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The latest & greatest on all things Bellevue, Eastside, and Chamber-member-related.

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AI impacts raise questions, concerns at November session of EBRT program
EBRT,
AI impacts raise questions, concerns at November session of EBRT program

At the November 13 Executive Business Roundtable, the Bellevue Chamber brought together leaders from the University of Washington and Avocat AI to ground the AI conversation in real-world practice. Continue Reading

Date posted11/17/2025


2025 Economic Forecast Summit: Optimism, tradeoffs, & Bellevue’s path forward
2025 Economic Forecast Summit: Optimism, tradeoffs, & Bellevue’s path forward

Bellevue showed up on Wednesday, November 12, 2025 to take stock of the economy and what it means for employers, workers, and families on the Eastside. We welcomed Mayor Lynne Robinson, University of Washington’s Thomas Gilbert, and Bank of America’s Joe Quinlan Continue Reading

Date posted11/12/2025


Transportation Committee Recap: Revenue, Preservation, AV Policy, and Curb Pricing
Transportation Committee Recap: Revenue, Preservation, AV Policy, and Curb Pricing

At the Chamber’s Transportation Committee meeting on November 6, members received a focused briefing on the state transportation outlook, WSDOT’s supplemental budget priorities, autonomous vehicle policy dynamics, Bellevue’s curb pricing plan, and federal reauthorization strategy. Continue Reading

Date posted11/10/2025


Bank of America's Joe Quinlan releases top reading recommendations for Fall 2025
Bank of America's Joe Quinlan releases top reading recommendations for Fall 2025

Each year, Joe Quinlan — keynote speaker for our Economic Forecast Summit and Chief Market Strategist for Bank of America — puts together his Top 10 Suggested Publications. The picks for 2025 are ... Continue Reading

Date posted11/5/2025


10 Races to Watch on Election Night
10 Races to Watch on Election Night

Despite low turnout, tonight's election is a big one across Western Washington. Here at 10 tight races to watch as the returns roll in. Continue Reading

Postedby Joe Fain
Date posted11/4/2025


Tour de Fred Hutch: Board of Directors convene across the lake for October
Tour de Fred Hutch: Board of Directors convene across the lake for October

We traded I-405 for I-5 this month and crossed the lake to meet at Fred Hutch, where big ideas are part of the daily routine. Their team welcomed us with a warm briefing and then led a tour that showcased how research moves from lab bench to real world impact. Continue Reading

Date posted10/29/2025


BelRed Arts Studio opens doors to creators, community members
BelRed Arts Studio opens doors to creators, community members

We are thrilled to celebrate the grand opening of the BelRed Arts Studio. The community showed up in force, and the excitement in the room could have powered its own light installation. Continue Reading

Date posted10/29/2025


City Advances Affordable Housing Strategy; Businessed Urge Feasible Incentives and Faster Permiting
City Advances Affordable Housing Strategy; Businessed Urge Feasible Incentives and Faster Permiting

On October 28, the Chamber’s PLUSH group met with the City of Bellevue’s Office of Housing to review the city’s affordable housing strategy update, discuss the mixed-use areas housing rezone, and flag permitting and critical areas issues that directly affect delivery timelines Continue Reading

Date posted10/28/2025


East King Chambers Align on Housing, Transportation, and Budget Priorities Ahead of 2026 Session
East King Chambers Align on Housing, Transportation, and Budget Priorities Ahead of 2026 Session

On October 23, the East King Chambers Coalition convened to refine its 2025 legislative agenda, with housing supply, transportation and last‑mile connections, public safety, energy, and tax policy at the forefront. The coalition emphasized practical solutions that keep the Eastside competitive Continue Reading

Date posted10/23/2025


King County Executive candidates tackle safety, housing, transit at Chamber Lunch
King County Executive candidates tackle safety, housing, transit at Chamber Lunch

On October 16, 2025, the Bellevue Chamber hosted a fast-moving King County Executive candidates forum with Councilmembers Claudia Balducci and Girmay Zahilay. Moderated by John Carlson (Kemper Development Company), Sahar Amini (Habitat for Humanity Seattle–King County), and Chris Daniels (KOMO News) Continue Reading

Date posted10/21/2025


PLUSH Committee chimes in on MFTE discussion
PLUSH Committee chimes in on MFTE discussion

Ahead of the Bellevue City Council meeting on October 21, the Chamber's PLUSH Committee submitted the following letter regarding the City's MFTE policies, and naturally, made some suggestions along the way. Read the letter below, and meet the PLUSH Committee here! Continue Reading

Date posted10/20/2025


Bellevue City Council removes endorsement of property tax and REET expansion
Bellevue City Council removes endorsement of property tax and REET expansion

If you blinked near the end of last night's (Oct. 14) Bellevue City Council meeting, you might've missed the plot twist. In a last-minute amendment, Councilmember Jared Nieuwenhuis asked colleagues to remove a line in the city's draft state legislative agenda that referenced modifying property tax " Continue Reading

Date posted10/15/2025