Make It Tacoma- Community and Economic Development Department Quarterly Newsletter
City of Tacoma Washington sent this bulletin at 09/30/2019 11:23 AM PDT
City of Tacoma's Community and Economic Development Quarterly Newsletter - June 2019
Our mission is to facilitate equitable economic growth and opportunity by supporting existing businesses, enabling reinvestment and revitalization, and promoting the attraction and creation of new businesses, living wage jobs, and housing options to enhance the quality of life in the community.
TOTE Maritime Alaska Headquarters Announces Move to Tacoma's Central Business District
The City of Tacoma has led a cross-departmental effort assisting TOTE Maritime Alaska with the relocation of its headquarters to downtown Tacoma in spring of 2020.
In addition to forming a closer connection with existing operations at the Port of Tacoma, the company also cites walkability and Tacoma’s urban fabric as benefits of relocation. The prime location at 909 A Street places 150 employees within walking/light rail access of multiple options for lunch and evening entertainment. Sellen, Bonewitz and BCRA have been contracted for the design and renovation of two-floors of the Frank Russell Building.
Among Tacoma Innovators: Interview with Laura Malcom, Founder - Give InKind
Tacoma-based Give InKind offers a platform where loved ones can rally support during life’s most difficult or joyous events. While healing from a profound loss of their own in 2014, founders Laura Malcom and James Kocsis recognized a need for a coordination point where personalized forms of support such as wishlists, meal and help scheduling, care packages and financial donations could be offered.
Give InKind launched in 2016 and has built a nationwide business model by leveraging affiliate e-commerce with brand-name partners and B2B relations with nonprofits. More importantly, they discovered that the best public relations model is for founders to perform their own storytelling and outreach. The company was recently selected from 400 applicants to Female Founder Alliance’s 2019 Ready Set Raise accelerator cohort.
Tacoma is a startup friendly city where innovative companies like Give InKind can gain the traction necessary to introduce their product to the marketplace. We reached out to Laura to find out more – click here to read the conversation.
Tacoma-Grown, Dome District Bakery Expands to Second Location on Hilltop
Cassandra Williams signs off on the keys to the new storefront at 1102 South 11th Street.
Like many small businesses, Cassandra Williams’ Love By The Slice Baking & Catering Company began as a passion project. “The Williams Pound Cake” was the go-to item for their church choir bake sales, and often sold out before the bake sales began. After Williams licensed her sole-proprietorship in 2002, she continued to work full time while growing her business at night. Her entrepreneurial spirit was kick-started over the next two years as she developed a nationwide customer base through online sales, and expanded her menu to include cakes for all occasions.
After years of perseverance, Love By The Slice Baking & Catering Company launched full time and negotiated a commercial space in 2015. Williams continued to scale with the assistance of the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Tacoma Business Center, which provided technical assistance and referral services.
Love By The Slice Baking & Catering Company now retails from a shared space with the Olive Branch Café & Tea Room and has one part-time employee. The business is currently working with MBDA Tacoma Business Center, CED, and Planning and Development Services to open a second location at 1102 South 11th Street in a former Subway. Major kitchen equipment - including a walk-in cooler and necessary commercial sinks - was procured from the franchise closure.
Williams' aspirations include growing in to the wholesale market and creating more job opportunities for underserved communities. Her son, Calvin, has also caught the entrepreneurial bug and is working alongside his mother to prepare for their opening. He will continue to assist with operations of the growing business.
Love By The Slice Baking and Catering Company is an example of steady growth, partnership, and the adaptation needed to respond to the changing market. Congratulations on your new location, Williams family, we’re rooting for you!
KNKX Now Broadcasting from the Heart of Tacoma's Theater District
The new KNKX Studios at 930 Broadway.
Western Washington’s leading public radio station KNKX recently completed a multi-million dollar renovation at 930 Broadway. The station, which formerly operated as KPLU under the ownership of Pacific Lutheran University (PLU), provides community-driven coverage of the region’s most pressing topic and issues. According to its 2019 Annual Report, over 394,000 listeners tune in on the radio and 1,722,483 users accessed KNKX’s on-demand broadcasts.
Broadcasting from 88.5FM since 1966, the local asset was at risk of transferring to Seattle when PLU announced its sale to University of Washington. It took less than 5 months for supporters to rally and fundraise $11.4 million, well over the $7 million sale price. As part of the sale, the station was required to move from PLU’s campus.
The City of Tacoma’s Office of Arts & Cultural Vitality connected KNKX with CED early on in the move to assist with site selection and to coordinate their buildout with Planning and Development Services. The Broadway location, which just received another $45,000 in support from City Council, includes a gathering space that the station hopes will welcome the public to mix and convene. CED also linked KNKX to Rainier Connect for reliable, fast internet as the station requires 24/7, uninterrupted connectivity. The project was a great reflection of the inter-department coordination and teamwork that the City of Tacoma strives to offer.
Nordstrom Rack, ULTA to Join Marcus Theatres at Tacoma Mall
Courtesy of Seattle Business Magazine
Demolition is complete and plans are in permitting for the redevelopment of the former Sears site at Tacoma Mall. The movie tavern chain Marcus Theatres announced it will be anchoring the project late this summer with a ten-screen theater, followed most recently by the news that Nordstrom Rack will be opening a 30,000 square foot store, making Tacoma its southernmost Washington location. Ulta Beauty will join the new retailers, who have hopes of opening in time for the 2020 holiday season.
Tacoma Business Support, Workshops, and Events
City of Tacoma Community and Economic Development (CED) is here to support you. The flyer above lists commonly requested services. Feel free to Contact us directly.
The Community and Economic Development Department has a website to help attract and grow business. Visit MakeItTacoma.com to learn more about doing business in Tacoma.
Searching for a property or vacant land? Use the City's site selection tool to find your next property here.
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