.com
www.tacomachamber.org 11
The Call of the Wild Northwest Trek Wildlife Park in Eatonville presents a unique opportunity to answer the call of the wild. The 723-acre park is home to more than 200 North American animals representing 30 species, including bison, Roosevelt elk, grizzly and black bears, lynx, wolves, moose, woodland caribou, mountain goats, and a variety of small forest and wetland animals. A narrated tram tour takes visitors through more than 400 acres of meadows and forests, and there’s a walking tour on paved forested pathways to enjoy. Northwest Trek also offers two learning centers, Cheney Discovery Center and Baker Research Cabin, that provide the chance for hands-on exploration of the natural world. Cheney Discovery Center features a beehive,
small animals, hands-on discovery boxes, crafts, and more, with seasonal displays. Baker Research Cabin is where kids get the opportunity to learn about wildlife research through hands-on experimentation with video cameras, binoculars, a computer, and many other tools used by field researchers. Along with field trips and school-based events like EcoAdventures and Best of the Northwest, Northwest Trek is proud to offer Adventure Trek programs for preschool through high school students. Each program is a 25-minute interactive learning experience that gives students the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities with a fun and ecological focus. For more information, visit www.nwtrek.org or call 360-832-6117.
I’m Dreaming of a BRIGHT Christmas Showcasing nearly 300 elaborate displays and thousands of sparkling lights, “Fantasy Lights at Spanaway Park” is the largest holiday drive-through display in the Northwest. Presented each year by Pierce County Parks and Recreation, the attraction is a two-mile winter-wonderland drive along Spanaway Lake. A variety of displays provides a magical lighted world for all ages, and visitors are encouraged to tune their car radio to add special holiday music to the festivity of the drive. “Fantasy Lights” is open in Spanaway Park every night from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve, including Christmas. Admission is charged per vehicle at the gate. Discount and group tickets are available. For more information, call 253-798-3330.
12 Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber
By Land, Air, and Sea By Mary McGlasson
to There and Everywhere
Here Commuting Highway System • Interstate 5 runs the length of the West Coast, from Canada to Mexico, and passes directly through Tacoma. Several multilane freeways connect communities east and west to I-5. • State Highway 16 passes over the Narrows Bridges to Gig Harbor and the Olympic Peninsula. • Highways 167, 161, and 512 connect with Puyallup and the South County. • A $90 million I-705 freeway spur direct from I-5 into downtown Tacoma and a $23 million cable-stay bridge (SR-509) crossing the port area began carrying traffic in early 1997. Bus Pierce Transit 3701 96th St. SW, Lakewood 253-581-8000 • www.piercetransit.org
Pierce Transit operates public bus transportation over a 414-square-mile area with an estimated population of 721,000. Pierce Transit provides 50 local bus routes, SHUTTLE (specialized transportation for people with disabilities), vanpool, and ridematching, as well as intercounty express service to Seattle, Sea-Tac Airport, and Olympia.
ST Express Sound Transit 401 S. Jackson St., Seattle 206-398-5000 • www.soundtransit.org
ST Express buses connect Seattle, Bellevue, Everett, and Tacoma with the region’s largest urban centers. New transit centers, park-andride lots, and HOV access projects improve transit service for all bus riders and provide some relief for the daily commute. More are on the way. Rail Sound Transit 401 S. Jackson St., Seattle 206-398-5000 • www.soundtransit.org
Sounder commuter trains run 74 miles every weekday between Everett and Tacoma. In the south end, six round trips currently run between Tacoma, Puyallup, Sumner, Auburn, Kent, Tukwila, and downtown Seattle; a future extension south to Lakewood is under development. Tacoma Link Sound Transit 401 S. Jackson St., Seattle 206-398-5000 • www.soundtransit.org
Tacoma Link, Sound Transit’s light rail system, is an ideal solution for commuters. Operating in its own right-of-way, Tacoma Link connects the Tacoma Dome Station (a regional
hub for local and express bus and commuter train service) with downtown Tacoma. Link trains run every 10 minutes Monday through Saturday and every 10 to 20 minutes on Sundays and holidays, with five stations located throughout downtown Tacoma. Ferry Washington State Ferries 2901 Third Ave., Suite 500, Seattle 206-464-6400 • 800-843-3779 www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/
Ferry service between Point Defiance and Vashon Island is run by Washington State Ferries, connecting to a system of 25 boats on nearly 600 daily trips. It is the largest ferry system in the United States, as well as Washington State’s most popular tourist attraction.
Traveling Air Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) 17801 Pacific Highway South, Seattle 206-433-5388 • www.portseattle.org/seatac/
Sea-Tac, 20 miles north of Tacoma, handles 29 commercial airlines and saw 347,046 total aviation operations in 2007, up 2.1 percent from 2006. Total passengers in 2007 was 31.3 million, up 4.3 percent from 2006. www.tacomachamber.org 13
Sea-Tac provides non-stop flights to 74 domestic cities and 20 international cities. Tacoma Narrows Airport (TNA) 1302 26th Ave. NW, Gig Harbor 253-853-5844 www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?nid=124
TNA is a general aviation airport located six miles west of Tacoma. With a 5,002-foot runway, full IFR capabilities, a control tower, and 24-hour weather reporting, the airport is accessible at almost any time of the day or night to all types of aircraft. Additionally, TNA has “international gateway” status with U.S. Customs.
Thun Field (Pierce County Airport) 16715 Meridian East, Puyallup 253-841-3779 www.co.pierce.wa.us/pc/abtus/ourorg/pwu/airport/
Located just south of Puyallup, Thun Field provides small aircraft service, hangar and tie-down rentals, flight training, and repair services. Rail Amtrak 1001 Puyallup Ave., Tacoma 800-USA-RAIL • www.amtrak.com
Amtrak’s Tacoma operations include two routes. Amtrak Cascades runs daily from Eugene, Ore., through Tacoma and Seattle, to Vancouver, British Columbia. Coast Starlight runs daily between Seattle and Los Angeles, with stops in 29 cities in Washington, Oregon, and California.
Locally Owned Since 1963 ,/#!, s .!4)/.!, 7/2,$7)$%
A Tradition of Excellence Since 1905 s (OUSEHOLD s /FlCE s )NDUSTRIAL 3PECIAL 0RODUCTS s $ISPLAYS s %XHIBITS s %XPERT 0ACKING #RATING s -ODERN #ONTAINERIZED 3TORAGE s 0ROFESSIONAL 2ELOCATION #ONSULTANTS s &REE h(OW 4O -OVEv "ROCHURES Visit Our Website
www.mountainmoving.com %VENINGS 7EEKENDS 1UESTIONS #ALL
ED TUOHY Owner
253.566.0755
&2%% %34)-!4%3
253.581.2414 Toll Free 1.800.249.2414
)## -# 754# ##
“Let the MOVING EXPERTS make your MOVE a PLEASANT EXPERIENCE”
14 Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber
Bridges of Pierce County Safe and Swift Passage By Mary McGlasson
P
ierce County residents now have more convenient and safe passage on State Route 16 between Tacoma and the Kitsap Peninsula. Built parallel to and south of the existing Tacoma Narrows Bridge, the new Narrows Bridge, opened in July 2007, carries four lanes of eastbound traffic toward Tacoma. The two center lanes are general-purpose lanes, while the left lane is a high-occupancy-vehicle lane and the right is an “add/drop� lane. The bridge also has a 10-foot right shoulder for
disabled vehicles and a 10-foot, barrierseparated bicycle/pedestrian lane. Having two bridges separates opposing traffic for the first time over the Narrows, eliminating the risk of head-on collision on the bridge; the wider lanes and right safety shoulder also improve safety for eastbound traffic. With approximately 90,000 vehicles crossing both bridges each day, the addition of the 2007 bridge has eliminated much of the congestion once experienced on SR 16 each day. Since traffic volumes are expected to increase over
time, the 2007 bridge was designed to accommodate a future second deck. WSDOT is also giving the 1950 bridge a facelift with newly resurfaced lanes and upgrades to the bridge rail. Tolling has also been updated with the implementation of the Good To Go! tolling system. Good To Go! gives motorists the opportunity to pay tolls without stopping via an electronic transponder on the windshield of their vehicle. Tolls are collected eastbound only. Visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/goodtogo/ for more information.
www.tacomachamber.org 15
Branching Out Transportation Infrastructure Continues to Improve By Mary McGlasson
Port of Tacoma Regular expansions have helped the Port of Tacoma stay at the top of international and domestic shipping on the West Coast. The Hyundai Terminal was expanded in both 2006 and 2007, while the Pierce County Terminal opened in 2005 as the largest new container terminal in the history of the Port. Working to build the capacity of its rail connections, in 2006 the Port invested $10 million in two major rail projects — Chilcote Junction and Bullfrog Junction. In June 2003, the Port invested $12 million to upgrade its TOTE Terminal to accommodate TOTE’s larger steamship vessels, and in October 2003, the Port opened the $40 million, 146-acre Marshall Avenue Auto Facility. In 2001, the Port of Tacoma Road Overpass was completed as part of the FAST Corridor Project. The Port dredged the Blair Waterway in 2000 to increase its depth to accommodate the world’s largest container ships, even at mean low low water (MLLW). In 2008, the Port signed historic agreements with the Puyallup Tribal Council and Marine View Ventures, the economic development arm of the Puyallup Tribe. The agreements focus on cooperation and coordination of marine terminal developments on the Blair-Hylebos Peninsula and include the 16 Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber
exchange of land to improve layout of future Port terminal developments, an agreement to widen the Blair Waterway, and leasing and improvements cooperation between SSA Containers and the Port. The agreements will allow for the redevelopment of industrial lands for marine terminal use along the Blair Waterway. The Puyallup Tribe and the Port of Tacoma have worked cooperatively over the last 20 years on a variety of major projects aimed at developing additional international shipping and trade opportunities, improving the environment, and bringing new jobs and economic development to Tacoma-Pierce County and the state.
