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

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Sound Transit to move forward with East Link Starter Line in 2024
Sound Transit to move forward with East Link Starter Line in 2024

Last week, the Sound Transit Board of Directors decided to move forward with the opening of the East Link Starter Line, with hopes of service beginning in March 2024. The in-person meeting room was full, and nearly 300 individuals joined virtually to listen to public testimony and the... Continue Reading

Date posted08/29/2023


Giving Back & Doing Good: Highlighting local orgs for National Nonprofit Day
Giving Back & Doing Good: Highlighting local orgs for National Nonprofit Day

There are A LOT of nonprofits digging their heels into Eastside communities to help target systemic injustices, so this National Nonprofit Day — August 17 — we wanted to highlight a few. Get the gist of each organization's mission below, and click the logo to be taken to each... Continue Reading

Date posted08/16/2023


Celebrate International Self Care Day in Bellevue
Celebrate International Self Care Day in Bellevue

While next Monday — July 24 — is International Self Care Day, we don’t think you need a predetermined “holiday” to justify treating yourself every once in a while. Whether you want to go big (think home gym makeover or finally getting LASIK eye surgery) or stay small... Continue Reading

Date posted07/18/2023


Chamber tours Avenue Bellevue Towers, watches vision come to life
Chamber tours Avenue Bellevue Towers, watches vision come to life

Years in the making, the Avenue Bellevue project is steadily making progress, and our friends at JTM Construction invited the Chamber to swing by and see the space for ourselves. While still very much an active construction zone, there is no doubt that Fortress founder Andy Lakha’s high-end,... Continue Reading

Date posted07/12/2023


Plymouth Crossing: Bellevue’s first permanent supportive housing development
Plymouth Crossing: Bellevue’s first permanent supportive housing development

Plymouth Housing just opened its first permanent supportive housing building on the Eastside, marking a pivotal point for Bellevue in tackling the homelessness crisis. Made possible through the generosity and hard work of corporate partners, Plymouth Crossing will not only provide 92 units of... Continue Reading

Date posted07/11/2023


Candidate interviews now underway for Chamber PAC, the Eastside Business Alliance
EBA,
Candidate interviews now underway for Chamber PAC, the Eastside Business Alliance

The Eastside Business Alliance has been busy this election cycle, gearing up to meet with local candidates and hear how their campaigns are going. Interviews with Bellevue City Council candidates are currently underway, and upon completion, the EBA will decide which races warrant a public... Continue Reading

Date posted07/10/2023


Chamber members sound off on housing, the reality for small businesses at “Washington in the Making
Chamber members sound off on housing, the reality for small businesses at “Washington in the Making

The Chamber recently participated in the statewide “Washington in the Making 2040” project, allowing members to speak their piece in a Town Hall meeting hosted by the AWB Institute and Washington Roundtable. Held immediately following our Mid Year Economic Forecast on June 20, local... Continue Reading

Date posted07/6/2023


Bellevue Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Hospital opens doors, ready to help your pet
Bellevue Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Hospital opens doors, ready to help your pet

Here in the PNW, we really love our pets. (Like, really love them.) So when accidents arise and emergency vet visits are in order, pet parents are looking not only for quality care, but for some peace of mind, too. It was with this mission in mind that the Bellevue Veterinary Emergency &... Continue Reading

Date posted07/5/2023


Bellevue City Council adopt ordinance allowing enforcement of new drug law
Bellevue City Council adopt ordinance allowing enforcement of new drug law

After the Blake Fix (SB 5536) bill was passed in last month’s special session, jurisdictions across Washington have been looking at the legislation and assessing how adoption would impact their city. Controversy struck the Seattle City Council after they narrowly voted down a proposal to... Continue Reading

Date posted06/28/2023


WaFd’s Brent Beardall chats big picture, “what really matters” at Mid Year Economic Forecast
WaFd’s Brent Beardall chats big picture, “what really matters” at Mid Year Economic Forecast

The Chamber’s Mid Year Economic Forecast lunch was on June 20, with WaFd Bank's Brent Beardall returning as our speaker to break down emerging trends altering the economic landscape thus far this year. Using recent stats and figures to aid him, Beardall touched on a range of topics, from... Continue Reading

Date posted06/21/2023


Chamber announces 2023 Community Spotlight Award winners
Chamber announces 2023 Community Spotlight Award winners

At our Annual Gala on June 8, we not only celebrated all things travel and food, but highlighted some of our local leaders, too. With the help of Community Spotlight Award winners from previous years, we announced our 2023 winners across four categories, three of which were voted on by Chamber... Continue Reading

Date posted06/19/2023


Chamber PLUSH Committee responds to City of Bellevue's Comp Plan update, draft EIS
Chamber PLUSH Committee responds to City of Bellevue's Comp Plan update, draft EIS

The Bellevue Chamber's PLUSH Committee recently submitted the following letter to the City's Department of Community Development in response to their proposed Comp Plan DEIS. Learn more about the PLUSH Committee and its efforts here. Continue Reading

Date posted06/16/2023