Tacoma's City and Port Award Winners

The City of Tacoma has been selected as a 2014 Smart Communities Award winner for its innovative South Downtown Sub-area Plan long-range planning strategy AND the City along with the Port of Tacoma for their interlocal agreement for shoreline public access.

Governor Jay Inslee today announced all the winners of the 2014 Smart Communities Awards today. The program recognizes achievements by local leaders who promote smart growth planning and projects that contribute to quality of life in Washington State.

These projects help create and sustain a thriving economic climate and strengthen our ability to lead in the global economy, said Gov. Inslee. Washington is a great state in which to live and do business thanks to these examples of leadership and innovation in community planning and development.

2014 Governor’s Smart Communities Award Winners

Smart Vision Award – Comprehensive Planning
•    City of Tacoma South Downtown Subarea Plan
•    Thurston County Sustainable Thurston Vision and Action Plan
•    City of Redmond 2013 Transportation Master Plan

Smart Choices Award – Implementation of a Comprehensive Plan
•    City of Kalama and Port of Kalama New Mixed Use Zoning District
•    The Puget Sound Regional Council and the Growing Transit Communities Partnership – Growing Transit Communities Strategy
•    City of Ellensburg Land Development Code
•    City of Redmond Central Connector Phase I


Smart Partnerships Award – Development Project to Implement a Plan
•    City of Tacoma and Port of Tacoma Interlocal Agreement for Shoreline Public Access Provision
•    King County and City of Seattle Unique Transfer of Development Right (TDR) and Local Infrastructure Funding
•    City of Renton and Renton School District Meadow Crest Early Learning Center and Meadow Crest Accessible Playground

Judges’ Merit Award
•    City of Edmonds Strategic Action Plan
•    City of Walla Walla Residential Guidelines

Other 2014 Nominees
Kitsap County Shoreline Master Program Update
City of Lacey Woodland District Strategic Plan
City of Monroe Sign Design Guidelines and Code
City of Poulsbo Zoning Ordinance
City of Olympia One-Sided Collection Program
City of Seattle Plaza Roberto Maestra

Puget Sound Named Manufacturing Community

The Puget Sound area was announced today as one of the first 12 communities that will be designated Manufacturing Communities as part of the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) initiative.  The Puget Sound Regional Council will lead our region’s effort.

The U.S. Commerce Department-led program is designed to accelerate the resurgence of manufacturing in communities nationwide by supporting the development of long-term economic development strategies that help communities attract and expand private investment in the manufacturing sector and increase international trade and exports.

The first 12 Manufacturing Communities include:
• The Washington Puget Sound region, led by the Puget Sound Regional Council
• Southwest Alabama, led by the University of South Alabama
• Southern California, led by the University of Southern California Center for Economic Development
• Northwest Georgia, led by the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission
• The Chicago metro region, led by the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development
• South Kansas, led by Wichita State University
• Greater Portland region in Maine, led by the Great Portland Council of Governments
• Southeastern Michigan, led by the Wayne County Economic Development Growth Engine
• The New York Finger Lakes region, led by the City of Rochester
• Southwestern Ohio Aerospace Region, led by the City of Cincinnati
• The Tennessee Valley, led by the University of Tennessee
• The Milwaukee 7 region, led by the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee

Initiative aims to revitalize manufacturing through public-private partnerships and coordinated federal funding.  The 12 designated Manufacturing Communities will receive coordinated support for their strategies from the following eleven federal agencies with $1.3 billion available in federal economic development assistance:

• Appalachian Regional Commission
• Delta Regional Authority
• Environmental Protection Agency
• National Science Foundation
• Small Business Administration
• U.S. Department of Agriculture
• U.S. Department of Commerce
• U.S. Department of Defense
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
• U.S. Department of Labor
• U.S. Department of Transportation

These communities will also receive a dedicated federal liaison at each of these agencies that will help them navigate available federal resources. They will also be recognized on a government website, accessible to prospective private foreign and domestic investors, looking for information on communities’ competitive attributes.

From the 70 communities that applied, these 12 were selected by an interagency panel, based on the strength of their economic development plans, the potential for impact in their communities, and the depths of their partnerships across the public and private sector to carry out their plans.
In order to earn the designation, communities had to demonstrate the significance of manufacturing already present in their region and develop strategies to make investments in six areas: 1) workforce and training, 2) advanced research, 3) infrastructure and site development, 4) supply chain support, 5) trade and international investment, 6) operational improvement and capital access.

For more information on IMCP, please visit: http://www.eda.gov/challenges/imcp/index.htm.

Three Steps for the Ex-Im Bank

1) Tell Congress to Reauthorize the  Export-Import Bank
2) Sign onto the letter to Congress - Deadline June 4, 2014

 UPDATE JUNE 25, 2014 - SEE THE LETTER AND THE 865 SIGNATORIES HERE.

3) Show Your Support for the Ex-Im Bank!

As the Wall Street Journal noted last Wednesday, the Export-Import Bank of the United States plays a crucial role in our economy. Last year, Ex-Im supported the purchase of $37.4 billion worth of exports that created or sustained approximately 205,000 American jobs at 3,400 companies. It is especially important to small and medium-sized businesses, which account for nearly 90 percent of the Ex-Im's transactions.

