Voice of South Sound Business

MERCHANTS ROLL OUT A SHOPPING PROGRAM

MERCHANTS ROLL OUT A SHOPPING PROGRAM

THAT ASKS THE FEDERAL WAY COMMUNITY TO "TRY FEDERAL WAY FIRST"

More than ever, now is the time to try Federal Way First!  Recent economic challenges have affected us all, and no one is feeling it more than our downtown merchants here in Federal Way.  But rather than curse the darkness, they are shining a light on their dilemma through an upbeat new campaign to encourage Federal Way residents to shop locally. Whether buying gifts, using local services, or meeting friends for dinner, they’re asking residents to try Federal Way First!

Conceived jointly by Federal Way First Committee Chair, Kelly Maloney, and Chamber CEO, Tom Pierson, and carried out by a large group of enthusiastic merchants, the try "FEDERAL WAY FIRST!" campaign is looking to remind people of the many reasons why supporting local merchants makes sense:

Appreciating the cultural value of a vibrant downtown filled with a wide variety of unique businesses and boutiques.

Saving on gas and parking by shopping in town

Creating a strong tax-base by circulating money in town versus sending it elsewhere

Supporting the businesses that generously donate to local schools and non-profits throughout the year

"Federal Way First also encourages b-to-b commerce!  Make a commitment today to buy goods and services from other local businesses when it makes sense financially.  Many FEDERAL WAY FIRST members will be offering special discounts to other member businesses." stated Kelly Maloney.

To launch Federal Way First, merchants will hold a rally at the corner of 320th and Pacific Hwy South at 11:00am Saturday, May 9, 2009.  At that time they’ll ask everyone in Federal Way to "sign the pledge," promising to try Federal Way first when considering purchases, services, or restaurants. The pledge forms will be available at Federal Way merchants, in local newspapers, and at the Chamber of Commerce office, and there will be a drawing among qualified pledges for prizes from Federal Way merchant gift certificates.

If you have any questions about the FEDERAL WAY FIRST campaign, contact Tom Pierson, Federal Way Chamber of Commerce, (253) 838-2605 tomp@federalwaychamber.com or go directly to the website FederalWayFirst.com.  Posters and pledge forms are available on the website as well.

Media Note:

Rally on Saturday, May 9, 2009 – Schedule:

10:00am to 11:00am – Registration and breakfast at the Farmers Market

11:00am to 1:00pm - Street sign waving with Federal Way First t-shirts on the street corner of Pac Hwy 99 and 320th

1:00pm to 1:30pm - Rally at the Farmers Market with the Mayor and other elected officials

Unemployment Insurance Needs Your Help!

Our State House of Representatives blundered last Friday on Senate Bill 5963, the unemployment insurance conformity bill that make a once “good business bill” harmful to business.  In these tough economic times, all of us in the private sector need to support keeping Washington’s private sector strong.  Scroll down to send a letter to Senate members today; tell them to support the Senate version of the bill.
 
Lawmakers need to understand that any increase in taxes jeopardizes businesses hurts Main Street employers’ ability to protect jobs.  At a time when employers are struggling to keep their doors open and workers employed, this is the wrong time to be increasing taxes.  In a tough economy, this further jeopardizes Washington state's ability to attract and retain businesses. Consider: Businesses in Washington state already pay one of the highest unemployment insurance taxes in the country. We have the fifth highest average weekly UI benefit in the country. (Source: 2009 Competitiveness Redbook) 

Send this letter today!

This is from Enterprise Washington.

Upcoming Town Hall Meetings

It is Town Hall Meeting time, below you will find Town Hall Meetings for Congressmember Adam Smith, Senator Tracey Eide, and Rep. Skip Priest.  Hopefully you can attend one or more and let your voice be heard!   

·         Congressman Adam Smith invites you to attend a town hall meeting on:

o   Saturday, March 14th, 2009 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Panorama City's Chalet (Lower Level), 1650 Circle Lane SE, Lacey, WA 98503

o   The purpose of the town hall meeting is to meet with constituents to listen to concerns, answer questions, and discuss issues facing Congress. Space is limited so please RSVP if you are able to attend by calling (253) 896-3775 or (888) SMITH09.