Sea-Tac More than 31 million passengers traveled through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) in 2007, up 4.3 percent from 2006. The new millennium has seen many upgrades at Sea-Tac, including: • New Central Terminal, with a window wall overlooking the airfield, speciality shops, and restaurants, opened in spring 2005 • Concourse A and Gina Marie Lindsey International Arrivals Hall, with public
meeting space, shops, restaurants, and art displays, opened in spring 2004 • Parking Garage, with 13,000 stalls, bright lighting, and color-coded elevators. New in the Parking Garage in 2008 was a camera system that enables drivers to quickly find open spaces via electronic signage showing how many spaces are available on each floor and where those spaces are located • Satellite Transit System, with more capacity, new tracks and guide rails, computercontrolled vehicles, and public art Upcoming improvement projects include the arrival of the Sound Transit Link light rail, with Seattle-only access scheduled to be in service at the airport by the end of 2009. The completion in fall 2008 of a second allweather runway will allow the simultaneous landing of two jets during adverse weather conditions.
Sound Transit Sound Transit, the regional transit provider for Central Puget Sound, was created by the state legislature to build a mass-transit system connecting major regional job and housing centers in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties. The system includes regional express buses as well as commuter and light rail.
Today, Sound Transit provides nearly 14 million rides annually. Sound Transit will expand Sounder commuter rail service to Lakewood with new stations in South Tacoma and Lakewood. The service will operate along a new 1.2-mile track extension in Tacoma, from the Tacoma Dome Station to the M Street overpass at South Tacoma Way, where it will connect to the existing Lakeview Subdivision tracks and continue south to Lakewood. Improvements to the Lakeview Subdivision tracks will include track, signal, and grade-crossing improvements, as well as new commuter rail train
l足ayover tracks. The project is slated for completion in early 2012. Sound Transit is also expanding its Sounder commuter rail service to South Tacoma and Lakewood and will build a new commuter rail station in South Tacoma. Sound Transit is anticipating that the South Tacoma station will serve more than 200 commuters from Tacoma and University Place when it opens, with ridership increasing in subsequent years. When Sounder service is fully operational to South Tacoma, 18 trains will arrive and depart from the South Tacoma station each day. During peak commuting times, trains
will depart every 30 minutes on the way to and from Seattle.
Tacoma Rail In December 2007, Tacoma Rail was awarded more than $750,000 in federal funding for track, rail tie, and signal upgrades. Additionally, Tacoma Rail took steps to improve fuel costs and reduce emissions in 2007, installing idle-reduction technologies on four of its 18 locomotives. Over five years, these improvements are expected to save 400,000 gallons of diesel fuel and reduce fine particle matter by 2.5 tons, nitrogen oxides by 75 tons, and carbon dioxide by 4,500 tons.
www.tacomachamber.org 17
Learning to Succeed Goodwill’s New Work Opportunity Center By Mary McGlasson
I
n December 2007, Tacoma Goodwill unveiled plans to build the $20 million, 63,000-square-foot Work Opportunity Center on its campus at the corner of Tacoma Avenue and South 27th Street. “We have an initiative to triple service here in Pierce County, and this building will really give us the training space and partnership to do that,� says Tacoma Goodwill CEO Terry A. Hayes. The new facility will offer five times the classroom space of the old and will provide nearly three times the space for an adaptive technology lab for teaching computer skills to people with disabilities. The facility will include a distance-learning center with the ability to broadcast training across Goodwill’s 15-county service area.
A myriad of area agencies that offer education and job training for at-risk young adults will be located under the roof of the Work Opportunity Center as partners with Tacoma Goodwill. The centerpiece of the project will be the Youth Career Center, incorporating 11 youth service agencies. Goodwill hopes to triple the number of young people who receive job-training and job-skills services. The new Work Opportunity Center will be a LEED Silver-certified “green� building, designed to be energy-efficient and to utilize natural light as well as natural and recycled materials. Hayes also cites Goodwill’s excitement about staying in its current neighborhood, where Goodwill has been located since 1921. Many who utilize Goodwill’s services can easily walk or use public transportation
to travel to the facility. Community groups can also take advantage of the meeting space the new building will provide. Fundraising for the capital campaign has raised 75 percent of total resources, and Goodwill is looking to the community to complete the campaign for the Work Opportunity Center. In 2007 alone, Hayes says, Goodwill saved taxpayers more than $11 million by simply getting citizens off welfare and disability and back to work. Tacoma Goodwill plans to occupy the new Work Opportunity Center by fall 2009 and is making plans for use of the 1965 building. For more information on Tacoma Goodwill Industries and the Work Opportunity Center project, visit www. tacomagoodwill.org or call 253-284-0015.
Get Your UW Degree in Tacoma We offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees in: t #VTJOFTT "ENJOJTUSBUJPO t $PNQVUJOH 4Pę XBSF 4ZTUFNT t &EVDBUJPO t &OWJSPONFOUBM 4DJFODF t *OUFSEJTDJQMJOBSZ "SUT 4DJFODFT t /VSTJOH t 4PDJBM 8PSL t 6SCBO 4UVEJFT
BMPOH XJUI QSPGFTTJPOBM EFWFMPQNFOU XPSLTIPQT BOE DFSUJÄ• DBUFT
1501 Commerce Street Tacoma, WA 98402 PH: 253.591.2529 FAX: 253.591.2539 A Full Service Bank and Wealth Management Provider
(253) 692-4400 s WWW TACOMA WASHINGTON EDU 18 Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber
www.uboc.com
r u O National Defense — A Vital Role By Mary McGlasson
I
n 2004, Tacoma became the first city in the state recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense National Committee for Employer Support for the Washington Guard and Reserve. Camp Murray is the state headquarters for the Washington National Guard, which also carries the responsibility for emergency management for the state. Almost 3,000 personnel operate from this installation. The WANG 81st Brigade is scheduled for deployment. As Pierce County’s No. 1 employer, Fort Lewis is not just a military installation — it is a vital part of a region that is focused on growth. Approximately 70 percent of soldiers and their families, plus almost all of its civilian workforce, live off-post in cities throughout Pierce and Thurston counties.
An Employer and an Army Post A U.S. Army post, Fort Lewis is home of I Corps, the 4th ROTC Region Headquarters, Madigan Army Medical Center, and other tenant and support units. Fort Lewis proper measures 86,000 acres, with the Yakima Training Center covering 324,000 acres. As an employer, the post boasts almost 29,000 soldiers and more than 11,000 civilian workers and contractors. Around 56,000 family members live both on- and off-post, and Fort Lewis supports over 120,000 retirees in the region. The combined payroll of military and civilians is approximately $2 billion.
Focus on Families Fifty-four percent of Fort Lewis soldiers who live off-post with their families live in Pierce County. The majority of Fort Lewis civilians, who number 10,041, live off-post. Between the years of 2003 and 2012, the total population on the base is projected to increase to 32,679 soldiers and family members. The addition of 600 new employees swells that number to 33,279. By extension, Pierce County’s population is projected to see an overall increase of 161,389 from the year 2000 to 2012, to total 862,209. In considering these populations, Fort Lewis has a vested interest in ensuring that safe and affordable housing is available to its families, both on and off the post, that is linked to good schools and community services. Plans are under way for expanding and managing growth by building more and better housing on the post to reduce the need for soldiers and their families to live off-base. To expand its privatized housing as part of the Residential Communities Initiative, Fort Lewis plans to build 985 new homes, 60 parks and play areas, and four community centers, as well as renovating 2,610 homes. By the end of fiscal year 2012, the post plans to have a total of 4,023 homes.
Embracing Community Planned construction projects at Fort Lewis for fiscal year 2009 include the
Soldier Activity Center on North Fort Lewis, a renovation of Memorial Stadium, and the Cowan Stadium running track, while 2010 will bring the expansion and renovation of three child-development centers. Fort Lewis is also planning a Downtown Lifestyles Center that will bring a smalltown look to the Army base by building a Main Street area with sidewalk cafés, individualized single-family and urbanized multi-family housing, and a multi-way boulevard. The planned concept for the project will also include connections to light rail and regional transit.
More Than a Hospital Integral to Fort Lewis is Madigan Army Medical Center (MAMC), with almost 1,500 soldiers supporting the active-duty military, military dependents, and the retiree population in the region. MAMC has an active program with the University of Washington Medical School (Seattle) and receives the second-highest allocation for medical R&D in the Army.
Power Projection: McChord AFB Contiguous with Fort Lewis is McChord AFB, destined to become Joint Base Lewis-McChord in 2009. McChord AFB provides the “Power Projection” capability when called upon to support national objectives. McChord has about 4,000 active-duty airmen and over 5,000 civilian personnel, plus a Reserve Wing and a National Guard unit for the Western Air Defense Sector. www.tacomachamber.org 19
Annual Chamber Events
“Power
Through Connections”
February Leadership Tacoma-Pierce County begins
March City Center Luncheon Healthy Breakfast Showcase
April Tahoma Environmental Business Award Howard O. Scott Citizen Soldier of the Year Award George Francis Train International Business Commemorative
May Washington-to-Washington D.C. Advocacy Trip Leadership Tacoma-Pierce County Retreat Simpson/KeyBank Chamber Golf Classic FPS Best of Business Awards
June Leadership Tacoma-Pierce County Graduation Luncheon Evergreen Fleet Cruise Spotlight on Business Awards University Place/Fircrest Business Showcase
July City Center Luncheon Leadership Tacoma-Pierce County Board Presentation
August FPS New Educators Breakfast FPS Wacky Golf Tourney Tacoma New Educators Luncheon
September Mayoral Debate Tacoma Delegation to Alaska
October Annual Meeting & Breakfast Business EXPO
November John H. Anderson Military Citizen of the Year South Sound Technology Conference
December Public Officials Holiday Reception Horizons Economic Forecast Pierce County Economic Index (PCEI) published
1
Making a Difference,
Business
Time
at a
City Center Luncheon
By Carol Cummings
January
C
hamber President & CEO David Graybill calls advocacy “one of the David Graybill, Chamber’s chief roles and strengths.” Chamber President & CEO “Our job is to speak out for a strong economy that provides opportunity and supports quality of life,” Graybill explains. “We are aggressive at shaping issues, lobbying at every level of government and working with appointed officials and regulatory agencies.” With about 1,300 members, the Chamber is the area’s first and largest public policy/business advocacy organization. “We have established a reputation as a hard-hitting, powerful, connection-building organization,” Graybill continues. “We speak up for economic strategies and for public policy initiatives that will help build a positive business environment and a stronger, more effective community.” The Chamber’s role extends to state and national levels as well. The Chamber annually sponsors one of the longest-running community leaders’ trips to Washington, D.C., and the Pentagon to show support for our large military population. “Of course, we are also advocates for our community in terms of interpreting and relaying information to media,” Graybill explains. “We have been thinking regionally to address the population growth issues that transcend the normal boundaries of the cities and county. We introduce top national speakers such as columnist Neal Peirce and Forbes publisher Rich Karlgaard to help the community become aware of the latest trends and strategies in top metropolitan areas.” The Chamber’s accomplishments are many. Tacoma was the first community in the world to host Dr. Richard Florida for a Creative Cities Seminar to help boost the growth of the creative sector. A highly successful University of Washington Tacoma campus has been well-supported and is a sought-after model. Pierce County has emerged from extensive military base realignment and closure rounds not only intact, but also with larger complements of the military based in the area. For over a century, the TacomaPierce County Chamber has been the leading organization representing the interests of businesses in Tacoma-Pierce County. Today, the Chamber provides leadership opportunities, volunteer programs, and business-building initiatives that focus on the critical priorities of the region. As businesses and communities are more dependent on each other for success, the Chamber’s role has evolved. The Chamber keeps its membership focused and involved in top business, civic, and social priorities by providing unique connection-based opportunities for individuals and businesses to make a difference.
