BIA Before City Council

Every year the Downtown Tacoma Business Improvement Area goes before City Council to share its plans for the next year.  This year, the BIA heads to Council tomorrow, March 24th.

Over the last year the BIA has continued to work on reducing the impact of graffiti, keeping the streets clean, partnering with organizations for beautification, and responding to calls for assistance with public security.  Last year, we also began making payments to Sound Transit to keep the Link free for all riders.

As we begin our 28th year in operation, the BIA wants to thank the community for your ongoing support.  Of course if there's anything we can do to serve you better, please don't hesitate to let us know.

New Tacoma Awards Honor Downtown Contributions



For more photos from the event, please visit the facebook album: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.781380005231446.1073741947.128539093848877&type=1

Businesses, organizations and individuals who make outstanding contributions to downtown Tacoma were recognized with the annual New Tacoma Awards at the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber’s monthly luncheon held Friday, July 11, at the Pacific Grill Events Center. 

The Chamber, in coordination with sponsors Tacoma Power’s Click! Network, Tags Awards & Specialties and Blitz & Co., honored nominees and recipients at the luncheon.

The 2014 New Tacoma Awards recipients are:

Foss Waterway Seaport’s Rehabilitation received the Ghilarducci Award that recognizes successful new development, renovation or beautification.  The Foss Waterway Seaport recently rebuilt its main north facing wall as a massive wall of glass windows.  This wall has invited the community into the space while also showcasing the Seaports' great collection and activities.

 

Justin Mayfield of Downtown Block Party received the Popham Award that recognizes the individual who has done the most to build community spirit. Through his organization, Local Life, Justin has created the Downtown Block Party, now in its fifth year.  This event brings hundreds of people to downtown for a free event each year highlighting some of the great things downtown Tacoma has to offer. 

 

Downtown On the Go’s Walk Tacoma received the Public Places Award that recognizes the best activation of a public park, open space or area within the public right-of-way. Downtown On the Go brings hundreds of people onto the streets of downtown making the streets more alive.  The growing momentum of the Walk Tacoma series is a great sign that people are ready to get to know their "downtown," contributing to the area's revitalization in a huge way.

 

Tinkertopia received the Schoenfeld Award that recognizes exemplary performance and pizzazz as a retailer.  Darcy & RR have created a unique have for artists and recyclers who are looking for something a bit different. They are a destination for teachers, students, artists, crafters, inventors, makers, hackers and tinkerers of any age in search of unusual materials for any creative venture.

 

Children’s Museum of Tacoma received the Union Station Award that recognizes leading organizations, companies or individuals that have built or sustained momentum for revitalization.  The mission of the Children's Museum of Tacoma is to celebrate the power of play in the lifelong journey of learning. They strive to be a leader in our community in using play to learn, grow and thrive.

 

After a great luncheon and energy from everyone making downtown great we are looking forward to all the exciting things our downtown community has in store for the next year.

Congratulations to the 2014 New Tacoma Award Nominees!

Each year the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber recognizes individuals, businesses and organizations making outstanding contributions to downtown Tacoma with the New Tacoma Awards.
 

This year the Chamber, in coordination with sponsors Tacoma Power's Click! Network and Tags Awards & Specialties, will honor nominees and recipients at the Chamber Luncheon on July 11th at the Pacific Grill Event Center at 1530 Pacific Avenue, 98402 from 11:30 to 1PM. For more information on the program and to register, please visit the Chamber's website.

The 2014 New Tacoma Award Nominees are:

The Ghilarducci Award recognizing successful new development, renovation or beautification:

- Community Health Care’s New Regional Health Center
- Foss Waterway Seaport’s Rehabilitation
- HHJ’s Rehabilitation of the Rector’s Building
- Tacoma Post Office Building Rehabilitation
- UWT Section of Prairie Line Trail

The Popham Award recognizing the individual that has done the most to build community spirit:
 
- Dion Thomas of Gallery of Ambition
- JD Elquist of The Elquists
- Justin Mayfield of Downtown Block Party
- Rusty George of Rusty George Creative
The Public Places Award recognizing the best activation of a public park, open space or right-of-way:

- Alchemy Skate’s Go Skate Tacoma Day
- City of Tacoma’s Pacific Avenue Streetscape
- Downtown On the Go’s Walk Tacoma
The Schoenfeld Award recognizing exemplary performance and pizazz as a retailer or restaurateur:

- Anthem Coffee
- Creative Forces Gifts & Sundries
- Endless Prints
- Handlebar Cycling Studio
- Harmon Brewing
- Moss + Mineral
- Savor Creperie
- Stink
- Tinkertopia
The Union Station Award recognizing organizations, companies or individuals that have built or sustained momentum for revitalization:

- Children’s Museum of Tacoma
- Downtown Merchants Group
- Milt Tremblay of UWT

Congratulations to all the nominees! For a list of prior winners, please see the Chamber's website. We look forward to seeing you on July 12th.

Spaceworks Creating Businesses and Filling Vacancies

In the past, Spaceworks has done a great job of highlighting local artists doing work in and around Tacoma. While continuing to support artists, the Spaceworks program has shifted to include more creative entrepreneurs who are turning their work into businesses.

This shift has not gone unnoticed as Kathleen Cooper of The News Tribune noted on the cover of Sunday's paper: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/08/19/2260852/spaceworks-fills-voids-for-art.html.  

"What began as a program to use vacant downtown storefronts as showcases for Tacoma’s vibrant artists has started to focus on business incubation, and it’s working. 

In the past few months, three groups that found free space in commercial buildings through Spaceworks Tacoma have made the leap into the marketplace. A youth-focused creative arts organization, working in the city for a decade, has its first permanent headquarters. A man who rehabilitates and sells antique pianos has his own shingle. And four women who create unique home décor will open their retail store next month in the heart of Tacoma’s Antique Row."

As the Chamber continues to support innovation and entrepreneurship throughout the County, we look forward to strengthening Spaceworks role in helping small businesses get off the ground.

BIA Renewal in Tacoma Weekly

The Tacoma Weekly noted this week that the BIA was beginning its 25th year.  As Maintenance Supervisor Jim Burgess was reflecting on its beginnings, "Downtown has changed a lot since then."

Tacoma Weekly reporter Steve Dunkelberger goes on to note that the BIA was "founded in 1988 as a way to provide litter clean up and early evening security for downtown workers who were finding themselves having to walk through rows of homeless people panhandling, drug dealers selling dime bags and otherwise empty streets."

Today, the BIA is proud to point out that most of these challenges are a thing of the past in the central business district.  This is due in large part to the vigilance of all parties, from the property owners to the City to the local agencies and businesses.

For more on the article, please visit the Tacoma Weekly at http://www.tacomaweekly.com/news/view/bia-turns-25/