Collecting Payroll Tax? (Updated)

Should I be collecting the payroll tax for WA Cares starting next week? That’s a question many employers are pondering. This is an important status update on Washington’s new long-term care program known as WA Cares from AWB (Association of Washington Business). Two weeks ago, Gov. Inslee and state legislative leaders released a statement saying they…

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Minimum Wage and Salaries

The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) announced increases in minimum wage for Washington. The current minimum wage of $13.69 will increase by 80 cents, making the state minimum wage $14.49 per hour, effective as of January 1, 2022. This is a 5.8% increase, and is more than 4 times the increase in 2021, when…

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Chamber Connections Cohort

Every Tuesday, join us for Chamber Connections Cohort (C3,) a networking benefit of chamber membership. Through the pandemic, we met virtually, but Edgewood City Hall has invited us back for in person meetings! While we are so excited to be back in person, regular attendees have found quite a bit of convenience in the virtual…

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Pause on Roadmap to Recovery

While we expected a new evaluation of movement between phases, the governor announced a pause on the roadmap to recovery. On April 16, Pierce County moved backwards into phase 2. This meant reduced capacity for retail stores, indoor dining, gyms, salons, and more. The capacity limit dropped from 50% capacity permitted in Phase 3 to…

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Restaurant Revitalization Fund

The SBA is offering a Restaurant Revitalization Fund to provide emergency assistance to qualifying businesses. Qualifying food establishments who have experienced revenue loss due to the pandemic are eligible to apply for grant funds. Awards range from a minimum of $1000 to a maximum of $5 million per location ($10 million max per business.) The…

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Upcoming Tax Increases

The 2021 Legislature adjourned on Sunday and we will likely see some upcoming tax increases. Capital Gains Tax The Legislature adopted Senate Bill 5096, a 7% capital gains tax for capital gains of $250,000 or more from the sale of stocks and other investments. While this sounds like it is a tax on only the…

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State of the Cities 2021

Do you wonder about the state of our cities in 2021? While you have a good idea of what the pandemic has done to you and your business, do you know how Fife, Milton and Edgewood are faring? Please join us for our Annual State of the Cities report to find out! This year’s meeting…

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Vaccines at Tacoma Dome

Starting Tuesday, April 27, Covid vaccines will be available at the Tacoma Dome for drive thru or walk up service. Pierce County Department of Emergency Management has shared the following information in a press release on the 21st. Tacoma Dome is home for Pierce County’s vaccination effort for six weeks starting April 27. Pierce County…

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Paid Leave Tax Credit

Eligible employers can now receive a paid leave tax credit for allowing their workers paid time off for Covid vaccines. Small and midsize employers, and some governmental employers, can claim refundable tax credits. These credits reimburse businesses for the cost of providing paid time off for COVID-19 vaccinations. Additionally, they include leave taken to recover…

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Short-term Extension of Property Tax

A short-term extension of property tax may be a bit of relief for certain businesses. Businesses that can show a loss of a quarter of their revenues due to Covid can apply for the extension. Additionally, qualifying businesses will not need to pay penalties or interest. To request an extension and a payment plane, be…

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Roll Back Relief Grants Pierce County

Roll back relief grants are now available to qualifying businesses and non profits. On Friday, April 16, restrictions rolled back to Phase 2 of the Healthy Washington Reopening. That means reducing capacity for indoor activities back down to 25%. These restrictions significantly impact businesses such as restaurants and gyms. Pierce County has created a grant…

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South Sound Business Summit

May 3, 2021 – May 7, 2021Businesses need help, that is why this year, it’s FREEwww.southsoundbusinesssummit.com SIGN UP FOR FREE HERE   6th Annual Event Hear from five amazing local leaders by email…FREE WHAT IS THE EVENT? Created in 2015, The South Sound Business Summit’s purpose is to support the South Puget Sound’s (South King, Pierce and Thurston County)…

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Risk of Rolling Back to Phase 2

There’s a risk of rolling back to phase 2 this coming Monday. Both the DOH and the governors office expressed concerns about a roll back for 3 counties, including Pierce. The Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery plan evaluates risks for each individual county. Measurements will be evaluated on Monday, April 12, and any change in…

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ScaleUp: The Rebuild Edition

Small businesses looking to grow despite Covid should consider ScaleUp: The Rebuild Edition. This program is a partnership between WA Department of Commerce and Thurston Economic Development Council. It offers 2-hour online classes once a week. Sessions last for 8 weeks. Up to 100 small businesses can participate. The training provided is valued at $1,599.…

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Tideflats Visioning

What’s your tideflats visioning? What would you like to see in the Tideflats Subarea Plan? How do you think the Tideflats should look and function 20 years from now? Thinking toward the future, what would you like to preserve, create, and change about the Tideflats?  Take this survey! Your answers are anonymous and it only…

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Tax Credit Up to $33,000

How does a Tax Credit of up to $33,000 per employee sound? The expansion of the employee tax credit could mean that for your business. But like so many of the programs that are out there to help business through the pandemic, a lot of questions surround it. NFIB is offering a free webinar on…

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