·         Senator Tracey Eide - Town Hall Meetings

o   I will be hosting two Town Hall meetings to discuss our economy and the state budget.  Joining me will be Senator Karen Keiser, 33rd Legislative District (SeaTac), and Senator Claudia Kauffman from the 43rd Legislative District (Kent). These Town Hall meetings are open to the public:

^o     Friday, March 13th, 3:00 - 5:00 pm. City of Federal Way, City Hall, Council Chambers, 33325 8th Ave. South, Federal Way, WA

^o     Saturday, March 14th, 10:00am - 12:00, Kent City Hall, Council Chambers East and West, 220 4th Ave South, Kent, WA‎

·         Rep. Skip Priest - Town Hall Meeting

o   Federal Way, Saturday, March 14, 10 a.m. to noon, Highline College in Federal Way, Room 103, 33320 - 1st Way South, Building A, Federal Way

o   Pacific, Saturday, March 21, 10 a.m. to noon, Senior Center, Suite B, 100 - 3rd Avenue S.E., Pacific

Change: Yes We Can, but Will We?

Whether you voted for now-President-Elect Obama or not, the reality is that we, as America, have voted for Change.  What does that really mean?  Do we really want change?  President Bush's approval ratings are at an all-time low of 20%, while Congress' approval rating, once as low as 12%, is currently hovering around 18%.  So, although we don’t approve of Congress or our current President, could we be investing too much HOPE in one person to implement change?  Here in Washington State we changed next-to-nothing in the recent election.  We did not choose any new members of Congress, nor did we make any changes in terms of who runs state government.  The only changes we did institute were in King County government and in how our schools are run.

If you look up "change" on your favorite online dictionary you will find words like: transform, exchange, to transfer from one to another, convert, etc.

Here are some changes that will be top of mind in the new presidency:

Infrastructure

- President-elect Obama has made it clear he would like to increase grant money to states, allowing them to complete old projects and start new ones.  In the South Sound region we need to be ready to complete our projects that resolve safety, congestion, and freight mobility issues.

Green Energy

- Delivering our nation from dependency on foreign oil has created a sector primed for financial reward; this arena should be a great place to do business.  Locally we have Puget Sound Energy (PSE) with wind power and green energy; there are several others in the infancy stage, simply awaiting discovery.

Health Care

- Not sure if a universal health care scheme will be figured out, but we will see an effort towards this as well as efforts to lower the cost of drugs and services. 

Economy

- President-elect Obama has made it clear that he intends to move quickly to improve the economy, by expanding unemployment benefits and cutting taxes on every working family making $250,000 a year or less.  We are facing a downturn that could easily take months to a couple of years to recover from.  While our real estate sector has taken the brunt of the storm so far, ultimately most businesses are not immune to the downturn, as evidenced by the highest unemployment numbers in 14 years.

So what does this all mean? Earlier this year I heard a national pollster share results of a focus group that was asked if they wanted to vote for change.  The response was nearly unanimously yes, which is why you saw President Clinton's message about change, President-elect Obama's message about change, and at the end of the campaign, even Senator McCain's speeches were peppered with the word.  When the same pollster asked the group to define what the change is in practice, what they were willing to sacrifice for the change, people became nearly unanimously against the idea of change.  How quickly the tide turns when we have to do the work.

Recently I received an email in which the author described our political system as "broken" and went on to say, "The people we have voted into office have caused the current problems by offering what cannot be attained so they can be reelected and by not dealing with the tough issues."  While there are a variety of reasons for the low approval ratings of our members of Congress and the President, as well as for the election of Barack Obama, one of the huge issues is the way politics is played, which is not for the common people but for a few people.  We as a nation must change the system.  We cannot just elect one person and expect change; change will only come when we are willing to make the sacrifices necessary to make it real.

So the question is: If we as a nation truly want to change, what are you willing to do to bring it about?  Are you willing to change?  Are you willing to save 20% to purchase a home?  Are you willing to hold elected officials accountable for their actions or inaction, for campaign promises not kept?  Are you willing to mentor a child, volunteer for your local food bank, hospital or our many places in need?  Are you willing to pay higher taxes so the national debt will be reduced?  Are you willing to have government do less for you so they can limit and reduce their spending?  What are you willing to sacrifice for the betterment of our nation?  Now is the time to know where you stand.

Washington State Governor Gregoire to Speak in Federal Way

Governor Christine Gregoire will give remarks during the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce Membership Luncheon on Wednesday, September 3, 2008.  The September Membership Luncheon will also highlight the Washington State House of Representatives race for Position 1 and Position 2 with a debate between the candidates.  Over 200 people are expected to attend this monthly event.