“The U.S. Chamber’s Accreditation Program is the only national program that recognizes chambers for effective organizational procedures and outstanding contributions toward positive change in their communities. 20 Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber
“We have established a reputation as a hard-hitting, powerful, connection-building organization.”
The purpose of the U.S. Chamber’s Accreditation Program is to facilitate continuing excellence in the chamber industry and to foster a pro-business environment across America.” Source: www.uschamber.com
Tacoma Angels Help Startups Fly Angel Investors Get New Businesses Off the Ground
10 YEARS OF LOCAL SERVICE 052#(!3% s 2%&).!.#% s &(! 6! *5-"/ ,/!.3 s 2%6%23% -/24'!'%3
TH !VENUE s 4ACOMA 7! s &AX
www.waldenmortgage.net
By Carol Cummings
T
he TacomaAngel Network (TAN) was formed in 2006 by the TacomaPierce County Chamber and two chairmen: Larry Kopp of Globe Capital and John B. Dimmer of FIRS Management. TAN is a nonprofit alliance of accredited investors — successful entrepreneurs, retired executives, and business leaders — who provide investment capital, strategic advice, technical expertise, and mentoring to earlystage companies or companies embarking on major expansion efforts.
The ultimate goal is to help investors make profitable investments while fueling the growth of early-stage companies. TAN provides members access to a steady flow of promising entrepreneurs who need “risk” capital. The ultimate goal is to help investors make profitable investments while fueling the growth of early-stage companies in the Pacific Northwest. Through TAN, members review interesting investment opportunities every month. Kopp says, “Companies who work with angels need to be coachable, very open, and very realistic. They need to show their passion to the investors and convince them to make an investment in them.” In 2008, the TacomaAngel Network Board announced that, since the TacomaPierce County Chamber founded the organization in the spring of 2006, TAN has facilitated the investment of $3 million by its members. In just two years, it has also grown its membership from nine to 40. The high-touch TAN is not only a regional success, but a model for other communities.
www.tacomachamber.org 21
C NSERVATION as a Core Concern Simpson Investment Company’s Recycling Efforts By Mary McGlasson
Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. With an eye to the future and a commitment to environmental concerns, Simpson Investment Company has taken these three words to heart, with conservation efforts that have become a core concern in every facet of the company. Simpson, founded in 1890, takes seriously its commitment to the future and its stewardship of the environment and natural resources, utilizing environmental considerations in all its facilities. Simpson Investment Company’s three operating subsidiaries, Simpson Timber Company, Simpson Door Company, and Simpson Paper Company — which has its own subsidiary, Simpson Tacoma Kraft Company, LLC — provide Tacoma and southwest Washington with forest products of all varieties. Lumber produced by Simpson Timber Company is certified under the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). The company is also a leader in implementing paper-recycling technology into its practices. At Simpson Tacoma Kraft, more than 500 tons of waste paper and boxes are recycled each day and are used to create sturdy paper for boxes and bags, a practice that dramatically reduces waste paper in landfills. With sawmills that use laser-guided saws, ensuring the most lumber is gleaned from every log, and 100 percent elemental-chlorine-free paper products, Simpson endeavors to make the most of its products. All lumber that cannot be used as building material is converted into wood chips, which are then made into pulp and paper, while bark and sawdust become salable products for use in landscaping and particle board. According to Dave McEntee, Simpson’s vice president of operational service and external affairs, the company is also a cutting-edge producer of biomass energy. “We use waste wood and other urban wood from home demolition and recycle them as fuel to make a green energy or renewable energy product,” he explains. “As the company produces pulp and paper, we remove the ligament from wood chips to get fiber to make paper. That substance is then used as fuel, along with bark and wood waste. “If biomass products are left to decompose on their own, then methane is released,” McEntee continues. “This gas is 23 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide is. But when you burn biomass to make energy, it only releases carbon dioxide and very little methane. It provides a more complete combustion and it reduces the emission of greenhouse gas. This provides a renewable form of green energy that positively affects the environment.” Simpson has also instituted policies for water conservation. At Simpson Tacoma Kraft, a program has been instituted that saves approximately 10 million gallons of drinking water each day, an amount that could fill more than 500 Olympic-size swimming pools. For more information about recycling efforts at Simpson Investment Company and Simpson Tacoma Kraft, contact 253-779-6400.
Biz Briefs Two Up-and-Coming Area Businesses By Carol Cummings
Tactical Tailor
T
actical Tailor was conceived in 1991, when company founder Logan Coffey enlisted in the Army Infantry. When he began his training in field maneuvers, he found the Army-issued gear to be both uncomfortable and impractical. He slowly began to build a workshop in his barracks room, complete with two industrial sewing machines to make bags and sacks with his own design. When Coffey left the military six years later, he began Tactical Tailor. Logan Coffey passed away on April 20, 2008, and his brother, Justin Coffey, now serves as the company’s leader. “Our mission is to modify and enhance gear to meet needs of our country’s military,
border patrol, and law-enforcement personnel,” Justin says. “We employ 62 people and provide all-American-made gear to people who are protecting our country. Our goal is to provide high-quality gear that is durable and will withstand tough environmental conditions.” One example of this gear is their patented MALICE clips, which are heavy-duty, reusable connecting clips designed to attach modular pouches to MOLLE (MOdular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment) by a grid of webbing. The clips are not affected by heat or cold. Tactical Tailor produced more than a million of these clips last year, and they have never had one fail.
“My brother had a great vision. The company was growing, and the people who worked for him were important to him. He wanted to be sure the business would survive and carry out its mission if anything happened to him.”
MALICE Clips are injection molded, heavy-duty, reusable connecting clips that are designed to attach modular pouches to MOLLE/PALS-style equipment. MALICE Clips are not affected by heat or cold and will never corrode or lose their subdued finish. Once properly closed, the clip will not open until it is disengaged by the user using a flattipped object such as a knife or screwdriver. Source: www.tacticaltailor.com
For more information or a product catalog, visit www.tacticaltailor.com. www.tacomachamber.org 23
BCRA BCRA also provides research into LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) sustainable buildings.
B
CRA is the largest multi-disciplinary design firm in the South Puget Sound region. With projects throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond, its studio specialists have extensive experience in various markets. Services include architecture, land-use planning, structural engineering, civil engineering, graphic design, interior design, building science, and strategic marketing. Founded in 1989 as Brown & Connally, today BCRA (Brown, Connally, Rowan, Akiyama) employs more than 160 professionals. BCRA President Jeffrey Brown says the current economic climate has caused
his company to react and shift away from its traditional 15 to 20 percent annual growth rate. “We have found ourselves in a bit of strategic shift with some of our different markets and services,� he explains. “We are currently focusing on health care, nonprofits, higher education, and military programs.� Brown says BCRA has also been focused on work with its building science group. “We provide analysis of new and existing buildings,� he explains. “Using infrared technology, we also provide sustainable heat loss analysis in new and existing buildings. If a facility has a moisture or mold problem, BCRA is the cutting-edge expert to
find and help solve the problem. BCRA also provides research into LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) sustainable buildings, analyzing design versus performance in these green buildings. “We’re trying to take the design profession from going through a checklist to going through real analysis and knowledge about how things really will perform so we can accomplish what we want to accomplish,� Brown concludes. Visit www.bcradesign.com for information.
Rhonda G. Schwab Senior Account Executive
/Fl CE s #LERICAL s ,IGHT )NDUSTRIAL 3OUTH ND 34 3TE s 4ACOMA 7!
Phone: 253.576.1811 %MAIL SCHWARG KELLYSERVICES COM
www.kellyservices.com
Ph: 253-472-RENT Fax: 253-475-3775 livehere@dmcimail.com www.dmcirentals.com We have several properties in Pierce County. Cedar Court Apartments - 3005 S. 47th Street, Tacoma Nantucket Gate Apartments - 11302 10th Ave. Ct. E, Tacoma West Mall Terrace - 4720 S. Pine Street, Tacoma
Visit www.dmcirentals.com for more information. *Let us know the Tacoma Chamber sent you and recieve your free gift.
24 Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber
MultiCare Connect Computerizing Records for Coordinated Care By Mary McGlasson
EMERGENCY/URGENT CARE FIND A DOCTOR HEALTH INFORMATION EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT EXPANSION
M
ultiCare Health System has introduced a new way for patients in the Tacoma community and surrounding areas to receive more coordinated and seamless health care with MultiCare Connect, its new electronic health record system. An integrated health organization, MultiCare is the region’s largest provider of health care services and has served Tacoma since 1882. MultiCare includes more than 93 locations in Pierce and South King counties, with three acute-care adult hospitals in Tacoma and Puyallup and one acute-care pediatric hospital in Tacoma. As of summer 2007, MultiCare is also now one of the few health care systems in the nation that offers the cutting-edge technology of an electronic health record. Phase I of the project was successfully implemented on June 1, with Phase II of the project implemented on September 5, adding computerized physician order entry and clinical documentation. Medical Director of Information Services Matthew A. Eisenberg, MD, FAAP, was brought on board in late 2007 to oversee the project and its continuing development.
www.tacomachamber.org 25
With MultiCare Connect, a patient’s complete health history, from allergies, to test results, to doctor visits, is securely stored and can be accessed by health care providers throughout the system. This allows for better coordination of care, as all providers will be looking at the same updated copy of each health record. Electronic health records also allow patients to become more hands-on with their personal care, making the doctor’s office as close as a personal computer. By registering for My MultiCare, patients can be connected to their MultiCare doctor’s office around the clock via a free Internet service that allows them to schedule appointments, review their health history, and even request prescription refills online. MultiCare Connect implements the latest security technology to ensure patient privacy while accessing this innovative service.
