Congratulations to Fidelitas Wines on being named the Regional Chamber's Member of the Month for January 2021!
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![]() We are deeply saddened to learn that Ed Allen, 2008 Board Chair, has passed. Ed served on the board for many years, however, 2008 was an especially pivotal year as the Chamber formed a partnership with TRIDEC and Visit Tri-Cites and built the Tri-Cities Business & Visitor Center. Also, in 2008, Ed led the Chamber through a leadership change; hiring Lori Mattson as President/CEO. Ed’s larger than life personality and business acumen made for an exceptional community leader. He will be greatly missed! We offer our condolences to Ed’s wife, Celeste, and family in their time of mourning. We are pleased to announce that the Regional Chamber’s Awards and Recognition committee has chosen the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton & Franklin Counties as the December Member of the Month.
Since May, the committee has chosen to recognize members who have gone above and beyond to help our community during these trying times and the Boys & Girls Club is no exception. The Boys & Girls Club has been an active member of the Regional Chamber for many years and a great asset to the Tri-Cities community and our youth. During the pandemic, the Boys & Girls Club has been providing childcare for essential workers, academic support and mentoring for vulnerable youth, and virtual programming to the community at large. The virtual programming features craft tutorials, cooking classes, art demonstrations, break-dancing how-to’s, and more. They have distributed meals, offered a drive-through Halloween celebration, and shared important information with the families they serve. On Thursday, December 3, tThe Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce sent a letter to Washington Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and U.S. Representative Dan Newhouse in support of a proposed $908 billion COVID-19 relief package. “Many Tri-Citians are unemployed and businesses are shutting down or getting ready for layoffs,” the letter reads. “It is imperative that Congress respond immediately under these circumstances.” The letter also urges the relief package to contain additional unemployment insurance that would provide extra benefits, additional funding of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), an easier and faster PPP forgiveness process, and a liability provision to temporarily block pandemic-related lawsuits. Read the letter in it's entirety below. The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors approved the following statement regarding the Chamber's position on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI): The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce values diversity and views it as a strength in our society. As a Champion for the business community, we embrace the evolving demographic changes in our region and believe that creating an inclusive environment is key to the growth and sustainability of the Tri-Cities. To that end, the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce promotes inclusiveness and equal opportunity for all in its leadership, staffing, policies, and practices, and encourages and supports all businesses to do likewise." Chamber by-laws govern the process for the selection and election of the Board of Directors. In compliance with those by-laws, a Nominating Committee was appointed. The Nominating Committee assembled to select candidates to fill vacancies coming due on December 31st of this year. After having been nominated by the Nominating Committee and approved by the Board of Directors, the Chamber submits the following individuals to serve on the Chamber’s Board of Directors:
RETURNING – 3-year term Andy Stirling, Numerica Credit Union Antonio Lopez, Tri-City Dental Care Dave Haller, Basin Pacific Insurance and Benefits Karthik Subramanian, Washington River Protection Solutions Shae Frichette, Frichette Winery Whitney LeMarche, Veolia Nuclear Solutions NEW – 3-year term Andrew Chung, Gesa Credit Union Chaune` Fitzgerald, Salon Remedi/TressFX Beauty Greg Cullen, EnergyNorthwest Torey Azure, BrandCraft Wendy Higgins, The Lodge at Columbia Point NEW – 1-year term Trish Herron, Battelle Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) nationwide on September 16, 2020 are celebrating the contracting success of our small business clients with the first annual National PTAC Day. National PTAC Day will unite the ninety Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) across the country and the tens of thousands of clients they serve by sharing small business success stories and notable economic impact that PTAC clients have created within their communities.
Join us in celebrating National PTAC Day by attending our special PTAC Day webinar: 2020 National PTAC Day Webinar September 16th at 11:00 AM Pacific Time CLICK HERE TO REGISTER Businesses are invited to join government marketplace experts from around the country for a fun, interactive, and enlightening event! Hosted by the Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers, participants will have a chance to test their knowledge of the federal government marketplace while hearing top tips from PTAC counselors across the country. Businesses with all levels of government contracting experience are welcome to participate in this free event. If you can't make it, please show your support by tweeting or posting on other social media about your contracting success or how PTACs have helped your business by using the #PTACDay. The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Minority Business Development Agency, are offering 100 free personal protective equipment (PPE) kits to qualifying businesses located in Benton and Franklin Counties. To qualify, your business MUST be minority or women owned. PPE kits will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Each PPE kit contains:
To apply, please fill out the application (linked below) and return to Liz Renz at [email protected]. ![]()
The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), in collaboration with FEMA, are offering free No Contact Infrared Thermometers to qualifying small businesses located in Benton and Franklin Counties. Small businesses may qualify if they specialize in one of the following areas: Construction, Manufacturing, Retail, Health Care/Mental Health services, Restaurants/Food Service, Grocers/Convenience Stores, Personal Services, Dog Groomers and Agriculture (with between 10 and 49 employees).
Benton County Business: Please contact Jody O’Connor, PTAC Counselor, at [email protected]. Franklin County Business: Contact the Tri City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, at 509-542-0933 Regional Chamber, WRPS to Award $30,000 in COVID-19 Relief Grants to Tri-Cities Small Businesses7/9/2020 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 300 grants to small businesses, totaling $270,000. The program is designed to strengthen and support small businesses in the Tri-Cities. New this year: Winners will select from one of three COVID-19 Relief Packages valued at $1,000:
Following is the eligibility criteria for the Small Business Incentive Program:
SBIP applications will be accepted from 8 am on Thursday, July 9 through 5pm on Friday, July 31. In an effort to provide value and streamline the process during this challenging time, qualifying applications will be numbered and entered into a drawing. 30 winners will be selected at random during the drawing on August 12 at 1:30 pm. The drawing will be broadcast live over Zoom. Members must apply for a grant through the online application form. Printed applications will not be accepted. Applications must submitted by 5 pm on Friday, July 31, 2020. For questions about the program, please contact Logan LaPierre, Program Manager, at [email protected]. |
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