Event Information

Event: Federal Way Chamber of Commerce Membership Luncheon

Location: Twin Lakes Country Club, 3583 SW 320th St, Federal Way

Date/Time: Wednesday, September 3, 2008 11:30am to 1:00pm

Cost: $20 with reservation, $45

non-member

RSVP: 253-838-2605 ext 120 or via email at federalway@federalwaychamber.com

What do Elections Mean to Your Business?

Several recent elections have proven the theory that every vote does count, whether you are thinking of our last gubernatorial race or others.  A question I am often asked by employers and employees alike is ‘What do elections mean to me and my business?’  I want to address this issue – it gets quite complicated, so for now I will focus on a few key issues:

 

Tax Burden

Let’s start with the current tax burden on businesses.  According to the Council on State Taxation, Washington ranks 14^th nationally in this regard, and depending on how you measure this, results could differ. Another group recently stated we are actually lower since we have import and export dollars as well as tourists who pay taxes and therefore lessen the burden.  I have included in this newsletter a copy of one of those reports.  One of the taxes that affects all businesses is the B&O tax, which is taken whether you are making a profit or not. Some like to refer to these taxes as ‘fees,’ but that is just another way to avoid calling it a tax increase.  There will be pressure in the coming months to increase the tax burden on employers via payroll and other taxes to solve the shortfall Washington State is facing.

 

Heath Care Crisis

Nearly every employer, regardless of size, wants the luxury of providing their employees with adequate health care coverage.  Employers strive for this for a number of reasons, the most important being they value their employees and want to retain them and maintain a healthy workforce.  The task becomes more challenging when, year after year, we face double digit increases. The result is often a change in coverage, including higher deductibles, less coverage, and other effects until employers either decide it’s too costly to provide the coverage, or they are forced to switch to savings accounts or other ways of protecting their employees.

 

Economic Slowdown

The current economy has slowed while prices of goods, services, and the cost of shipping have increased dramatically; some prices have increased 30% or more.  So, while consumers are pinched via the mortgage meltdown and spending less, the cost of doing business has increased dramatically, causing what could be called a ‘Perfect Storm’ – very dangerous if you are in the storm.

 

Washington State is facing a $2.7 billion shortfall this budget year; if nothing is fixed this shortfall will grow to over $5 billion in 2011.  The healthcare crisis and spending on education take up a vast majority of the state budget; typically the headlines and political advertisements will be centered around 5% of the budget instead of what is at the heart of the real issue.

 

Regardless of which study or article you read, the majority of the tax burden lies on the shoulders of the employers. In huge economic slowdowns such as we are experiencing now, this can stress employers greatly. The cost of goods is increasing at alarming rates; gas prices, food prices, and health care costs have increased at double digits again this year.  Governments are feeling the economic pinch so will swiftly be increasing taxes and fees for businesses in order to avoid taxing the individuals who pull the levers at the ballot box.  Whether you are an employer or employee, you hold the power to vote.  Use your influence wisely and help us turn this economy.

 

Here are some tools I believe will help you streamline some of the information that is out there and get to the heart of the matter.  The Federal Way Chamber of Commerce has partnered with a few organizations we believe will serve you with accurate information and assist you:

 

1)     Enterprise Washington has a program called the ‘Grow Program’ (www.growwa.com) which is a coalition of Washington State businesses, associations and private sector organizations who came together to provide businesses and their employees with this interactive, web-based tool to help employees easily identify and locate their elected state and congressional lawmakers.  When employers and employees are informed on issues that affect their jobs and quality of life, they can help encourage their elected officials to vote.

2)     WashACE (www.washace.org) stands for Washington Alliance for a Competitive Economy, which is working to build economic opportunities for all Washingtonians.  At last month’s Federal Way Chamber of Commerce membership luncheon we heard Richard Davis speak about some of the policies they are focusing on for the coming year.  They provide research which helps shape policies for positive solutions.

 

Both organizations are non-partisan efforts providing valuable information to help employers and employees shape the decisions they will make at the ballot box.  We have the power of grassroots at our fingertips; let’s organize and make a difference!

Weyerhaeuser to cut 1,500 jobs by 2009

Weyerhaeuser said this morning it will cut 1,500 jobs at its Federal Way headquarters, as it moves toward being a smaller, more focused company.� Here is the statement that I have issued today:

“The Federal Way community is indebted to the Weyerhaeuser Company. I personally would like to thank both the leadership as well as the individual employees who have and will continue to work for the company. Weyerhaeuser has given a lot to the South Sound region, and they have been a great community player on several levels. We at the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce are focused on creating a strong local economy and we will do everything we can to help Weyerhaeuser through this transition and build towards the future.” Stated Tom Pierson, Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce.

