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.

Washington State Offers $5.4 Million in Workforce Development Grants

Funding is currently available to support local training and employment opportunities. Administered by Pierce County community and technical colleges, the Washington Job Skills Program (JSP) grant provides financial support for participating businesses and DSHS-licensed hospitals to develop customized, on-the-job training for new or current employees.

Local organizations that have participated include Bite Me, Inc., which used $69,607 in funding to develop LEAN, English as a Second Language computer software and food-certification training; and Tacoma Community House, which offered employee training around change management, team building, interpersonal communication and more with $42,658 in JSP grant money. 

The JSP is accessed locally through Invista Performance Solutions. Partner employers match grant monies by paying trainee wages and benefits for the duration of the program. Applications are approved on a rolling basis throughout the year. The next deadline for applications is August 30^th, 2019 for programs starting as early as October 1^st, 2019. To learn more and apply to participate, visit Invista Performance Solutions’ website.

Cross-section of cross laminated timber. Photo courtesy of TheLens.com

Updates to State/Municipal Building Codes

Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) – Structural use of cross-laminated timber for the construction of 6, 12 and 18 story-buildings is now approved under Washington state building code, effective July 1^st, 2019. Made from large, pre-fabricated wood panels which are then stacked and bonded in alternating directions, this contemporary, lightweight material is notable for both its aesthetic quality and strength. Comprehensive testing on fire, seismic and thermal performance has further proven its advantages. Its light weight requires a smaller foundation and allows for shorter construction times with reduced labor. Proponents also point to its sustainability as a renewable resource with a lower carbon footprint. Washington is the nation’s first state to codify use of engineered wood building materials in tall building construction.

City of Tacoma building division staff have closely monitored the code changes during the adoption process to determine if there were any changes needed in our local codes.  While no changes were needed in the City’s local codes related to mass timber buildings, the City did adopt provisions allowing Type IIIA buildings residential buildings with fire sprinklers to be 6 stories if they pressurize the stairs. City staff are prepared to review any submitted designs for tall wood buildings. Visit Tacoma Permits to begin the development process.

Single-Occupancy Restroom Ordinance – In addition, code was updated to reflect the requirement that all single-occupancy restrooms, existing or new, in businesses be labeled Gender Neutral as of June 1^st, 2019. To learn more and find answers to Frequently Asked Questions, visit the Office of Equity and Human Rights’ page for Single-Occupancy Restroom Ordinance.

Opportunity Zone Update

The US Department of the Treasury released the second installment of proposed regulations on Qualified Opportunity Funds and Opportunity Zone investing mid-April. According to Novogradic: “the biggest takeaway is that the guidance addresses gating issues that were limiting OZ-incented investment in operating businesses, and provides added tax clarity to the start-up, operation and wind-down of a qualified opportunity fund”.

For further information about Tacoma’s Opportunity Zones and a synopsis of proposed regulations, visit our Make It Tacoma Opportunity Prospectus page.

Mayor Woodards at Red Elm Café

Coffee with the Mayor

In an effort to increase connection and engagement with community members, Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards has launched monthly Coffee with the Mayor events throughout the city. Events have been scheduled in each Council district, and offered at a variety of different days and times to allow for broader participation. Remaining dates are listed below.

• Thursday, July 18: 5 – 6 PM, Bertolino’s (2421 S. Union Ave.)
• Friday, August 16: 9 - 10 AM, Old Town Tacoma Anthem Coffee (2312 N. 30th St.)
• Saturday, September 14: 9 – 10 AM, Location TBD (Northeast Tacoma)
• Monday, October 21: 6 - 7 PM, Starbucks (3737 S. G St.)
• Monday, November 18: 6 – 7 PM, Location TBD
• Thursday, December 5: 5 - 6 PM, Antique Sandwich Co. (5102 N. Pearl St.)

For more information, visit the event page on the City’s website.

Tile mosaic honoring Alberta J. Canada’s legacy. Photo courtesy of Tacoma Housing Authority

Make It Tacoma: Updates From Around Town

In winter of 2017, Tacoma Housing Authority (THA) began extensive renovation on the Alberta J. Canada Building, a mixed use project with senior affordable housing located at 11^th & MLK Jr. Way. The building is named for a longtime Hilltop community activist and leader who passed away in 1999. Miss Canada is credited with creating affordable housing for low-income buyers, supporting education and employment programs, and mobilizing the neighborhood to help youths through the organization she founded, the Martin Luther King Housing Development Association.

