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Sequoia’s Treehouse Farm & Forest Learning Make the Case for Taking Childcare Outdoors Thurston County Higher Education In A Season of Change A Successful Economy Depends On Childcare We Can Afford Don’t Ignore Those Census Workers

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September 2020 THURSTON COUNTY CHAMBER VOICE MAGAZINE

Due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 crisis, please visit ThurstonChamber.com and click on the Events Calendar for the latest information regarding Chamber events.

Back to Business 5 POINT SAFETY PLEDGE The Chamber asks business owners to take the “Back to Business” 5-Point Safety Pledge. Businesses pledge to practice safe social distancing and frequent handwashing; to reduce ‘high touch’ surfaces; to provide flexibility, training and education to employees with clear policies and procedures; and to follow all Public Health and CDC guidance. Together, with a concerted effort, we can get our community back to business quickly and safely. Take the pledge at www.ThurstonChamber.com.

In This Issue... A Successful Economy Depends on Affordable Childcare p. 7 Remote operations are exposing the difficulties of balancing fulltime parenting with full-time work.

Sequoia’s Treehouse p. 13 Sequoia’s unique farm and forest learning makes the case for taking childcare outdoors.

A Change of Seasons for Thurston Higher Ed p. 16 Regional colleges and universities develop their plans to welcome students back in a safe way.

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Business Essentials is a Webinar series focused on providing listeners with info to help their business survive and thrive during the time of COVID-19. This webinar takes place every other Wednesday. Visit ThurstonChamber.com for registration links. Find past episodes on the Chamber YouTube channel.

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Join Chamber Staff, Elizabeth Bretschneider at the Thurston Chamber's Virtual Networking Event! During "One Minute What's Up?!" Each participant will have 60 seconds to introduce themselves. One Minute What's Up takes place every Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. Register at ThurstonChamber.com/Events.

The Thurston Chamber and Thurston EDC have partnered to offer a virtual talk show for small business owners and open to the general public. Thurston EDC Executive Director, Michael Cade and Thurston Chamber CEO/President, David Schaffert host various guests to provide the latest information on business resources, state, federal and local actions and the COVID-19 status and advocacy efforts for our community. This virtual talk show takes place every other Thursday at 2:00 p.m. For registration link and topics, visit ThurstonChamber.com.

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Thurston County Chamber VOICE

Don’t Ignore Those Census Workers p. 19 Census work informs more than just elections. Don’t miss an opportunity to better fund your region.

DECLASSIFIED: Childcare Crisis & Solutions p. 21 Guests Cheryl Fambles, Garry Burris and Jason Robertson speak on the childcare crisis and how to resolve it.

Caught in the Lens p. 22 Chamber Businesses “Tie Our Community Back Together” in this month’s Caught in the Lens.

September 2020

magazine PUBLISHER Thurston County Chamber of Commerce EDITORIAL David Schaffert 360-357-3362 dschaffert@thurstonchamber.com CONTRIBUTORS David Schaffert Doug Mah Natasha Ashenhurst Doria Maselli Alison Bailey Kathryn Milhorn Heidi Smith ADVERTISING Sales & Marketing: Krystal Barkus Elizabeth Bretschneider Melanie Bell SUBSCRIPTIONS 360-357-3362 info@thurstonchamber.com DESIGN Ben Hawkes Mosaic Marketing Studio COVER Sequoia’s Treehouse Farm Learning Photo courtesy of Sequoia’s Treehouse PRINTING Print NW CONTACT THE CHAMBER 809 Legion Way SE Olympia, WA 98507 360-357-3362 info@thurstonchamber.com thurstonchamber.com

Community Supports Childcare Efforts by David Schaffert, President/CEO, Thurston Chamber

s we learned in the July 30 episode of DECLASSIFIED (read the show notes on page 21) in Washington State, over half of the annual budget goes toward K-12 education, yet the State spent just over one percent of those funds on childcare. The industry has been in crisis for decades, with many parents unable to afford up to $14,000 in annual daycare costs. At the same time, childcare providers typically earn minimum wage, and workforce turnover is high. Now, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced national attention on an issue too long ignored. For childcare centers, the most significant impact of COVID-19 has been declining enrollment. Meanwhile, parents are scrambling to find solutions for when school resumes remotely, and the issue disproportionately affects women. Many of the 31 percent of single parents in the State are female and face workforce disparities.