MultiCare Health System Hospitals Allenmore Hospital and Medical Center
1901 S. Union Ave. Tacoma, WA 98405 253-459-6633 • www.multicare.org/allenmore
Good Samaritan Hospital
407 14th Ave. SE Puyallup, WA 98372 253-697-4000 • www.multicare.org/goodsam
Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital
311 S. L St. Tacoma, WA 98405 800-552-1419 • www.multicare.org/marybridge
Tacoma General Hospital
315 Martin Luther King Jr Way Tacoma, WA 98405 253-403-1000 • www.multicare.org/tacomageneral
26 Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber
Franciscan Health System In Pierce County, Franciscan Hospitals Offer World-Class Medicine, Close to Home By Gale Robinette, Franciscan Health System
I
magine a place where highly skilled doctors employ the latest medical and technological advancements to enhance the quality of life for an entire region. This describes the advanced medicine and trusted care that distinguish Franciscan Health System hospitals, clinics, and other care facilities throughout Pierce County. Franciscan hospitals, clinics, and other local services can be found at: • St. Joseph Medical Center: 1717 South J St., Tacoma. Phone: 426-4101 • St. Clare Hospital: 11315 Bridgeport Way, Lakewood. Phone: 588-1711 • St. Anthony Hospital: 11567 Canterwood Blvd., Gig Harbor (opens early 2009; see feature at right) • Franciscan Hospice House: 2901 Bridgeport Way, University Place. Phone: 534-7000 Franciscan Medical Group clinics are located in Tacoma, Gig Harbor, University Place, Puyallup, DuPont, and other sites in Pierce County. The Franciscan organization also has two hospitals — St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way and Enumclaw
Regional Hospital — and several medical clinics in adjacent King County. Franciscan is recognized nationally and locally for its commitment to excellence. It is ranked No. 6 on the Top 100 list of the most efficient health systems in the United States, according to the independent research firm Verispan. Also, Franciscan is the highestrated organization in Washington State on this list of the nation’s elite health systems. Additionally, Tacoma residents have named St. Joseph Medical Center as their No. 1 preferred hospital in the annual Consumer Choice Award poll. Furthermore, St. Joseph is the only Tacoma hospital to receive the prestigious 2008 Consumer Choice Award. At the Jane Thompson Russell Cancer Care Center at St. Anthony, patients have convenient access to advanced outpatient therapies and the healing environment they need to feel empowered in their battle against the disease. More information about the Franciscan Health System is online at www.FHShealth.org. Call 888-825-3227 toll-free anytime for a free referral to a physician, nurse practitioner, or other professional provider, or to learn more about Franciscan services.
St. Anthony Hospital, which opens in Gig Harbor in early 2009, is the newest hospital in Pierce County. This state-of-the-art Franciscan facility features: • 24-hour emergency department, with 16 treatment rooms • Intensive care • Private, spacious patient rooms that are large enough to accommodate overnight visitors • Inpatient and outpatient surgery • Diagnostic imaging services such as MRI, CT scans, and ultrasound • A heart catheterization and vascular laboratory • Interventional radiology for treatment of stroke, aneurysms, fibroids, and other problems • A magnificent healing garden www.tacomachamber.org 27
By Mary McGlasson
Y
MCA of Tacoma-Pierce County has opened its newest location, a 77,000square-foot facility located on 11 acres in Gig Harbor, and residents there couldn’t be happier. In planning for the facility, YMCA partnered with the City of Gig Harbor and the PenMet Parks District, which was at the time considering the construction of an $8 million swimming pool. Rather than continuing development of this project, PenMet became partners in the Gig Harbor YMCA facility and donated $1.5 million to the facility’s aquatic center.
A partnership has also been established with MultiCare Health System, which not only brings a medical presence to the new Y that includes a variety of health care, physical therapies, and nutritionist services, but which has also allowed YMCA to establish a women’s wellness center in the MultiCare facility. The exercise areas have been created with an eye toward small, intimate spaces that contain different strength-training machines rather than the more traditionally open gym atmosphere lined with treadmills and exercise cycles. This makes the Y less intimidating for those just starting and increases the feeling of connection with other members.
Fitness classes are also offered. Many are targeted toward the whole family, and most are offered in varying lengths of time, from 15 minutes to an hour, so that members feel comfortable. Gig Harbor’s Y also includes a library sitting area, a fireplace lounge, wireless Internet, a chapel, and other social outlets. The goal of the unique design was to meet all the needs of fitness seekers, from spirit to mind to body, as well as intentionally creating a community in Gig Harbor. As part of that goal, a voucher has been offered to all families in Gig Harbor that enables them to use the new Y facility four times a year for free.
Gig Harbor YMCA Features • 77,000-square-foot facility located on 11 acres • Warm-water pool with zero-depth entry, water toys, and water slide for children • Lap swimming pool with ramp entry and separate hot tub-hydro pool • Wellness centers with cardiovascular and strength-training equipment
• 12-Week Center for new or returning exercisers • Youth Adventure Zone and Child Watch areas where kids play while parents work out • Teen center with computers and game tables • Community room with teaching kitchen open to community groups
• Indoor running track overlooking gym, exercise areas, and large windows to the outside • Gymnasium with divider curtain • Multipurpose rooms for youth and adult classes • Climbing wall, fireplace lounge, and wireless Internet café • Chapel and library sitting areas
• Adult locker rooms with steam room and sauna • Youth locker rooms • Special needs/family changing rooms • MultiCare integrated health services
www.tacomachamber.org 29
YMCA of Tacoma-Pierce County Branches Association Office
1614 S. Mildred St., Suite 1, Tacoma 253-534-7800
Camp Seymour
9725 Cramer Road KPN, Gig Harbor 253-884-3392
Child Care
1614 S. Mildred St., Suite 5, Tacoma 253-534-7830
Gig Harbor Family YMCA 10550 Harbor Hill Drive, Gig Harbor 253-853-9622
John O. Morgan Family YMCA 1002 S. Pearl St., Tacoma 253-564-9622
Lakewood Family YMCA
9715 Lakewood Drive Southwest, Lakewood 253-584-9622
Mel Korum Family YMCA 302 43rd Ave. Southeast, Puyallup 253-841-9622
Pt. Fosdick Women’s Wellness Center 4545 Pt. Fosdick Drive NW, Gig Harbor 253-530-8177
Tacoma Center YMCA 1144 Market St., Tacoma 253-597-6444
30 Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber
Heritage Meets Variety
By Mary McGlasson
The Neighborhoods of Historic North End
H
istoric North End, home to the original town site of Tacoma and more than 13,000 residents, is one of the most affluent areas in the city, offering the flavor of Tacoma history as well as a variety of housing opportunities in its diverse and popular neighborhoods.
North Slope As Washington state’s largest historic district, the North Slope District boasts nearly 1,300 resources and is a cohesive neighborhood offering diverse housing opportunities that include large houses, apartment buildings, and smaller bungalows. North Slope was settled primarily as a residential neighborhood, and its homes represent a variety of architectural styles that include Stick Style, Queen Anne, American Foursquare, Craftsman, Tudor Revival, and Mission Revival. Over time and several building booms, the neighborhood’s development was such that it is common to find structures built as early as 1900 standing beside structures built 50 years later. However, approximately 80 percent of North Slope’s homes were built before 1930. The district is also home to several churches and business and commercial areas. North Slope Historic District is listed on the Tacoma Register of Historic Places, Washington State Heritage Register, and the National Register of Historic Places.
Proctor District Located near Point Defiance Park, the three-block Proctor District features access to the freeway and waterway as well as views of Mt. Rainier and Commencement Bay. One of the most sought-after neighborhoods in the area, Proctor is a thriving business district that offers an urban village ambiance, with gourmet grocers, specialty boutiques, charming shops, the Blue Mouse Theatre cinema, upscale eateries, and fine
dining. Proctor also offers convenient access to necessary services, including banks, dry cleaners, and a post office. The district is home to two public schools, a public library, and a church, as well as parks, hiking trails, educational opportunities, and health care facilities. Regular festivals and gatherings are held here, like the Proctor Farmers Market, Arts Festival, the Junior Daffodil Parade, and Proctor Treats. Many of the homes in the Proctor District were built near the turn of the 20th century, and common architectural styles include Craftsman, Bungalow, English Cottage, Colonial and Tudor. Real estate prices range from $150,000 to more than $500,000.
Old Town Featuring a historical park and a wide range of restaurants and shops, Old Town is where Tacoma history and contemporary convenience come together. The neighborhood was the location of the first cabin built along the shore by Job Carr in 1865 and was originally a community separate from present-day downtown Tacoma. Today, while still home to cobblestone streets and many of the city’s oldest buildings, Old Town boasts some of Tacoma’s best waterfront dining, coffeehouses, and wine and spirit bars — including The Spar, the oldest saloon in Tacoma — as well as a panoply of specialty retailers and mind/body/health professionals. Special events in the community include free classical concerts in Old Town Park and Slavonian Hall, the Old Town Bluesberry Festival, and the Old Town Jazz and Wine Festival.
Ruston Way Ruston Way, a two-mile scenic waterfront area along Commencement Bay, has seen an upswing in business development in recent years. Recreationally, the area is known as a popular walkway lined with public art projects that also offers a multitude of recreational www.tacomachamber.org 31
opportunities, including the Les Davis fishing pier, a boat dock, beach access, and more. Ruston Way, home to the Tacoma Freedom Fair each July 4, also offers panoramic views of the bay, Vashon Island, the Olympic Mountains, and northeast Tacoma.
