The Regional Chamber is asking for help from the community to identify three organizations most-deserving of an award to celebrate their extraordinary COVID-19 response efforts.

The Tri-Cities community has overcome incredible obstacles during the last year and a half by demonstrating innovation, grit, and resiliency. The new “Most Valuable COVID-19 Response Awards” will celebrate three organizations that stood out by going above & beyond with their COVID-19 response efforts – and recognize them in front of a crowd of hundreds. 

Awards will be presented to the winners of three different categories:

• “Most Valuable Company Response” – This award will go to a company that demonstrated an exemplary response to the pandemic by ensuring the well-being of its employees, customers, and community.
• “Most Valuable Government Response” - This award will go to a government organization that demonstrated an exemplary response to the pandemic by ensuring the well-being of its constituents and employees.
• “Most Valuable Non-Profit Response” - This award will go to a non-profit organization that demonstrated an exemplary response to the pandemic through serving its community.
  
  

To win, the organizations must be based in Benton or Franklin counties and they must still be in operation at the time of the presentation of the award (August 25, 2021). The organizations do not need to be a member of the Regional Chamber in order to be considered.

The nomination form can be found here. Everyone, regardless of membership, is invited to submit nominees through the nomination form. Businesses, government entities, and non-profit organizations may also self-nominate. The Regional Chamber’s Awards & Recognition Committee will evaluate the nominees and select a winner. The nomination deadline is Wednesday, August 11, 2021.

Questions or comments should be directed to Elisabeth Holt at elisabeth.holt@tricityregionalchamber.com.

Congratulations to Friends of Badger Mountain on being named the Regional Chamber's Member of the Month for June 2021.

The Friends of Badger Mountain group is an all-volunteer organization that was founded in 2003 and has been an active member of the Regional Chamber for many years. The group has preserved over 900 acres and built and maintained 10 miles of trails.  

The trails that the group work to build and maintain were able to remain a bright spot during the pandemic where people could get out and be active. In fact, over 300,000 users were counted during that time!

The group is now under a current campaign to raise money to create the third reserve – little Badger Mountain Preserve. They are also working on an exciting new development – Red Mountain Vineyard Trail - as a partnership with the Red Mountain AVA – the first vineyard trail in the U.S.

Congratulations on being named our June Member of the Month!

Thank you to everyone who made it to our Reopening Washington luncheon on June 23, 2021! This was our first in-person luncheon in 15 months, and we were so happy to see so many friends. 

If you missed the luncheon, you can catch the replay on YouTube.

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.