Within Thurston County, many organizations are coming together to work on the problem. The South Sound YMCA and Boys & Girls Club of Thurston County have modified and expanded their services. Thurston Strong launched a childcare grant program that received 126 applications as well as a microgrant program. Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council is exploring training programs to ‘upskill’ childcare workers to open their own businesses. Community leaders are looking into subsidies, vouchers for parents and a Co-op model of childcare operations, along with policy changes to provide more significant support for both parents and providers. In the long run, sustainable solutions will require a partnership between government and business. The Thurston Chamber applauds these efforts because high quality, affordable childcare is essential for a prosperous and healthy community.

THURSTON COUNTY CHAMBER BUILDING COMMUNITY PROSPERITY SINCE 1874 COPYRIGHT All material appearing in the VOICE Magazine is copyright unless otherwise stated or it may rest with the provider of the supplied material. The VOICE Magazine takes all care to ensure information is correct at time of printing, but the publisher accepts no responsibility or liability for the accuracy of any information contained in the text or advertisements. ©2020 VOICE Magazine, Thurston County Chamber.

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A Successful Economy Depends on Affordable Childcare by Doria Maselli

n the last six months, the COVID-19 public health crisis has changed how we conduct business in nearly every industry. Overnight, employers had to shift operations to keep employees safe and healthy. The onset of COVID-19 has spurred 79 percent of employers to move a significant part of the workforce to remote work. But with these changes, many working parents must face the reality of balancing full-time childcare and full-time employment.

“O

ne of the most important things in a community, pandemic or not, is providing a safe and nurturing space for children, and frontline childcare providers deserve a lot of recognition,” said Kyle Cronk, President of the South Sound YMCA. “We were lucky here that as soon as schools shut down in March, we were able to pivot and help essential workers, healthcare workers and emergency responders who needed childcare. Our childcare frontline workers are incredibly valuable, and it’s not possible to have a successful economy without accessible and affordable childcare.” Access to childcare was already a challenge before the pandemic, as highquality childcare often has significant

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recruitment and retention costs for employers. As childcare programs have closed or are operating at limited capacity, the impact of this lack of childcare options on employers is even more significant. In the fall of 2019, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation conducted a series of surveys, which led to the creation of four reports, referred to as Untapped Potential, to better understand how childcare challenges affect parents’ participation in the workforce, affect employers’ ability to recruit and retain skilled workers and impact state economies. This study found that childcare challenges, such as breakdowns in care, affordability or lack of access, contribute to parents postponing

school and training programs, forgoing promotions because of schedule changes and sometimes leaving the workforce altogether. In the four states studied, these childcare issues resulted from $479 million to $3.47 billion in estimated

“It is not possible to have a successful economy without accessible and affordable childcare.” – Kyle Cronk, President, South Sound YMCA

annual losses for their economies, with specific direct and indirect impact on employers in those states. “At the YMCA, we went from providing childcare to 1,000 families pre-COVID-19 to just a little over 200 families during March through June, a volume not even a third of what it was previously,” said Cronk.

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September 2020

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childcare solutions that best meet their needs. These factors make up what is referred to as the ‘Childcare Equation.’ But the equation is different for each family depending on a variety of circumstances. Every piece of the equation is vital to making the whole picture work. This equation results from working parents navigating the following factors:

“During the summer, our childcare summer camp programs typically serve about 600 families, and we’ve gone down to 250 families this summer.” These losses were significant to families, employers and states, even when economies were healthy and there was low unemployment. Several months after this study, working parents are facing new, complicated childcare challenges amid COVID-19. Parents are trying to balance their dual roles with limited to no access to formal childcare or family, friends or neighbors to help, making childcare an essential need for every employer and state to prioritize their return to work plans. Profit margins for childcare are thin. While their services are in high demand, many childcare businesses are unable to weather a sharp drop in revenue. The National Association for the Education of Young Children surveyed childcare providers throughout the country during the middle of March. Across providers in five of the six states that lie wholly or partly in the Ninth Federal Reserve District—Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, over half of respondents, mostly homebased family childcare providers, said they would not survive closing for more than two weeks without public investment and supports that allow them to thurstonchamber.com

compensate and retain staff, pay rent and cover other fixed costs.

• Their work responsibilities, including their hours, schedule & employer flexibility • Their home environment, including who in the home might be available to care for young children and their physical proximity to a childcare program

“We’re lucky that we’ve been able to still provide childcare for those who are struggling financially and stay committed to our mission of providing youth and • The options in their community, our community affordable and accessible including availability of childcare, resources and not turn anyone away potential conflicting schedules with based on financial circumstances,” older children attending school says Cronk. “Our childcare revenue has decreased by 80 percent, but we’ve been • Their family composition, including here for 107 years and will continue to be the work schedule of a partner, spouse here, and the best way we can accomplish or extended family member to share that is by responding to and serving caregiving responsibilities community needs.” To determine the best solution, parents must consider various factors in determining the level and type of

In the Chamber Foundation’s June 2020 Parent Survey, at least 33 percent of working parents identified that they used multiple providers.

Thurston County Chamber VOICE

September 2020

On average – parents with a child who stayed at home with a parent or guardian pre-COVID indicated that they used this coverage 81 percent of the time or roughly 4 out of 5 days a week. Even as the most frequently used solution, the typical working parent in America uses a combination of providers to meet their childcare needs. This combination of care options complicates the Childcare Equation for families and adds another piece to the puzzle that, if changed, results in adjusting the entire equation. The Childcare Equation was already hard to get right during a strong economy. The demand for childcare outpaces

the supply in most states. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, it has become nearly impossible, as childcare options have been dramatically limited across the United States. So, how can communities join forces and pool together resources to help?

long-term. I’m so thankful to all of our community partner organizations and school district partners in the South Sound who have stepped up and worked with us during this time to get a head start on solving this complicated equation.”

“One takeaway from this pandemic is that it’s forcing us to look at childcare issues and disparities. Since 2008, the banking, airline and auto industries have received 850 billion dollars in federal aid. Childcare providers have received none,” says Cronk. “We need solutions to the Childcare Equation and community conversations to address these needs

For more info about support and resources available in Washington State, visit the Department of Children, Youth & Families at www.dcyf.wa.gov/sites/default/files/ pdf/COVID-ResponseReferralCenter. pdf and https://dcyf.wa.gov/coronaviruscovid-19/early-learning *This article cites data from the U.S Chamber Foundation & the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

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Farm School Children can have hands on farm experience starting as young as four at Sequoia’s new farm school. The farm school is less than a five minute car ride from the childcare center.

Sequoia Hartman’s northeast Olympia childcare center and preschool, Sequoia’s Treehouse, was in an unusually fortunate position when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in our community in March.

s our community continues to navigate the COVID-19 crisis, few sectors are more tenuous than childcare. Parents need to work to support their families, and not every

SEQUOIA’S

tree house Weathering the Pandemic Closure, Hoping for Changes to Childcare by Alison Bailey

Photos courtesy of Sequoia’s Treehouse

In addition to the fact that so much of her curriculum keeps kids outside, Sequoia attributes her success thus far to a number of other factors. One is the physical layout of her facility. She has seen

parent has a job that allows them to work from home. Single-parent

many childcare centers where all of the rooms are connected so that

families and families with two working parents need childcare.

you have to pass through one or more rooms to get to another.

Sequoia’s Treehouse is a childcare center and preschool with one mission that outshines any other: Get kids outside. Owner Sequoia Hartman is a passionate advocate for outdoor learning from a

Sequoia’s Treehouse Childcare & Preschool Facility is located in beautiful Northeast Olympia off South Bay Road.

young age. “Being outside helps kids learn in different ways,” Sequoia explains. “It helps their immune systems and their mental health, among many other benefits.” This is why Sequoia bought a four-acre farm a year and a half ago. She had already been running a half-day school program at the farm when the pandemic arrived. Prior to COVID-19, she was uncertain about whether she could fill a full-day outdoor learning program. She had hoped to enroll 10 or 15 four- to sevenyear-olds. As of mid-August, she is at capacity with 40 students enrolled and ready to start in September. thurstonchamber.com

Thurston County Chamber VOICE

September 2020

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Her facility has unconnected rooms accessed through hallways. She suspects this may help keep germs from spreading more freely.

a struggle for many if not most of people who own childcare businesses.” “Aside from the masks and more cleaning, not that much has changed for us,” Sequoia goes on. She acknowledges that there is an inherent risk in bringing groups of humans of any age together but feels strongly that outdoor childcare and education programs like hers are a viable option to keep children healthy, engaged and learning as we move into an uncertain future.