Sixth Avenue Sixth Avenue has undergone major transformations during the last decade, with streetscape improvements, new investments, and historic preservation efforts combining to create one of Tacoma’s premier business districts. The Sixth Avenue district officially runs along Sixth Avenue from State to Proctor streets and is located minutes from both the downtown and West End areas. Regarded by
many as the poster child for business-district revitalization efforts, the district enjoys a very low vacancy rate and is home to hundreds of shops, restaurants, night clubs, coffeehouses, and wine bars, as well as the annual Art on the Ave festival. As a result of Art on the Ave and Sixth Avenue’s commitment to public art, the Tacoma Arts Commission awarded the district an AMOCAT Patron Award in 2006.
Stadium The Stadium District, named after Stadium High School, has a distinctly urban flavor as a residential area with a strong business presence that includes more than 70 retailers in the district.
Young professionals favor Stadium’s many housing opportunities, which include apartment buildings and the convenience of having a variety of necessary services — including a full-service grocery store, drug store, dry cleaners, and bank — located directly in the neighborhood, along with shopping, restaurants, and coffeehouses. Landmarks in the Stadium District include the Tacoma Little Theatre, Wright Park, Tacoma’s Landmark Temple Theatre, and Western Reformed Seminary. The neighborhood is also home to the Street of Treats event on Halloween and the weekend-long Dickens Holiday Festival.
Right at Home Tacoma’s neighboring cities also offer hot spots that are becoming sought-after communities in Pierce County. University Place The name “University Place” has existed since the late 1800s. The area was chosen by the Methodist Church to construct a larger Puget Sound University (currently the University of Puget Sound). Although the campus never came to be, the name “University Place” stuck. This affluent community boasts low crime rates and is home to the Charles Wright Academy, one of the finest private schools in Washington State, and world-class golf course Chambers Bay. Fircrest The city of Fircrest is located between Tacoma and University Place and offers an atmosphere of affluence and small-town 32 Tacoma-Pierce Chamber of Commerce
comfort with a close proximity to urban convenience. Once a wealthy suburb of Tacoma, Fircrest was incorporated in September 1925. The community, which now has a population of approximately 5,000, was developed by Edward Bowes, who went on to gain fame as the host of the Major Bowes Amateur Hour radio talent show. Parkland-Spanaway The neighboring communities of Parkland and Spanaway create a unique blend of urban and upscale. These neighborhoods boast very reasonable housing costs and plenty of recreational options, including golf and Spanaway Lake. Lakewood Incorporated in February 1996, Lakewood is conveniently located along Interstate 5 south of Tacoma and right next to McChord
Air Force Base and Fort Lewis. Lakewood offers abundant parkland — much of it lakefront — plenty of dining choices and shopping at Towne Center. Lakewood has been named one of Washington’s “Best Communities for Young People” by America’s Promise. Puyallup-South Hill Situated at the foot of Mount Rainier, Puyallup has grown from a primarily agricultural community to a regional commercial and service center. The unique downtown antique district is popular for shopping, as is the city’s South Hill district. Picturesque neighborhoods welcome new residents, who find amenities that include a community college, good public schools, and plenty of recreational options.
The Future of Downtown Tacoma
Beyond Revitalization
L
By Mary McGlasson
eading the way in the movement to revitalize and restore urban historic areas and buildings, Tacoma is the site of myriad development projects throughout the city and surrounding areas. Downtown Tacoma has led the way in the movement to revitalize and restore the city’s historic areas and buildings, and several current major development projects are moving the heart of the city beyond revitalization and into evolution, putting it at the forefront of modern urban renewal and regrowth.
Pacific Plaza The City of Tacoma and Pacific Plaza LLC are heading up this $35 million project for adaptive re-use of an existing parking garage at Park Plaza South, located at South 13th Street and Pacific Avenue. The project will add one level to the garage with 110 parking spaces, as well as 106,000 square feet of commercial office and retail space on an additional two levels. Mecca Theater The historic Mecca has been reborn from its colorful history as a former adult-film theater and is now in the process of development by the Gintz Group into new life as part of the revitalized Broadway theater district. The building, which boasts views of Commencement Bay and Puget Sound and is located near the light rail station, the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, and the Farmers Market, now houses urban condos and over 15,000 feet of retail space. Luzon Building Located at 13th and Pacific, this historic building is the only standing representative of three West Coast buildings designed by Burnham & Root, headed by renowned architect Daniel Burnham, known as the “father of American skyscrapers.” In the interest of preserving the building, plans are moving forward by the Gintz Group for a total restoration that will create six stories of contemporary office space. Historic water Ditch Trail Originally part of a 110-year-old trail system that crossed Tacoma and extended to Mount Rainier, remnants of the historic 1896 Water Ditch Trail in Tacoma are still used today. The construction project, which is scheduled for completion in 2009, will restore segments of the trail. It will be the only trail linking South Tacoma with the downtown Tacoma Dome Station and will cover a distance of 6.5 miles, providing the spine to the city’s non-motorized trail network. Manley-Ford Building and Crescent Ballroom These buildings, located on South 13th Street and Fawcett Avenue, were recently restored and now serve as the headquarters for Tacoma Radiology Associates Medical Imaging.
For more information on these and other downtown projects, visit www.cityoftacoma.org.
By Mary McGlasson Living on the Waterfront
L
ife on the Thea Foss Waterway, the newest mixed-use waterfront community in Tacoma, is getting better and better as completion of its latest project, the Thea Foss Waterway Esplanade, grows near. When completed, the Esplanade, a public walkway, will stretch along the entire 1.5 miles of the western side of the Thea Foss Waterway and will reconnect the downtown business district and the Union Station Historical District to the waterfront. Property development and marketing of the publicly owned Foss Waterway is coordinated by the Foss Waterway Development Authority Board (FWDA). The FWDA sells or leases Foss Waterway property for development and manages leasehold properties and business interests on its own properties. The mission of the FWDA also includes ensuring new development on the Foss Waterway allows the blending of the area’s rich history as an economic hub with a contemporary sensibility, creating a vital and vibrant link between downtown Tacoma and the Ruston Way waterfront. While the commercial aspects of the Foss Waterway include museums, retail, and office space, the Esplanade Tacoma provides its heart as an urban residential area, with 172 condominiums in the process of development. The homes abut the public walkway and offer convenient access to Tacoma’s downtown amenities as well as views of the waterway, the Tacoma city skyline, and Mount Rainier. In addition to the development of the Wharf and Esplanade, Foss Waterway also offers the Foss Waterway Seaport, a maritime heritage museum housed in a historic warehouse building, and is developing a waterside public park. www.tacomachamber.org 33
A National Gem Hosts a National Event U.S. Open Comes to Chambers Bay in 2015
By Mary McGlasson
C
hambers Bay at University Place is no longer just Washington State’s golf masterpiece. In February, the U.S. Golf Association announced that the two-year-old Chambers Bay Golf Course will be the 2015 home of golf’s crown jewel, the U.S. Open Championships, and will host the 2010 U.S. Amateur Championships. Chambers Bay’s hosting duties will mark the first time the U.S. Open has been hosted in the Pacific Northwest — not bad for the new kid in town. Local and national buzz about the golf course has been strong since its opening in
THE TACOMA HOME TEAM “Your Tacoma Relocation Specialists”
KRISTIN NIEBERGALL, MBA/REALTOR®, e-Pro®
(253) 381-7170
Kristin.Niebergall@coldwellbanker.com MARY LOOVIS, CLHMS/REALTOR®
(253) 381-8882
Mary.Loovis@coldwellbanker.com www.TheTacomaHomeTeam.com
“Serving You and Loving What We Do”
34 Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber
June 2007. Deemed “the hottest municipal golf course on the planet” in February 2008 by Golf Digest architecture editor Ron Whitten, Chambers Bay is an 18-hole championship golf course that effects a stunning tribute to the historic links of Scotland and Ireland. In less than two years, Chambers Bay has made a significant impact on the U.S. golfing scene. The unique design by renowned golf architect Robert Trent Jones II capitalizes on the windswept and sandy terrain, flanked by Puget Sound and rich with native fescue grasses, reminiscent of the links-style, sea-swept landscape on which the sport of
golf was born. The result is a breathtaking and nearly treeless course on a coastal setting, with Puget Sound and the snow-capped Olympic Mountains as a backdrop. Not only will this be the first time a Washington State course has hosted the U.S. Open, but Chambers Bay is also the first new golf course to boast the award of a U.S. Open so soon after its debut since Hazeltine National in 1970 (a course designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr.). Bruce Charlton, president of Robert Trent Jones II, LLC, and co-designer of the course along with Jones and Jay Blasi, deemed the honor to be akin to “winning an Oscar.”
Retirement, Assisted Living & Memory Care Located on 14 Beautiful Acres 8201 SIXTH AVE | TACOMA, WA 98406 | 253.564.4770
COMFORCE STAFFING SERVICES “We get your staffing needs right the first time.� But even while the national spotlight is shining on the world-class golf course, it remains a mecca for golfers from all walks of life to “play through� as a venue for intimate private group outings as well as large-scale tournament events. Chambers Bay is located at 6320 Grandview Drive West in University Place, a 20-minute drive from downtown Tacoma. Greens fees vary throughout the year. Tee times can be booked online 30 days in advance at www.chambersbaygolf.com or by phone at 253-460-GOLF. Group events of 16 or more can be booked up to one year in advance.
Awards and Accolades for Chambers Bay • Best New Course of 2007 (GOLF Magazine) • Best New Course 2007 (Travel & Leisure Golf Magazine, November/ December 2007) • Development of the Year: Daily Fee Award (Golf Inc. magazine, November/ December 2007) • Reason #6, “18 Reasons Why We Love The Pacific Northwestâ€? (Fairways and Greens magazine, March/April 2008) • The course itself was not the only part of the project receiving pats on the back. Heritage Links of Houston, Texas, was awarded Golf Course Industry magazine’s 2008 Builder Excellence Award in the Creative Category for its Chambers Bay work.
COMFORCE Corporation has been supplying innovative staffing solutions for over fifty years while providing service excellence domestically and abroad.
