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
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
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
At the October 8 Policy Council meeting, the Chamber hosted Paul Graves, President of Enterprise Washington, for an election update before reviewing the East King Chambers Coalition’s 2025 state agenda and previewing our federal priorities. Continue Reading
Amazon, TikTok and OpenAI are among the firms taking office space in Bellevue, where rents are higher than in the Emerald City. Continue Reading
Heads up: As of 12:00 AM this morning, Washington launched a tax blitzkrieg on services, businesses, and your streaming habit. Continue Reading
At the PLUSH meeting on Tuesday, members heard a pragmatic look at where mass timber fits in Bellevue and an update from the City on evolving Multifamily Tax Exemption (MFTE) policy, especially the proposed “supercharger” in Wilburton. Continue Reading
On September 25, the East King County Chambers Coalition (EKCC) met to align on budget realities, AI policy, and updated position papers ahead of the 2025 session. Continue Reading
PLUSH Committee supports smart CAO fixes and urge data-driven buffers that protect habitat without stalling housing or TOD, with clear case studies before adoption. Continue Reading
The Bellevue Chamber’s Policy Council has formally urged the City Council to adopt Ordinance #25-588, which would establish mandatory minimum sentences for repeat theft offenses. The Council’s position reflects the business community’s need for stronger deterrence, predictable enforcement, and safer Continue Reading
Bellevue's city council advances a measure to impose a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 days for adults convicted of misdemeanor theft three times in the past 24 months. Continue Reading
The very first revenue forecast of the 2025–27 biennium shows Washington’s budget deep in the red, by close to half a billion dollars. Continue Reading