She also had very stringent cleaning and sanitation policies in place prior to the pandemic. She and her staff have doubled down on keeping floors, handles and surfaces clean. They are also closely adhering to the state’s face covering guidelines. Any adult inside the building must wear a mask, including parents during drop off and pick up. Children do not have to wear a mask and “It’s hard to change people’s minds about adults may remove theirs outdoors. The hand how their children are being educated,” sanitizer flows freely. Sequoia goes on. “I hope that because of COVID-19, we as a country can find a way Sequoia feels extremely fortunate to be in to make a shift toward getting kids of all the position she is in as a childcare provider. ages out of classrooms and into nature with Currently, she has roughly 80 slots filled the help of more farm and forest schools.” with 115 available in her childcare center and preschool. “This is not the trend in For more info about Sequoia’s Treehouse and this industry,” she emphasizes. “Centers to inquire about enrollment, call 360-742-3651 are closing, even corporate ones. This is or visit sequoiastreehouse.com.

Sequoia Hartman is the founder of Sequoia’s Treehouse. She is passionate about getting kids outside to learn.

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September 2020

A CHANGE OF SEASONS FOR

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Higher Ed

As summer winds to a close most of us turn our minds to the classroom. Supply lists pop up in every store and back-to-school specials abound. But Autumn 2020 is …let’s just say… unique. With classes starting soon, our regional colleges and universities are working hard to develop a safe, healthy way to welcome students back.

recent statement from the Washington Student Achievement Council on behalf of Washington Colleges and Universities acknowledges times are tough. “Everyone—students, families, communities, and institutions— is experiencing the extraordinary circumstances around the COVID-19 pandemic together. We recognize the hard work of making college a reality; we mourn with you what may be missed—ceremonies, recognitions, research, study abroad—and we understand the uncertainty that still lies ahead. We also strongly believe that living through this crisis will strengthen the resiliency of Washington students for years to come.” Locally, the Evergreen State College, South Puget Sound Community College

September 2020

(SPSCC) and Saint Martin’s University (SMU) spent the last few months hard at work to meet the needs of students, faculty and families during the crisis. “Evergreen officially moved to all-remote in March of 2020 after in-person instruction was halted in Washington State,” explains Christine Hoffmann, Manager of Public Relations and Outreach at Evergreen. “Faculty and staff utilized the weeks between Winter Quarter and Spring Quarter to pivot to a new way of teaching and learning. Training sessions were provided to help faculty and students adapt to the new remote environment.” With start dates just around the corner, staff remain diligent. “Our faculty and staff have been working hard over the summer to design remote programs and courses for Fall Quarter with

Thurston County Chamber VOICE

by Kathryn Milhorn

activities that build a peer-community and translate our high-impact model into effective online teaching and learning,” says Hoffmann. “Most of Evergreen’s classes will be offered remotely and in-person learning will be limited. In-person activities that do take place will do so with appropriate health and safety measures, including physical distancing. In addition to efforts to adapt teaching and learning, extensive planning is happening to help students and employees stay safe. This includes careful consideration of how we might return to campus when it’s safe to do so.” SPSCC faculty and staff also worked hard to adapt and evolve. “We were able to make a fairly rapid transition to online learning,” admits President Timothy Stokes.

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“Our students have been requesting more online options for the last several years, so many of our faculty already had experience online and we already had the technology in place. Thanks to a great support team and faculty-to-faculty mentoring, we started spring quarter online for every program, even our most technical, handson programs.” Dr. Stokes hopes this successful turnaround continues. “For fall quarter, we are keeping as many classes online as we can. For our hands-on classes and programs we have thorough safety plans and procedures in place that will get some students back in the classroom. Safety is a top priority for us, and we are committed to making sure our students stay healthy, get the best education possible and stay on track to graduate.” Saint Martin’s University is implementing an integrated approach. Programming begins in August but then switches to remote learning after Thanksgiving break. To prepare for this, faculty spent the summer preparing for the transition. “We did our best to support the efforts to prepare all faculty for teaching this fall,” says Kate Boyle, SMU’s Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs. “Given the unpredictable

nature of the pandemic, faculty need to be ready for all possible scenarios–teaching face-to-face, teaching online, teaching hybrid and teaching partially face-to-face with the possibility to pivot online or hybrid, at some point if needed. Each of these teaching modes requires a set of skills and planning that fits the specific medium and the nature of the course content. Each requires a different teaching approach and planning.”

“College is hard work even in the best of times and many of our students face significant barriers to earning their degree. The fact that so many of them are continuing to work, support their families, navigate life in a historic pandemic and

thrive in school is truly a testament to just how amazing they are and how much education means to them.” – Dr. Timothy Stokes, SPSCC President

To address this, everyone pitched in. “Many faculty spend their summers working on writing and research projects, preparing their advancement portfolios, and finding some time to recharge,” says Boyle. “This summer, we asked faculty to join academic committees to plan for fall and to participate in professional development programs, so that we can provide an excellent and unique experience to the students who may otherwise be considering taking a gap year or taking online classes elsewhere.” goals. College is hard work even in the best of times and many of our students Heading off to college is both exciting face significant barriers to earning their and scary, thrilling and bittersweet. But degree. The fact that so many of them are this year’s journey carries an extra dose continuing to work, support their families, of uncertainty. SPSCC’s Dr. Stokes says navigate life in a historic pandemic and it best. “We are incredibly proud of the thrive in school is truly a testament to determination and effort that our students just how amazing they are and how much have shown to stick with their educational education means to them.”

Photos courtesy of FlowState Creatives for the Thurston County Chamber. thurstonchamber.com

Thurston County Chamber VOICE

September 2020

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Don't Ignore Those Census Workers by Doug Mah, Doug Mah & Associates, Thurston Chamber’s Public Policy Advisor We have until September 30, 2020, to make sure every person in Thurston County is counted. An accurate U.S. Census is critical for each of us because the foundation of public policy is based on 1) how many people there are, and 2) where they live.

This means if you have not completed the survey online, that the Census Bureau will send you reminder emails, phone calls and postcards. Go to https://my2020census.gov/ to complete the Census if you haven't already.

The Census is first, and foremost, the method we use to divide the 435 seats in the U.S. House of representatives among the 50 States. Washington State received a new congressional district as the result of the 2010 Census. The new 10th Congressional District seat covers most of Thurston County as determined by the Census. A complete count ten years ago ensured better representation for us in Congress. It is important to note that while Washington added a congressional seat, other states lost seats. A complete Census is the only way we save and protect our representation in Congress.

In August, Census workers started going door-to-door to collect information from households that have not self-responded. Census workers wear face masks and follow CDC and local health guidelines while going door-to-door. Census workers have a valid government ID with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark and an expiration date on the badge. They also have a census bag and an iPad or mobile phone with them. You can confirm a census worker’s identity by calling (213) 3146500. Please help Census workers to do their job.

The Census is used to determine how we divide the State into 49 legislative districts. At the local level, the Census determines the boundaries for the three Thurston County Commissioner districts. The Census is also used to determine voter precincts and council districts in some cities and towns. From the halls of Congress to City hall, a complete Census count matters for public policy work.

We all must complete the Census. Please ask your friends, neighbors, and family to complete the Census and to expect Census workers if they are unable to complete the online form. If you are a business owner, employer or manage workers, please help explain that the Census is important and that Census workers will never ask questions about social security numbers, banking information or citizenship status.

The Census is also used to guide the distribution of Federal funds and financial assistance. Census data is combined with other measures to determine if government program providers are eligible for funding and which individuals are eligible for programs. Census data help determine funding for health-related programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). A complete Census count matters for improving our community's public health. Use of Census data is not just limited to public purposes. Countless private sector business decisions that are dependent on accurate information about an area’s population rely on Census data. The 2020 Census count started back in March as an online selfprocess. Many residents in the Thurston region took the survey and did not require assistance from Census workers. Beginning in August, Census workers began following up with "non-respondents". thurstonchamber.com

To meet its statutory deadline to deliver the 2020 Census results by December 31, 2020, the Census Bureau announced that it would complete the Census Bureau's data collection phase on September 30, 2020. At that time, all field data collection operations will cease, and the online questionnaire and call centers will shut down. We all must support this urgent work to ensure a complete count. On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump. The CARES Act delivered over $2 trillion in economic relief to Americans to address the public health and economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The amount of CARES Act money to States, local and tribal governments is based on the 2010 Census. Almost ten years later, the last Census still matters to all of us. Based on current events, the 2020 Census will matter even more. Thurston County Chamber VOICE

September 2020

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The Childcare Crisis Explores... & Potential Solutions

DECLASSIFIED

by Heidi Smith

n Washington State, over half of the annual budget goes toward K-12 education, yet just over one percent of those funds are spent on childcare. The industry has been in crisis for decades, with many parents unable to afford up to $14,000 in annual daycare costs while childcare providers typically earn minimum wage and workforce turnover is high. Now, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced national attention on an issue too long ignored. The topic was the focus of Episode #15 of Declassified, a webinar produced in collaboration between the Thurston Economic Development Council and the Thurston Chamber of Commerce.

difficult to make it through these months and be productive at work.”