WHY COMFORCE? s 7% HAVE THE PROFESSIONALS TO lLL ANY POSITION s 7% PROVIDE $IRECT (IRE 4EMP TO (IRE AND 4EMP (IRE FOR ALL OF YOUR STAFlNG NEEDS s 7% PROVIDE QUALITY CONSULTANTS THE SAME DAY YOU MAKE YOUR REQUEST s 7% OFFER COMPETITIVE RATES Expert Service Offerings: !EROSPACE %NGINEERING s 'OVERNMENT 4ECHNICAL )4 (ELP $ESK #ALL #ENTER s )NFORMATION 4ECHNOLOGY 0ROFESSIONAL !DMINISTRATIVE /FlCE &INANCIAL /UTSOURCING s 4ELECOM (EALTHCARE 3UPPORT 0AYROLL &UNDING
Additional Services Provided: 3TAFF 0AYROLLING 133 3TAFlNG 6ENDOR -GMT 5NIFORCE 3TAFlNG
.% TH 3TREET 3UITE s "ELLEVUE 7!
| www.comforce.com |
0HONE 425.883.2233 s 4OLL &REE 800.398.2432 s &AX 425.869.9898 Kurt Luedy - Northwest Regional Manager %MAIL kluedy@comforce.com 0HONE 425.605.2334
www.tacomachamber.org 35
Come Out and Play:
Tacoma Festivals Daffodil Festival Celebrates Spring
Lighting Up the Night:
Freedom Fair By Mary McGlasson
On July 4 in Tacoma, there’s only one place to be: The Tacoma Freedom Fair, an annual festival celebrating our nation’s birth that spans two miles of the Ruston Way waterfront. The Freedom Fair was named by CNN.com as one of the “Best Travel Destinations in the U.S.” in 2002. The event is famous for offering a plethora of entertainment throughout the day, including country, rock, jazz, blues, Latin, and folk music and dance. The day also includes games; rides; kid’s carnivals; an open-air market complete with arts, crafts, and an international food court; a log boom for boaters; a classic car show; military exhibits; Dragon Boat races; and the Metro Parks Family Fun Zone, filled with activities, the Let’s Pretend Circus, and performances by the Raggs Kids Club Band. The USAA Tacoma Air Show is the highlight of the afternoon, while the Grand Finale Fireworks Extravaganza provides a spectacular tribute to cap off the Freedom Fair. The event has been selected as one of the 10 best fireworks shows in the nation by USATODAY. com, and the Travel Channel named the Freedom Fair one of the 10 “World’s Best” Fireworks Shows. Visit www.freedomfair.com for more information.
By Mary McGlasson
By Mary McGlasson
E
very spring, Pierce County and Tacoma take pride in hosting one of the area’s most colorful events: The Daffodil Festival. First organized in 1934, the Daffodil Festival celebrates spring and the area’s commercial bulb fields. The Puyallup Valley became home to the daffodil as a replacement for the area’s dying hop industry in the 1920s. The King Alfred daffodil is the most abundant and best-known of the more than 200 varieties grown locally. The Daffodil Festival tradition started as a spring garden party near Sumner’s floral fields, but as the daffodils grew, so did the crowds and the traffic, with at times more than 8,000 vehicles crowding the roads bordering the golden fields. In 1934, a parade was suggested to alleviate these issues, and the tradition was born. A hosting group called the Daffodilians was formed in 1965 to act as the official hosting and visitation unit of the Daffodil Festival.
Ring in the New: First Night
I
n Tacoma, the community bids a fond farewell to the old year and a joyous greeting to the new with First Night, the community’s annual New Year’s Eve celebration. The “four pillars” of First Night are Community, Celebration, the New Year, and the Arts, and each First Night event incorporates all these elements to create familyfriendly, alcohol-free, fun festivities in the heart of the city. 36 Tacoma-Pierce Chamber of Commerce
The Grand Floral Street Parade, which travels through the cities of Tacoma, Puyallup, Sumner, and Orting, is the highlight of Festival Week. At 26.2 miles, it is one of the longest parades in the United States and includes approximately 40 float entries and 80 other entries, including bands, mounted police, rodeo riders, military troops, and clowns. Each entry is decorated with fresh-cut daffodils. As bookends to the Grand Floral Street Parade, the Daffodil Festival also features the Junior Daffodil Parade, hosted by the Proctor District of Tacoma, as a prelude and the Daffodil Marine Regatta as a capper. The Marine Regatta is a 50-year tradition for the Tacoma Yacht Club, in which vessels and boats are decorated with the flowers and floral arrangements from the Street Parade floats for a parade up and down the Ruston waterfront. For more information, call 253-863-9524 or visit www.daffodilfestival.net.
By Mary McGlasson
The brainchild of area artists, the event brings the arts to the fore with innovative projects and pageantry, providing a diverse platform for musicians, poets, storytellers, dancers, actors, puppeteers, and visual and media artists to showcase the city’s cultural landscape. The revelry culminates in a spectacular fireworks display. Visit www.firstnighttacoma.org for more information.
Tall 2008
Ships By Laura Wilcoxen
A Seafaring Celebration
ÂŽ
M
ajestic sailing ships graced the Foss Waterway in July 2008, as Tacoma welcomed the return of the Tall ShipsŽ celebration. Tall ships are traditionally rigged sailing vessels, with modern versions including topsail schooners, brigantines, brigs, and barques. Eschewing modern materials like aluminum and steel, most of these ships feature complex rigging and full canvas sails that call to mind the glory days of high-seas sailing. Among the ships featured in 2008 was the HMS Bounty, built in 1960 for the movie Mutiny on the Bounty and featured in Pirates of the Caribbean II. She was joined by the Lady Washington, the official tall ship of the State of Washington and a replica of a privateer of the same name that sailed during the American Revolution. The premier vessel was the U.S.C.G. Eagle, a Coast Guard Academy three-masted cutter and the only square rigger in active service. Festival-goers were able to purchase tickets for tours or sails on more than 15 ships. Some of the sails even included mock cannon battles with other vessels. All of the celebration’s sailing ships, steamboats, and cutters joined in the Parade of Sail, cruising from Quartermaster Harbor on Vashon Island into Tacoma under full sail. Tall ShipsŽ will return to Tacoma in 2011.
Fred Tebb & Sons, Inc. Manufacturers of High Grade Sitka Spruce Douglas Fir, Hemlock and Cedars Music Lumber • Boat Lumber • Aircraft Lumber Finish • Mouldings & Shop 1906 Marc St. • Tacoma, WA 98421 Tel: 253-272-4107 • Fax: 253-272-4292
2ECRUITING AND 3TAFlNG %XCELLENCE Raquel Valenzuela, Branch Manager
3 3TEELE 3TREET 3TE s 4ACOMA 7!
Ph: 253.475.9440 s &AX 253.475.9466 %MAIL RAQUELVALENZUELA SPHERION COM
www.spherion.com
www.tacomachamber.org 37
Shop and Dine Tacoma Style By Carol Cummings
Primo Grill
Primo Grill, owned by Chef Charlie McManus and his wife and partner, Jacqueline Plattner, has raised the benchmark for quality dining in Tacoma and set the stage for the dynamic growth of the 6th Avenue entertainment district. Primo Grill and Crown Bar have both received five stars for culinary excellence from the News Tribune. They have been featured in
Nordstrom Expands in Tacoma Mall The upscale Nordstrom department store chain completed a major expansion and relocation in the Tacoma Mall in the fall of 2008. According to Kendall Ault, a Nordstrom spokesperson, the new anchor facility features 138,000 square feet of well-designed store space. “Relocating and building a new store at the Tacoma Mall gives us the chance to bring our newest design concepts to our customers, who have supported us for more than 40 years,” says Ault. “Ultimately, it will help us to serve them better.” The new store at the Tacoma Mall opened on October 3, 2008.
Washington CEO, Northwest Wine Press, and Seattle Magazine, and Primo has been rated highly by Zagat. McManus has appeared on PBS Cooks preparing seared scallops, an iconic Primo entrée. For the last several years, they have been committed to sourcing foods grown locally as often as possible. Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, McManus came to the United States at the age of 19 and continued a family tradition in the art of food. “My father’s family operated a small pub in rural Northern Ireland for several years, and I grew up watching my Uncle Charlie as the singing barkeep there,” he explains. “Hospitality is in my blood.” Primo Grill’s Mediterranean-inspired menu features grilled and roasted seafood, pasta, and traditional lamb dishes made with fresh, local ingredients and seasonings. An in-house pastry chef tops off meals with rich, tempting desserts. Primo Grill funds an endowed art scholarship at Tacoma Community College, and the Crown Bar funds a culinary arts scholarship at Clover Park Technical College. “Jacqueline and I are big Tacoma promoters,” McManus says. “I feel very bonded to my adopted city. Doing the scholarships allows us to give back to Tacoma and support two excellent colleges.”
Pacific Grill Chef Gordon Naccarato comes from a long line of good cooks. The Tacoma-born
38 Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber
restaurateur has carried on the family tradition as executive chef and vice president of Naccarato Restaurant Group and the Pacific Grill, located in the beautifully restored Waddell Building. “I had great role models on both sides of the family,” he explains. “My grandfather owned a restaurant, and I have always loved cooking and was very good at it.” In fact, when Naccarato was in college, he took over for his fraternity’s chef when she became sick. Once she was better, his fellow fraternity brothers did not want him to stop preparing their meals. During his 29-year career as chef and restaurateur, Naccarato has worked with some of the most talented chefs across the country in restaurants in Los Angeles, Aspen, Miami, and New York City. His recipes appear in countless books and magazines around the world, and he has appeared in the PBS series The Great Chefs of the West, preparing several of his signature specialties. In 1987, Naccarato received Food & Wine Magazine’s “Top 10 Best New American Chefs” award. The Pacific Grill features fine dining with an array of steaks, chops, and seafood served in gourmet style. However, Naccarato is a firm denouncer of what he calls “food snobbery,” and Pacific Grill dishes often blend haute cuisine with comfort food — epitomized by Naccarato’s famous Bleu Cheese Tater Tots and Kobe Hot Dog Sliders.
