Bridge of Glass to be featured in prominent travel and leisure magazines
The Washington State Tourism Office recently held a photo shoot on Tacoma’s Bridge of Glass to create one of four full-page advertisements about the wonders of Washington State. This Bridge of Glass advertisement, “Curating the uncommon,” will run 18 times from April to July and will be featured in 15 publications, including Food and Wine, Sunset, Smithsonian, Coastal Living, Cooking Light and Audubon. To view the ad, visit the Washington State Tourism Web site.
|
City of Tacoma seeks community input to make downtown more vibrant
The City of Tacoma's Community and Economic Development Department is working to develop an economic development strategic plan for downtown Tacoma, and input from all Tacoma citizens is needed for this initiative.
The Community and Economic Development Department is partnering with AngelouEconomics, www.angeloueconomics.com, an Austin, Texas, based economic development consulting firm, to develop this plan that will provide a blueprint for increased investment in Tacoma’s downtown and provide more jobs for the region’s residents.
To create the strategy, AngelouEconomics has conducted interviews, focus groups and visioning sessions and the City of Tacoma is looking for feedback from the entire community through an online survey. All Tacoma citizens are invited to complete two brief surveys – one is available for residents and another is available for business owners. This community input will help AngelouEconomics and the City of Tacoma better understand the dynamics of downtown and prepare recommendations for the strategic plan. These surveys will be available for one month.
To date, 407 residents and 97 business owners have completed the surveys. Provide your feedback now!
For more information about this initiative, and to complete one of the brief surveys, visit www.cityoftacoma.org/downtownstrategy.
|
New Business Update: Etoffe Makara, Terra Organics, Top of Tacoma Café
Étoffe Makara, a company that screen prints items including fabric, pillows, bed covers, wall hangings and then sells their product wholesale through designers and decorators has moved into 5416 and 5418 South Tacoma Way.
Terra Organics, a produce home delivery company, has opened at 501 E. 34th St.
The Top of Tacoma Café has opened at 3529 McKinley Ave.
|
Green Report: University of Washington Tacoma hosts sustainability expo
Tacoma’s local colleges and universities have banded together in organizing the first-ever South Sound Sustainability Expo, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 9 on the University of Washington Tacoma campus. The event is free and open to the public, and advance registration is not required.
Local businesses, agencies and environmental organizations will offer practical tips on how to be more sustainable and help South Sound residents make connections with local sustainability resources. Speakers will discuss organic farming, public transportation, urban habitat, community-based energy solutions and more. In addition, representatives from more than 50 local and state agencies, businesses, colleges and organizations offering sustainable products and services will be on hand to meet with consumers.
The expo is part of the two-day South Sound Sustainability Summit. On Feb. 10 all students, faculty and staff from Pierce County colleges and universities will gather to discuss sustainability on college campuses at the Conference on Sustainability in Higher Education. Speakers will address developing green campuses, finding transportation alternatives and measuring progress, and participants will be charged with developing concrete initiatives for addressing sustainability needs. Advance registration is required for the Feb. 10 conference, and the event is free.
For more information, visit www.tacoma.washington.edu/summit or call (253) 692-5815.
|
LINK light rail service extends to 10 p.m.
Tacoma’s LINK light rail is now running until 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Light rail services are extended based on ridership, so support the LINK by hopping on. It’s free! For more information, visit the Sound Transit Web site.
|
Metropolitan Development Council helps entrepreneurs start or expand businesses
The Metropolitan Development Council is holding free entrepreneurial training sessions and workshops for women and disadvantaged residents in Tacoma who are seeking support to start or expand their small business ventures. The sessions are as follows:
Business Start-Up Series from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Feb. 12, 13, 14, 19, 20 or 21
Small Business Financing from 9 to 11 a.m. on March 6
Marketing Your Business from 9 to 11 a.m. on March 20
Pre-enrollment is required. For more information, call (253) 591-7026.
|
International flavors arrive in Proctor
The 6th annual International Film and Food Festival is underway and is now featuring flicks every Thursday at the Blue Mouse Theater from countries including Africa, Taiwan, Israel, Korea, Russia, Norway and Morocco from now until April 17. For more information, visit the International Film and Food Festival Web site.
|
Museum offers free admission for presidential namesakes on Presidents’ Day
On Feb. 18 in recognition of the nation’s chief executives and their wives, the Washington State History Museum is offering free admission to anyone who shares a name with any of our nation’s presidents or first ladies. Only first and last names will be considered (no middle names). The History Museum will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Presidents’ Day.
|