THA celebrated the completed renovation with a ribbon cutting celebration on June 10^th. Updates include façade improvements to commercial storefronts and office space, a new tenant courtyard, a lounge and manager’s office, the addition of six residential ADA accessible units, a community room, a new HVAC system, and the addition of a Harborstone Bank ATM. The building is adorned with a large-scale, tile mosaic by Tacoma artist Mauricio Robalino honoring Miss Canada. During the opening celebration, her three surviving daughters spoke to their mother’s determination and her willingness to lead on the problems she saw in her community.

Speeches by project partners Sound Outreach, United Way of Pierce County, and Mayor Victoria Woodards emphasized the importance of partnership in strengthening communities. The celebration ended with a public tour of the building and newly installed artwork.

Fern + Foster Family Wellness is coming to the former Feast Arts Center at 1402 S 11^th Street just several blocks from the Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension. The center will offer a number of workshops and services for growing families. Fern + Foster Family Wellness is also a graduate of Spaceworks’ most recent Business Planning Cohort.

As part of the Loyal to the Local program, Sound Transit encourages the community to frequent small businesses in the Stadium and Hilltop districts during construction of the Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension. Participants in Sound Transit’s spring photo contest tagged photos of their visits with #ShopHilltopStadium, qualifying for a behind the scenes tour of the light rail extension later this year.

Image of Niombi Howell, owner of Hilltop vegan restaurant Quickie Too, and her grandson from the #ShopHilltopStadium photo contest. Courtesy of Davis Freeman.

Tacoma Lamp Repair expanded into their current space at 3502 McKinley Avenue early in 2019. In addition to repairs, the location retails vintage lighting pieces and high-quality area rugs. Owners Amy and Aaron purchased the business, formerly operating on Tacoma Avenue, in 2018.

The McKinley Hill Business District welcomed a neighborhood coffee shop this spring. LUX Coffee, located at 3535 McKinley Avenue, offers espresso from local Manifesto Coffee Roasters, light café fare and local artwork.

The district will also welcome a new restaurant at 723 E 34^th Street later this year. Tacoma restaurateurs Dana Claar Verellen and her husband Dave Verellen, who also own and operate the Zodiac Supper Club, are converting a craftsman home in to Dusty’s Hideaway. The restaurant will offer modernized American diner food and cocktails in a family friendly space complete with a kid-friendly backyard play area.

Entrance and patio for LUX coffee. Photo courtesy of LUX Coffee.

In April, Commencement Bay Cannabis celebrated the opening of a second location at 1453 E 30th Street with a celebrity visit by comedy duo Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong. The business is part of Puyallup Tribal Cannabis Enterprises, an initiative to create economic development in the cannabis industry. In 2016, the Puyallup Tribe signed a compact with the State of Washington to study, produce, and sell medical marijuana. They have since opened the Medicine Creek Analytics Lab and recently entered in to a partnership with Washington State University at their research and consultation clinic, Qwibil.

In June, Sharetea added Tacoma Mall to its list of over 450 store locations in 18 countries. The Taiwan-based café offers traditional black, fruit and pearl milk tea drinks as well as blended ice drinks and signature TorDa pastries with several filling options.

Tacoma Mall will also welcome Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya in the coming months.

Cactus Southwest Kitchen + Bar is now open at 2506 N Proctor Street. Staff were recruited through a four-day long job fair in early spring. Owners hope to create a ten-month, if not year around, outdoor patio and the location also offers such innovations as a paperless kitchen ticket system to manage guest orders, a side entrance for delivery drivers and draft margaritas.

Proceeds from La Bella Nail Spa's June 23^rd grand opening were donated to the Blue Mouse Theater. Nearby, locally owned Fresh Rolls will open its sixth location. Cactus, La Bella Nail Spa and Fresh Rolls Proctor locations are all located within the Madison25 mixed-use development.

Also coming to the Proctor district is Crudo & Cotto, a second restaurant for owners Giampaolo Falchetti and Kathryn Philbrook. Crudo & Cotto will offer an authentic Italian experience including fresh seafood, an oyster bar, and homemade pasta.

Photo courtesy of Cactus Southwest Kitchen + Bar

Contact Us

(253) 591-2012 phone; (253) 591-5232 fax Jeff Robinson, Director Elly Walkowiak, Assistant Director  MakeItTacoma@cityoftacoma.org   Community & Economic Development Department 747 Market St., 9th Floor, Tacoma, WA 98402