Guests Cheryl Fambles, Executive Director of Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council, Gary Burris, Executive Director of Child Care Action Council and Jason Robertson, Principal J. Robinson & Co. and Thurston Strong discussed the current crisis, the impacts they’re seeing and potential solutions.

Within Thurston County, many organizations are coming together to work on the problem. The South Sound YMCA and Boys & Girls Club of Thurston County have modified and expanded their services. Thurston Strong launched a childcare grant program that received 126 applications as well as a microgrant program. Burris suggested expanding childcare centers’ capacity to support older students, while PacMtn is exploring potentials for training to ‘upskill’ childcare workers to enable them to open their own businesses. Subsidies, vouchers for parents and a Co-op model of childcare operations were all suggested, along with policy changes to provide greater support for both parents and providers.

For childcare centers, the biggest impact of COVID-19 has been declining enrollment, according to Burris. “Many families chose to keep their children at home,” he says. “We surveyed childcare centers and found that the smaller ones were averaging losses of between $800 and $5,000 a month, whereas the larger centers were losing between $13,000 and $35,000 per month.” Government programs like the Payroll Protection Program helped, but those ended in July. Parents, meanwhile, are scrambling to find solutions for when school resumes remotely. “Parents weren’t planning on paying $800 a month for childcare,” says Burris. “Even if they’re able to work from home, a lot of parents have found it very

The issue disproportionately affects women. Many of the 31 percent of single parents in the state are female and face workforce disparities. “We have moms who are still not being paid what men are being paid,” says Fambles. “With Corona, these folks are in the service industry jobs that are considered vital to our economy, which are lower paid, and they’re not able to pay for these huge costs of childcare. This horrible burden is being borne by some of the folks that are already challenged in the workforce.”

“Long-range, this will require a partnership between government and business,” says Robertson. “We have Medicare, we have social security. Childcare needs to be elevated to the same level. It’s a requisite for a strong economy.” Go to ThurstonChamber.com and click on Events to listen to the full episode.

Thurston County Chamber VOICE

September 2020

Caught in the Lens

Thurston County Businesses are back to work! Enjoy this special â€œTying Our Community Back Togetherâ€? edition of Caught In the Lens! For more photos, follow the Thurston County Chamber on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ThurstonCountyChamber

September 2020

Thurston County Chamber VOICE

thurstonchamber.com

Thurston County Chamber VOICE

September 2020

The Rants Group Heritage Bank - Olympia L & E Bottling Company, Inc. Morningside Olympia Federal Savings - Olympia South Puget Sound Community College Providence St. Peter Hospital Pardiman Productions SCJ Alliance Phillips Burgess, PLLC

Port of Olympia

Puget Sound Energy

Saint Martin's University

FORMA Construction Company

Wells Fargo Community Bank

Lucky Eagle Casino and Hotel

Little Creek Casino & Resort

Olympia Orthopaedic Associates, PLLC

Washington Business Bank

TwinStar Credit Union - Corporate Office

The Thurston County Chamber sends a BIG THANK YOU to ALL of our investors. With members like you, we are able to provide a sustainable business community in Thurston County as well as foster growth and positive change. Only through your support can we continue to fund important community initiatives and lead the way for business.

Thank You!

South Sound Behavioral Hospital

PLATINUM

DIAMOND

Caliber Home Loans

1st Security Bank Home Lending

Hooper Financial Services

American Workforce Group

Charter College

Olympia Furniture Company

Great Wolf Lodge

Venables Pest Management

Hometown Property Management, Inc.

Nisqually Red Wind Casino

Columbia Bank - Downtown

The Creative Office

Community Youth Services

Mills & Mills Funeral Home

GHB Insurance, Inc.

GOLD

Express Employment Professionals The Firs Senior Living Community First Citizens Bank TAGS Awards and Specialties Budd Bay Cafe KeyBank - Martin Way AAA Washington - Inland Michael White Agency - Farmers Insurance Nicholson & Associates Insurance Edward Jones - Dirk Farrar, Financial Advisor Big Brothers, Big Sisters of SW WA Window Genie Jensen Milner - Cap City Law PS Greene Realty Group Charlie's Safari - The Family Fun Center RHD Enterprises, Inc. Madcap Marketing Bakala State Farm Family Education and Support Services Morgan Stanley - Mike Marohn, Financial Advisor 94.5 ROXY T & S Cleaning, Inc.

SILVER

PO BOX 1427 Olympia, WA 98507-1427