South Sound chambers band together

In a show of strength and unity, seven South Sound chambers have united to form a legislative coalition to advocate for the region’s businesses and form relationships with state lawmakers.

The South Sound Chambers Legislative Coalition was formed from a rising need for regionalism, says Tom Pierson, CEO of the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce and a coalition board member. The South Sound has been losing ground in recent years when it comes to important issues such as transportation and freight mobility, Pierson says. Other groups such as the East King County Coalition have been more successful when relaying their needs to legislators because they are speaking with one voice on a regional level, he says. Now South Sound chambers will do the same.

Groups such as these legislative coalitions are successful because of the bridges they build in a community, Pierson says. "It’s an exciting thing that this group is working together."

The South Sound chambers will have more clout together than if they stand alone, agrees Marcelle Pechler, executive director of the Kent Chamber of Commerce and also a coalition board member. "We will be a powerhouse on the state front," she says. She stresses that the new coalition will work to not only fight for regional concerns but will also educate chamber members on priority issues.

The coalition consists of the following chambers: Kent, Auburn, Enumclaw, Covington, Federal Way, Fife and Sumner/Puyallup. The chambers encompass seven legislative districts: 5, 25, 27, 30, 31, 33 and 47.

The coalition is forming its legislative agenda for the upcoming session, which convenes Jan. 8. The agenda will address coalition members- legislative priorities and policy recommendations. It will serve as a tool when communicating the region’s priorities and positions to legislators.

At the top of the agenda’s priorities are transportation and freight mobility issues, Pierson says. More than 3,000 businesses in the South Sound are directly impacted by how quickly they can get their goods to customers. While the 2006 South King County Economic Engine Report pointed to a prosperous regional economy, that report will be dramatically different in the coming years if some of the transportation projects in the South Sound are not a priority with legislators, he says.

Pechler also expects to see the proposed streamlined sales tax and the availability of affordable health insurance at the top of the legislative agenda.

A breakfast meeting will introduce the coalition’s legislative agenda to the seven chambers’ members. It will be held the first week of January at Emerald Downs in Auburn (date to be determined). Chamber members will be given a pre-legislative briefing and forecast. Lawmakers from the legislative districts will also attend.

In the future, the coalition will hire a lobbyist to serve as its advocate in Olympia. The coalition is expected to meet twice a month when the Legislature is in session, and a post-legislative wrap-up will be held at the end of the session.

Reprinted from the Kent Chamber of Commerce Newsletter