Ex-Im will expire on September 30, 2014, without Congressional reauthorization. We urge you to show your support for Ex-Im and the opportunities it creates by signing our letter to Congress and encouraging your business members to do the same.

Additionally, we invite you to join U.S. Chamber's Senior Director Christopher Wenk and Senior Vice President Jack Howard on a conference call Wednesday, May 28 at 1:00 pm EST. They will discuss Ex-Im's effect on the business community and how your organization can benefit from its reauthorization. To register for the call, click here.

We appreciate your support and look forward to speaking with you on Wednesday.
Get involved!
•    Sign onto the letter to Congress (Collecting signatures from companies, Chambers, associations, and more. All are welcome! Deadline June 4)
•     Join us on May 28 for a conference call
•     Visit our website www.uschamber.com/ex-im
•    See the companies in each congressional district that utilize Ex-Im Bank
•     Check out the small business stories here and here
•    Download the Chamber's pamphlet on ExIm
•    Get the "Myths and Facts about the Export-Import Bank of the United States"

Open Houses on Pierce County Comp Plan Update

Pierce County’s unincorporated population is expected to grow by 75,000 residents by the year 2030.

The community is invited to learn how that growth will be accommodated through a series of open houses planned for May and June. The open houses, which are part of the review and update of Pierce County’s Comprehensive Plan and development regulations, will feature stations that address topics like land use, transportation and parks.

This is the community’s chance to learn where we are in the Comprehensive Plan update, discuss the topics with staff and provide comments, said Debby Hyde, special projects coordinator. There is no formal presentation—drop in anytime during the event.

The following open houses are open to the public, and will run from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.:

•    May 20, East County Maintenance Facility, 11711 Prairie Ridge Drive E., Bonney Lake
•    May 22, Central Maintenance Facility, 4812 196th St. E., Spanaway
•    May 29, Key Peninsula Civic Center, 17010 S. Vaughn Road KPN, Vaughn
•    June 3, Roy Community Center, 122 3rd St. E., Roy
•    June 5, McMillin Grange, 12615 State Route 162, Puyallup
•    June 10, Pierce County Library Administrative Building, 3005 112th St., Parkland

Realize 2030: Honor the Past—Look Ahead

Pierce County’s Comprehensive Plan Update process, or “Realize 2030,” acknowledges the past 20 years of growth under the current Comprehensive Plan and eleven community plans and looks ahead to the next period of growth. The review and update of Pierce County’s Comprehensive Plan and development regulations began last year and will be completed by June 2015.

Washington State’s Growth Management Act (GMA) requires counties to review existing plans and regulations and update them, if necessary, every 8 years.

Changes that will be addressed include new legislative requirements and recent changes in land use law. The majority of policies and directions of the county’s plans will be maintained and carried forward in the update.

Community plans form foundation for updates

The eleven community plans were adopted in Pierce County between 1999 and 2009. Each plan included public engagement that helped refine the direction of community development in Pierce County. Many of the policies have since evolved into county-wide regulations and programs and no longer need to be specified in the individual community plans.

“The community plans will be revised to remove the regulations that apply to all of Pierce County and retain only the policies and land use regulations that are unique to each community,” said Sean Gaffney, Pierce County Planning and Land Services long range planning manager.

Visit here to sign up for weekly email updates about the Comprehensive Plan update. The website also features information about upcoming community open houses and background material related to the update.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Sean Gaffney, long range planning manager
Pierce County Planning and Land Services
253-798-2724

Dan Cardwell, planner
Pierce County Planning and Land Services
253-798-7039

Joint Base Open House Saturday

JBLM is open to the public for Armed Forces Day, this Saturday,, May 17, 10;00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

#AFD2014    @JBLMMWR

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PCEI Economic Forecast Rebroadcast

The Horizons 2014 Economic Forecast program will be rebroadcast as a Special Presentation on TV Tacoma from May 1 – 15.

Here’s a link to the program on TV Tacoma’s web site here.

TV Tacoma is carried on both the Click! and Comcast Cable systems.

On Click! TV Tacoma can be seen on Channel 12 in the Tacoma City limits and in Pierce County, with the exception of University Place, where we are found on Channel 21.  On Comcast, TV Tacoma can be seen on Channel 12 in the Tacoma City limits and on Channel 21 in Pierce County.  TV Tacoma is not carried on the Comcast system in University Place.

Replay times:
Thursday, May 1 – 1pm & 9pm
Friday, May 2 – 2pm & 10pm
Saturday, May 3 – 8am & 6pm
Sunday, May 4 – 1am, 3pm & 8pm
Monday, May 5 – 4am, 2pm 8pm
Tuesday, May 6 – 4am & 11pm
Wednesday, May 7 – 9am & 8pm
Thursday, May 8 – 1pm & 9pm
Friday, May 9 – 2pm & 10pm
Saturday, May 10 – 8am & 6pm
Sunday, May 11 – 1am, 3pm & 8pm
Monday, May 12 – 4am & 2pm
Tuesday, May 13 – 4am & 11pm
Wednesday, May 14 – 9am & 8pm
Thursday, May 15 – 1pm & 9pm

TV Tacoma is also streamed on the Internet here.