Support Our Local Economy

Recently, the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce completed its annual membership survey.  The Federal Way Chamber of Commerce represents business mostly here in Federal Way, and this survey really gives us an overview of what the entire South Sound business community is feeling.

Analysis of this year’s results makes it clear that the top priority for businesses is growing the local economy.  The concerns certainly reflect national economic trends, and we do not have to go far to see the fiscal impact; both Washington Mutual and Weyerhaeuser are cutting jobs and restructuring their companies.  These changes ripple out to every sector of our city and regional economies, from businesses that service these large entities, to the nonprofits that receive funding from corporate foundations.

As we combine the survey’s feedback and financial forecasts at local and national levels, our mission at the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce becomes clearer. First and foremost, we must continue to dedicate ourselves to building a strong local economy.  To keep citizens current on our efforts, I will be reporting regularly on programs such as these:

Safe City Federal Way. Set to launch this fall, Safe City is a community-based initiative that unites businesses, residents, city officials and law enforcement through a project intended to maximize safety and minimize theft and other crimes in the core of Federal Way.  Federal Way will be the first in the Pacific Northwest to have a community-policing program of this caliber. Currently, there are only 17 cities in the nation which can claim the title SAFE CITY.  A majority of those cities have populations over 500,000.  The distinction of becoming a "safe city" will not only enhance community safety  but will also strengthen economic development in the City of Federal Way by helping the city to both retain and attract new businesses.

City/State Partnerships.  As we explore new ways to attract and enhance business, we are actively pursuing productive partner relationships with local government and stakeholders.  By uniting our efforts, we increase the impact of our efforts and expect to see both short- and long-term results.  Examples of these partnered efforts include:  ways to market our larger vacant office space, creating tax incentives, looking at innovation zones, creating a new business incubator.

Buy Local. You have a choice as to where you are going to spend your dollars and I would challenge you to think about the impact you have individually prior to spending your dollars.  As a Chamber, we will be considering ways we can promote patronage of local businesses by everyone in our community, as well as visitors.   I’m not afraid to wear a "Buy Local" or "Made in Federal Way" pin!

The Federal Way Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to promoting community businesses, encouraging employment of local residents, contributing to charities that serve our city and region, and supporting our schools.  Building a strong local economy means supporting your success.  As your local business voice, we will continue to listen and work with you to grow Federal Way and enhance the South Sound region. 

공정거래

유행이 지난 헌 옷도 오래 놓아두면, 다시 유행을 탄다 라는 격언이 어쩌면 사실이다. 이것은 꼭 필요한 한미간에 협정을 포함해서, 계류중인 자유무역협정을 비난하는 것이 정략적이라고 생각하는 의원들이 현재 추세인 것과 마찬가지다.

 

계류중인 한미 자유무역협정을 협의하기 위해 최근, 이 명박 한국 대통령과의 부시 대통령의 회담은 미 당국자, 보호무역주의자, 그리고 좌파 의원들로부터 의례적인 불평을 일으켰다. 자유무역에 관한 의문이 대통령 선거유세에 나타난 이래, 그 비난은 좀더 격해졌다. 대통령 후보인 힐러리 클린턴과 버락 오바마는 자유무역은 좋지 않다고 제안했다.

 

자유무역협정이 미국의 노동자들과 기업에 위험을 줄 수 있다는 생각은 근거가 없는 것이다. 북미 자유무역협정이 시행된 이후, 미국 경제에 2,500만 명 이상의 일자리가 창출 되었다. 멕시코와 캐나다의 수출은 1,400억 달러에서 3,640억 달러로 증가됐다. 한미 자유무역협정은 북미 자유무역협정 이후 가장 획기적인 무역제안이며 우리는 비슷한 이점을 기대할 수 있다.

 

미국 국제무역 위원회는 한국으로 가는 물품과 용역의 관세절감으로 100억 달러내지 120억 달러로 미국GDP가 증가할 것을 예측한다.

 

보호무역주의 주장은, 오늘날 지구가 동그랗다고 논쟁하는 것과 같다. 우리는 이미 세계시장에 노출되어있다. 더 이상 부유한 외교관과 정치인들만이 타 문화와 생각을 접할 수 있는 것이 아니다. 지구상 모든 곳에 확산된 인터넷은, 모든 이에게 기회로 확대 되었다.