Take Me Out to Tacoma
By Carol Cummings
H
ead out to the ballpark and take in a minor league baseball game with the Tacoma Rainiers. A member of the Pacific Coast League, the team is the AAA affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. According to Geoff Corkum, director of media development for the Rainiers, pro baseball enjoys a rich tradition in Tacoma. In 1960, the Tacoma Giants brought minor league baseball to Tacoma, with games played in the new Cheney Stadium. Over the next 35 years, a number of teams affiliated
with Tacoma, and the city enjoyed seasons with teams named the Giants, Cubs, Twins, Yankees, Tugs, and Tigers. “The 1995 season saw Tacoma finally affiliate with the local major league squad, the Seattle Mariners,” Corkum says. “With the new affiliation came a name change to Rainiers — the long-time nickname of Seattle’s PCL team in the pre-Mariners era.” The Rainiers are owned by Schlegel Sports but work closely with their Major League affiliate, the Seattle Mariners, and the City of
Tacoma and Pierce County. Schlegel Sports, headquartered in Dallas, bought the franchise from George Foster in 2006. Nearly all of the homegrown Seattle Mariners players have passed through Tacoma, including Alex Rodriguez, Jay Buhner, Ken Griffey Jr., Raul Ibanez, Felix Hernandez, and J.J. Putz. For information on schedule and tickets, visit www.tacomarainiers.com.
www.tacomachamber.org 39
Tacoma’s Theater District
By Mary McGlasson
F
or the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, the 2009 season will mark 25 years of providing Puget Sound residents with outstanding venues to entertain, educate, and delight from its home in the Tacoma Theater District. Each year, the Broadway Center’s three historic theaters — the Pantages, the Rialto, and the Theatre on the Square — host an acclaimed performance series that brings world-class artists to the heart of downtown Tacoma. The Pantages Theater The Pantages opened in 1918 as a live theater and was the realization of the dreams of Greek immigrant and entrepreneur Alexander Pantages and his mistress and business partner, “Klondike Kate” Rockwell. The theater was designed to model an ornate theater in the Palace of Versailles. The Pantages was restored and reopened in 1983, and today it is the oldest of the Pantages Theaters still in operation. The theater, with 1,169 seats, is currently home to the Tacoma Opera, Tacoma City Ballet, Tacoma Philharmonic, Tacoma Concert Band, and Tacoma Symphony.
The Rialto Theater Tacoma’s Rialto, part of a national movie-house chain hailed as “the ultimate photoplay house,” opened in September 1918. The BeauxArts theater, which resembles Vienna’s 1916 Redoutensaal, still retains much of its original ornate plaster decoration, although its lobby has been expanded. A second-run discount movie house before it was restored in the 1990s, the 742-seat theater now hosts the Tacoma Youth Symphony Organization, the Northwest Sinfonietta, and the Puget Sound Revels. The Theatre on the Square Designed by architects Broome, Oringdulph, O’Toole, Rudolf, Boles and Associates of Portland, Ore., the construction of the contemporary Theatre on the Square was overseen by Jones & Roberts Company of Lacey, with $11.8 million raised from private and public sectors. The theater opened in October 1993 and offers 302 seats and a new rehearsal hall. Theatre on the Square is home to the Tacoma Actors Guild, the region’s only professional theater company, and boasts full production capabilities.
Find your way to the
Foss Waterway Seaport
A Waterfront Gathering Place for Our Community
Wonderful Exhibits Fantastic Views from our Esplanade Activities for all Ages Event & Meeting Space Available
call - 253.272.2750
1921 South 72nd Street Tacoma, WA 98408
253-475-1772 40 Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber
705 Dock Street, Tacoma, WA 98402 w w w. foss water wayseapor t .org
By Mary McGlasson
A Decade T
of Film The Grand Cinema
Recent Movies Filmed in Tacoma
• Enough (2002): Filmed in various locations in Gig Harbor. • The Fugitive (2001 television series): Many episodes were filmed in downtown Tacoma, at locations including the downtown Tacoma Post Office, Hylebos Bridge, Wright Park, and Puget Sound Hospital. • Get Carter (1999): Chase scenes were filmed on one of downtown Tacoma’s steep hills on South 15th Street. • 10 Things I Hate About You (1998): The comedy was filmed in large part at Tacoma’s Stadium High School and at a beautiful old North Tacoma home. • Black Circle Boys (1997): Various scenes were filmed in Tacoma.
acoma’s Grand Cinema doesn’t just show movies: It serves as a conduit through which patrons can experience film and filmmaking as art. For more than a decade, The Grand, located at 606 South Fawcett Avenue, has served Tacoma as a volunteer-based, nonprofit art-house theater with a mission of enhancing the community’s cultural vitality through the art of film. With Saturday afternoon film discussions and a Film School (currently on hiatus), The Grand has worked to provide an arena in which all fans of the medium have the opportunity to learn more about film. A variety of series are offered throughout the year, and The Grand Cinema is the primary host and home of the Tacoma Film Festival, which showcases short and feature-length films of all genres. In 2008, The Grand celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a “best of” film series that screened eight of the theater’s highest-grossing features, an eclectic line-up that included Sideways, Napoleon Dynamite, Memento, March of the Penguins, Amelie, Lost in Translation, The Red Violin, and O Brother Where Art Thou? For more information on The Grand, visit www.grandcinema.com. For showtimes and tickets or to reach the front lobby, call 253-593-4474. For The Grand’s office and administration, call 253-572-6062.
• Prefontaine (1996): Much of the production was filmed at the University of Puget Sound’s Baker Field, which replicated Hayward Field at the University of Oregon in 1972. • Countdown (1996): Filming locations included the Pantages Theater, the Heidleberg Brewery, and Lincoln High School. • Born to be Wild (1994): Filming took place at the former Federal Court House/Post Office in downtown Tacoma. • The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1991): Primary location was Tacoma’s Northend neighborhood. • I Love You to Death (1990): Tacoma’s triangular Bostwick Building on Broadway served as Joey Boca’s (Kevin Kline) Pizzeria, while the second floor was the Villa Rosalie apartments.
• •
• • •
Other locations included Bob’s Java Jive, Stadium High School Bowl, and Holy Rosary Church. Come See the Paradise (1990): A wedding takes place at the downtown Tacoma Elks Club. Waiting for the Light (1989): Locations included Tacoma’s Colonial Square, formerly known as the Colonial Hotel, and the Rialto Theater in downtown Tacoma. Chips the War Dog (1989): Filming took place at Fort Lewis. An Officer and a Gentleman (1981): Filming took place at 801 Portland Avenue. Sweet Revenge (1977): Various scenes were filmed in Tacoma.
www.tacomachamber.org 41
The Museum Scene
Broaden Your Horizons in Tacoma By Mary McGlasson
Children’s Museum of Tacoma
936 Broadway Avenue • 253-627-6031 • www.childrensmuseumoftacoma.org
The Children’s Museum of Tacoma features interactive exhibits that kids are invited and encouraged to touch and play with. The museum features rotating and traveling exhibits as well as playful weekly programs and fun-filled camps.
Fort Nisqually Living History Museum
5400 N. Pearl Street #11 • 253-591-5339 • www.metroparkstacoma.org
Operated by Metro Parks Tacoma, Fort Nisqually features volunteers and staff in period clothing, demonstrating the life, craftsmanship, and heritage of the 19th century, when Washington Territory was home to a thriving fur trade.
The LeMay Museum
325 152nd Street East • 253-536-2885 • www.lemaymuseum.org
The LeMay Museum in Tacoma, known as “America’s Car Museum,” is home to a collection of automobiles and automobile memorabilia, recognized in 1997 by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest private collection in the world. A new 9-acre museum campus, located adjacent to the Tacoma Dome, is currently under development.
Museum of Glass
1801 Dock Street • 253-284-4750 • www.museumofglass.org
Glass as an artistic medium is the focus of the Museum of Glass International Center for Contemporary Art. The museum features 13,000 square feet of galleries and exhibits and a 180-seat theater highlighting the use of glass in contemporary art and media. In the Hot Shop, visitors see artists undertake the process of creation. The Bridge of Glass, which links the museum to downtown Tacoma’s cultural corridor, is an architectural and artistic wonder created by legendary Studio Glass pioneer and Tacoma native Dale Chihuly and architect Arthur Andersson.
Tacoma Art Museum
1701 Pacific Avenue • 253-272-4258 • www.tacomaartmuseum.org
World-class art exhibitions and shows are complemented by stunning views of downtown Tacoma and Mount Rainier from the museum’s balcony. The museum’s collection includes historic and contemporary pieces by artists from around the world, with an emphasis on art by Northwest artists, Japanese woodblock prints, and of course a comprehensive collection of Chihuly glass art. Guided tours provide inside information on artists and their work, while the Open Art Studio allows visitors to create a masterpiece of their own.
