As the state inches closer to a full reopening and Tri-City businesses focus on recovery, the need for current, reliable, and relevant data has never been more important.  Access to key economic indicators will allow businesses to develop a focused strategy for the future.

The Vitals are a free, interactive tool from AWB Institute that brings together more than 30 key economic indicators. The Vitals are part of Washington in the Making, a framework for the state’s economic recovery that envisions lasting prosperity in every community. Designed for employers, business groups and other leaders, the Vitals makes it easy to find, compare and track data.

What does this mean for the Tri-Cities?
This tool helps identify trends that impact the Tri-Cities.  The insight gleaned will reveal opportunities for growth and use to inform collaborative projects of the myTRI 2030 Regional Vision initiative.  

In the coming months, the Regional Chamber will be watching indicators that correspond with the myTRI opportunity areas:  Agriculture, Education, Energy, Inclusion, Life and Prosperity.

• Broadband Access – The pandemic highlighted the need for fast, reliable, high-quality internet access for all Tri-Citians. How does equitable access affect local industry?
• Jobs Created – Our region has been in survival mode since the pandemic started. How will recovery affect job creation? 
• Prepared Workforce – Knowing accurate and current graduation rates will inform decisions about our region’s talent needs.  How does the community fill the gaps?
  
  

There is much to be excited about as our state and regional economies move into recovery mode.  The Vitals puts data at our fingertips that can help us plan strategically for lasting prosperity in the Tri-Cities. 

The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce and Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS) have once again partnered to offer $30,000 in grants to local small businesses through the Small Business Incentive Program (SBIP). 

The Small Business Incentive Program was launched in 2011. Since its inception, the program has presented 325 grants to small businesses, totaling $300,000. The program is designed to strengthen and support small businesses in the Tri-Cities. 

Applications for the 2021 program will open at 8 am on Monday, June 7 at tricityregionalchamber.com/small-business-incentive-program. Due to the ongoing health crisis and the current closure of the Chamber office, only online applications will be accepted. The application window closes at 5 pm on Friday, July 2.

Qualifying applications will be numbered and entered into a drawing. 30 winners will be selected at random during the drawing, which will be broadcast live over Zoom (date and time TBA). 

Details and application requirements for this year’s program can be found at tricityregionalchamber.com/small-business-incentive-program.

For questions about the program, please contact Logan LaPierre, Program Manager, at logan.lapierre@tricityregionalchamber.com.

Congratulations to HAPO Community Credit Union on being named the Regional Chamber’s Member of the Month for May 2021.

HAPO has been a staple in the Tri-Cities community since 1953. The Chamber is fortunate to work with HAPO staff, who have held leadership positions on our board of directors, volunteered for our Ambassador Club and other committees, and sponsored numerous Chamber events over the years.

Since the onset of the pandemic, HAPO has given back to the community more than ever - partnering with Gesa Credit Union and Numerica Credit Union on the “Whatever it Takes” campaign which raised over $70,000 for youth in our community, and donating $20,000 in gift cards to local heroes on the frontline of the pandemic.

HAPO also recently made a $10,000 donation to 2nd Harvest to help feed families in need. These are just a few examples of HAPO’s community giving over the last year or so.

Congratulations HAPO Community Credit Union, our May Member of the Month.

Liz Renz, Office Manager of the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce, was selected by WGU Washington as an Outstanding Administrative Professional.

WGU celebrated Administrative Professionals with Administrative Professionals Day on April 21, offering prizes to 10 nominees. Liz earned recognition for always taking on new tasks, being a friendly face to all members and non-members, and being a wealth of knowledge about the community and Chamber programs. 

​Congratulations, Liz! Thank you for all that you do for the Regional Chamber!

Congratulations to the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business (TCAJOB) on being named the Regional Chamber’s Member of the Month for April 2021.

TCAJOB has been a member of the Chamber since opening in 2001 – making this year the celebration of their 20th anniversary! TCAJOB distributes local, relevant information to thousands in our area.

Right after the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order was announced, TCAJOB pivoted one of their largest events – the Senior Times Expo - to a successful drive-up event, continuing to serve our community’s senior population. Since March 2020, TCAJOB has been able to host two additional popular drive-through events for over 400 seniors. The last of which was just in April!

Congratulations to Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business, April Member of the Month. 

The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce recently conducted a Public Opinion Survey regarding the Horse Heaven Wind Project which elicited 2,220 responses over a two-week period. The survey aimed to help determine local sentiment about the proposed project and to identify issues of greatest interest and concern to the region.

The results show overwhelming opposition to the project, with 78 percent of respondents expressing that the Horse Heaven Wind Project is not worth the personal, environmental, and economic impacts on the community (view results below), Survey data also reveals community concerns regarding the level of impact that specific Horse Heaven Wind Project outcomes (such as viewshed, turbine disposal, wildlife, etc.) will have on the region.

Scout Clean Energy is seeking permit authorization through the Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) for the Horse Heaven Wind Project. The project includes up to 244 turbine locations, two solar arrays, and battery storage systems covering 24 miles of viewshed along the Horse Heaven Hills in Benton County.

The Regional Chamber has taken a position opposing the Horse Heaven Wind Project and has sent a letter to Governor Inslee and EFSEC, urging them not to advance the project. 

Congratulations to Gravis Law on being named the Regional Chamber's Member of the Month for March 2021!

Since they were founded in 2013, Gravis Law has grown rapidly – now counting fourteen offices in five states across the nation. CEO Brett Spooner has been an important member of the Chamber for many years, serving on our Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and Regional Affairs Committee. If you attended our last luncheon, you may remember that Gravis recently upgraded their membership to the top tier, Visionary level. 

Gravis has stepped up in multiple ways throughout the pandemic. In January, Gravis purchased ten CO2 monitors to donate to local restaurants, coffee shops, and wineries to help them open indoors and comply with the restrictions in place. Gravis employees also donate their time to multiple non-profits in the community, including Benton Franklin Legal Aid and Domestic Violence Services of Benton and Franklin Counties — offering pro bono work to those in need. 

The firm has also shown their dedication to diversity and inclusion through their FAIR initiative. FAIR, which stands for Fairness Accountability Inclusion and Reform, seeks out, acknowledges, and takes action to address disparities across the legal system. Gravis encourages staff to participate in quarterly FAIR challenges that focus on combating systemic injustice.

Congratulations to Gravis Law, our March Member of the Month.

Scout Clean Energy is seeking permit authorization through the Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) for the Horse Heaven Wind Project. The project includes up to 244 turbine locations, two solar arrays, and battery storage systems covering 24 miles of viewshed along the Horse Heaven Hills in Benton County.

The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce is conducting a public opinion survey to help determine community sentiment about the proposed Horse Heaven Wind Project to identify issues of greatest interest and concern to the region.

The three-question survey will be open for two weeks: Thursday, March 25 – Thursday, April 8. Let your voice be heard! Please take the survey & share it with others. 

Wind Energy/Project Information Resources:

Today we celebrate International Women's Day! Thank you to all of the ladies on the Regional Chamber Board of Directors and Staff.

Congratulations to Campbell & Company​ on being named the Regional Chamber's Member of the Month for February 2021!