 

기업성장과 경제안정을 보호하는 것은 내가 노력하는 내 삶의 초점으로서 논의의 가치가 있다. 그러나 모든 무역협정을 면밀히 살피고, 순간적 정치적 결정이 아닌, 논의를 거처 찬성과 반대를 결정하는 것은 선거직 당선자의 의무다.

 

한미 자유무역협정은 경제적 기대 이상으로 실생활을 동등하게 하고 공정거래의 이점을 노동자들에게 가져 다 주는 것이다.

 

현재 미국의 사업체와 농부들은 한국시장에 상당한 장벽에 직면하고있다. 어떤 농산물 수출은 500%란 높은 관세율이 적용이 된다. 소비재와 산업 상품 등 쌍방교역량의 95%는 협정시행 3년 이내에 면세될 것이다. 협정에 의하면 한국으로 수출되는 미국 농산물의 2/3는 즉시 면세된다.

  

미국 기업들은 높은 관세율을 부담하면서도 작년 한해 350억 달러 수출하는 한국 무역으로 이윤을 창출할 수 있었다. 높은 관세로 경쟁을 상실한 기업들은 시장에서 제외되었다. 이 협정아래 남한의 관세율은 상당액 감소되며 미국의 모든 상품들은 한국 상품들과 공정하게 경쟁할 수 있게 될 것이다. 그것은 미국기업의 근간인 중소기업에 대단한 희소식이며 항만교역에 크게 의존하는 워싱턴 주 경제에는 보다 큰 기쁜 희소식이다.  

 

이 협정은 미국이 가장 필요로 하는 국가경제를 상승 시킬 것이다. 만약 우리가 계속해서 남한에 접근을 제한 한다면, 우리는 세계시장에 선도자라는 평판과 지역에 새로운 일자리를 포함한 자유개방 공정무역의 기회와 아시아의 가장 큰 경제에 영향을 줄 수 있는 중요한 토대를 잃는 것이다.

Fair Trade not Free Trade

There is truth to the maxim that if you wait long enough, most of your old clothes come back into fashion.

This is much like the current trend where lawmakers have, once again, found it politically fashionable to bash pending free trade agreements, including a much needed agreement between the U.S. and South Korea.

President Bush’s recent meeting with South Korea’s President Lee Myung-bak to discuss the pending U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement set off the usual grumblings from union officials, trade protectionists and left-wing-come-socialist lawmakers. Ever since the question of free trade came up on the presidential campaign trail, the bashing has become much more intense. Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have suggested free trade is a bad thing.

The viewpoint about free trade policies putting American workers and industries at risk is unfounded. Since the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), more than 25 million new jobs have been created in our economy. Our goods shipped to Mexico and Canada have grown from $140 billion to $364 billion. The U.S. Korea Trade Agreement is, arguably, the most significant trade proposal since NAFTA, and we can expect to see similar benefits.

The U.S. International Trade Commission estimates the U.S. Gross Domestic Product would increase by $10 billion to $12 billion as a direct result of the reduction of tariffs on U.S. goods and services to South Korea.

Protectionism arguments are about as useful as modern day debates over the roundness of the Earth. We already exist in a global marketplace. It is no longer wealthy diplomats or politicians who have access to distant cultures and ideas. The proliferation of the Internet to every place on our planet has expanded opportunity for all.

Protecting industrial growth and economic stability is something worth arguing about, and as my life’s work and focus, something I fight for. But it is also the duty of our elected officials to scrutinize every trade agreement and decide whether to ratify or reject it based solely on an agreement’s merits, not the political breeze of the moment.

The U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement is more than promising economically. It levels the playing field and brings American workers the benefits of fair trade.

Currently, U.S. businesses and farmers face substantial barriers to the Korean market. Some agricultural exports include tariffs as high as 500 percent. Nearly 95 percent of bilateral trade in consumer and industrial products will become duty-free within three years of the agreement’s implementation. Nearly two-thirds of current U.S. agricultural exports to Korea will become duty-free immediately under the agreement.

Companies able to afford these costs have managed to profit from Korean trade, exporting $35 billion in goods last year alone. Those who could not compete in the face of such high tariffs were left out of the market.

Under this agreement, South Korean tariff rates would be reduced dramatically and all U.S. products would compete equitably with Korean goods. This is great news for small-to-medium size businesses, the backbone of America, and even better news for Washington state, whose economy relies heavily on port traffic.

The agreement has the potential to stimulate our economy when our nation needs it most.

If we continue to limit our access to South Korea, we stand to lose important ground with one of Asia’s biggest economic influences and the opportunities that free, open and fair trade generate — including new jobs locally and the reputation of being a global market leader.