Washington State History Museum
1911 Pacific Avenue • 888-BE-THERE • www.wshs.org
At Washington State History Museum, interactive exhibits, theatrical presentations, hightech displays, and dramatic artifacts tell the story of Washington’s history and people to visitors of all ages. The museum itself is 106,000-square-foot architectural gem with soaring spaces and dramatic archways. 42 Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber
State-of-the-Art By Mary McGlasson
Thriving on Community Involvement Tacoma Public Schools
P.O. Box 1357, Tacoma 253-571-1000 • www.tacoma.k12.wa.us
• Washington State’s second-largest school district, with more than 32,000 students attending 37 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, five high schools, and 15 alternative programs • Family Involvement Center provides parenting workshops and other resources that encourage parents and help them learn more about working with their children • Residents support the school system through special levies that provide support for programs and an ongoing program to remodel and replace school buildings • Stadium High School, a historic landmark, underwent $108 million retooling that included built-in multimedia projectors and interactive chalkboards that can display Internet pages in classrooms; a performing arts center housing a theater, gyms, music facilities, and classrooms; elevators; digital security cameras; a mall-style cafeteria; new restrooms; and more
Bethel School District
516 176th Street E, Spanaway 253-683-6000 • www.bethelisd.org
programs, and career technical education courses • Learning Support Academies provide academic assistance to small groups of students before and after school • District boasts five state “Teachers of the Year” in the last 25 years • Regional vocational skills center is planned for hands-on instruction in allied health, computer science, veterinary assistance, materials engineering, culinary arts, early childhood education, and construction, with programs in criminal justice, auto technology, and commercial design and art to follow
Franklin Pierce Schools
315 129th Street South, Tacoma 253-398-3000 • www.fp.k12.wa.us
• District includes eight elementary schools, two middle schools, two traditional high schools, and three alternative high/middle schools serving approximately 7,900 students from preschool to grade 12 • Comprehensive curriculum focuses on basic skills, challenging college preparatory classes, elective subjects, and vocational/ technical programs • District buildings have undergone multimillion-dollar renovations supported through community levies and bonds
University Place School District
3717 Grandview Drive West, University Place 253-566-5600 • www.upsd.wednet.edu
• District includes four primary schools, two intermediate schools, one junior high school, and one high school • An $86 million bond issue was approved for school improvement projects in February 2006. Projects include new Curtis Junior High building, new University Place Primary School, and renovations to Sunset Primary and Curtis High School
• Fourteenth-largest district in the state, with an enrollment of about 17,500 students in 15 elementary schools, five junior high schools, three comprehensive senior high schools, an alternative junior/senior high school, and an online academy. Two new elementary schools will open in fall 2009 • Special programs include alternative Web-based learning, special education classes, expanded AP classes, JROTC, award-winning arts
www.tacomachamber.org 43
By Ma ry Mc Gla
n w o T e g e l l Co
sso n
The University of Washington Tacoma 1900 Commerce St., Tacoma 253-692-4000 • www.tacoma.washington.edu
H igh e r Edu c at io n in the Tac om a Re gio n
• Full-time enrollment of 2,173 • Offers bachelor’s and master’s programs in a variety of disciplines, K–8 teacher certification, educational administrator certification • Continuing and executive education available through KeyBank Professional Development Center • Facilities include academic buildings, a science building, a library, auditorium, computer labs, student center, and instructional center
University of Puget Sound 1500 N. Warner St., Tacoma 253-879-3100 • www.ups.edu
• Nationally ranked liberal-arts college • Full-time enrollment of approximately 2,500 undergraduate and 200 graduate students • Offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs • Ninety-seven-acre campus of Tudor Gothic buildings • Predominantly residential undergraduate college • Selected graduate programs offered • Participates in NCAA Division III athletics and is a member of the Northwest Conference with 10 men’s and 11 women’s varsity sports • Offers intramural and ASUPS Club sports
Pacific Lutheran University 12180 Park Avenue South, Tacoma 800-274-6758 • www.plu.edu
• • • • • • •
44 Tacoma-Pierce Chamber of Commerce
Comprehensive university Total enrollment of 3,661 Offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs Situated on a picturesque 126-acre campus Member of the Associated New American Colleges Features five professional schools and selective graduate programs Offers 12 choral and instrumental ensembles, dance ensemble, theater, speech and debate, newspaper, radio, television, literary magazine activities
• Boasts 55 clubs, including community service, religious, environmental, social justice, political, cultural/ethnic, business, non-traditional student, nursing, science, computer, and outdoor recreation • Participates in NCAA Division III athletics • Only Northwest university to be listed every year as one of the top 15 Western region universities in the U.S. News & World Report “Best Colleges” survey
City University of Seattle: Fife Campus
3700 Pacific Highway East, Fife • 253-869-3210 • www.cityu.edu
• One of the 20 global locations for City University of Seattle, a private, not-for-profit university with 40,000 students worldwide • Degree and certificate programs include management, education, and general studies • Access to a varied and extensive continuing-education program and distance-education program
Evergreen State College Tacoma
1210 6th Ave., Tacoma • 253-680-3000 • www.evergreen.edu/tacoma
• Public four-year college • Enrollment numbers approximately 4,500 students • Offers Bachelor of Arts degrees in areas including community and organizational development, public administration and management, law and public policy, social services leadership, education and training, cultural studies, media arts, and environmental and public health • Liberal-arts focus • Academic areas include community and organized development, public administration and management, law and public policy, social-services leadership, education and training, cultural studies, media arts, and environment and public health • Offers seven intercollegiate teams and four club teams, including basketball, a nationally ranked soccer program, and a crew team • Noted as the “Best in the West” and a “Best Value College” by the 2005 Princeton Review
Washington State University Puyallup
7612 Pioneer Way East, Puyallup • 253-445-4501 • www.puyallup.wsu.edu
• Nationally recognized research university • Offers undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctorate programs in 11 academic departments • Provides research, extension, and instruction programs supporting technological innovation, food production, natural-resource stewardship, youth development, human nutrition, and community enhancement • Boasts a 160-acre main campus with laboratories and offices, state-of-the-art greenhouses, a Master Gardener demonstration garden, six acres of certified organic farmland, and several acres of agricultural and natural resource plots • Houses multiple world-class research and extension programs
University of Phoenix
1145 Broadway #500, Tacoma • 425-572-1600 • www.phoenix.edu
• Associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs in arts and sciences, business management, criminal justice and security, education, nursing and health care, and technology • Distance-learning format with online coursework supplemented by forums for each class for students to interact with each other and with the professor www.tacomachamber.org 45
Getting Off to a Great Start
Community and Technical Colleges By Mary McGlasson
Clover Park Technical College 4500 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Lakewood 253-589-5800 • www.cptc.edu
• Enrollment approximately 18,000 students annually • Continuing-education classes include job skills development, home and family education, general interest, and adult basic education • Fifty career-training programs reflect the economic trends of the area • Sixty certification programs available • On-site training programs available for local businesses • Transfer options available to several fouryear colleges and universities
DeVry University
3600 S. 344th Way, Federal Way 253-943-2800 • www.devry.edu
• One of over 90 locations across the United States • Offering associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees from an accredited university • Career-oriented education from faculty who are successful business professionals, with real-world curriculum
46 Tacoma-Pierce Chamber of Commerce
• Ninety percent of graduates employed within six months of graduation • DeVry Federal Way offers courses to students enrolled at this campus or at the Bellevue (Seattle) center and has the largest business center in the Pacific Northwest
L.H. Bates Technical College 1101 S. Yakima Ave., Tacoma 253-680-7000 • www.bates.ctc.edu
• Largest public technical college in Washington State • Enrollment numbers approximately 15,000 students per year, with an average full-time student enrollment of 1,500 • Curriculum includes general education and career and technical training • Offers two-year Associate of Technology degrees, Certificates of Competency, Certificates of Training, industry certifications, and, in specific programs, prepares students for the achievement of state licensure • Maintains articulation degrees with several four-year universities, making some of the college’s two-year degrees transferable • Advisory committees include over 500 managers and workers from local business and industry • Operates on three campuses, with over 600,000 square feet of classrooms, shops, meeting rooms, and offices
Pierce College www.pierce.ctc.edu
Puyallup
1601 39th Avenue Southeast, Puyallup 253-840-8400
Steilacoom
9401 Farwest Drive Southwest, Lakewood 253-964-6500
• • • •
Two community colleges and an extended-learning program Enrollment numbers more than 25,000 students each year Nationally ranked in degrees conferred Programs include transfer courses parallel to the first two years of university and four-year college work; vocational degree and certificate programs for training or retraining in a variety of job fields; developmental, basic-skills, and high-school completion courses; personal and professional development through continuing education; and traditional and nontraditional learning opportunities • Emphasizes whole-student development and hands-on learning • Offers campus services that include an art gallery, campus safety, child care, a dental clinic, a fitness center, and food service • Offers six intercollegiate sports as a participant in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges
Tacoma Community College 6501 S. 19th St., Tacoma 253-566-5000 • www.tacomacc.edu
• Enrollment numbers approximately 15,000 annually • Campus locations: main campus in west Tacoma, Gig Harbor Peninsula Campus, Washington Institute for Service Excellence at the Tacoma Mall, Madison School, The Evergreen State College-Tacoma, Washington Corrections Center for Women, and Mission Creek Corrections Center for Women • Offers over 40 study areas, 60 professional and technical degrees and certificates, and 45 professional/technical programs • A participant in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges • Hosts more than 150 local business professionals on advisory committees • Students achieve more than 90 percent placement in their chosen fields • Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
www.tacomachamber.org 47
Educational Alternatives Arts and Business Education
By Mary McGlasson
Tacoma School of the Arts Tacoma School of the Arts offers creative learning emphasizing expression through the visual and performing arts as central elements in academic achievement and lifelong endeavor. The School of the Arts, which consists of three locations downtown, partners with local museum and theater locations as both resources and learning spaces. Students enter the School of the Arts as sophomores. While a wide variety of classes are available, most students specialize in one department or discipline. The school offers a broad selection of artistic classes as part of its curriculum, as well as traditional high school courses. For more information, visit www.tacoma.k12.wa.us/schools/hs/ sota or call 253-571-7900.
Junior Achievement of Washington Junior Achievement has provided business, economic, and life-skills programs to young people throughout Washington since 1953. With a hands-on, interactive dynamic, JA brings community volunteers into classrooms to provide adult mentorship to 69 school districts throughout western Washington and the Tri-Cities. The elementary program helps students learn economic concepts, stressing the relationship between school and future success. The middle school program teaches the importance of staying in school while introducing economic concepts and the world of work. The high school program helps students develop
the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to become productive citizens and workers. While JA reaches more than 100,000 students, its goal is to reach 700,000. To learn more about volunteering, call 206-296-2600.
Annie Wright Founded in 1884, Annie Wright School is a collegepreparatory institution offering a day program for boys and girls in preschool through grade eight and a boarding/day program for girls in grades nine through 12. An international study program both welcomes students from abroad and coordinates international study options for Annie Wright students wishing to study overseas. Students are divided into three schools: Lower School, for preschool through grade 5; Middle School, for grades six through eight; and Upper School, for girls in grades nine through 12. The needs of individual students are taken into account throughout their careers at Annie Wright; with the help of the staff learning specialist, the faculty addresses individual differences in ability, development, and learning styles. Challenging academics are supplemented by arts and athletics. For more information on Annie Wright School, visit www.aw.org or call 253-272-2216.
Bellarmine Preparatory School “A Catholic school in the tradition of Jesuit education,� Bellarmine Prep is an award-winning co-ed school serving 1,000 students from throughout the region. The 42-acre campus includes classrooms, athletic fields, state-of-the-art library and computer facilities, and the Wiegand Nursery & Greenhouse. Challenging college-prep courses and a broad range of electives allow students to personalize their education. Christian teachings help students become active, joyful members of the Catholic community. Competitive athletics encourage both health and the development of discipline and respect. For more information on Bellarmine Preparatory School, call 253-752-7701 or visit www.bellarmineprep.org.
www.walmart.com 48 Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber