Top Stories

Salesforce announces $15.7 billion deal for Tableau; headquarters and leadership will remain in the Seattle area

Salesforce announced last week that it will acquire the data visualization software company Tableau for $15.7 billion in a deal that offers more evidence of Seattle’s position in the growing West Coast technology economy. The company’s headquarters and leadership will remain in Seattle, The Puget Sound Journal of Business reports. Read more »

Employers sign letter warning of tariff impacts as public comment period begins today

More than 600 American companies and trade associations, including Washington-based Costco, Eddie Bauer and Cascade Designs, sent the White House a letter last week urging the president to remove tariffs on Chinese imports. The companies support making structural fixes that address longstanding trade issues, but warn that tariffs “will have a significant, negative, and long-term impact on American businesses, farmers, families, and the U.S. economy.” At the same time, Pacific Northwest port groups say the trade war with China is already hurting the regional economy. Read more »

Washington’s budget doesn’t balance over four years after all, according to new official outlook

Washington has a four-year balanced budget requirement, which helps limit the use of budget gimmicks and prevents “bow wave” spending that washes into the next budget biennium. Unfortunately, the budget passed this year does not balance over four years, the Washington Research Council reports. Read more »

Changes to non-resident sales tax collection begin July 1

Shoppers from out-of-state will no longer be able to easily qualify for a sales tax exemption as of July 1. A new state law changing the system to a request-and-remittance program is set to begin. The Department of Revenue has guidelines for retailers for compliance with the new system. Read more »

Fifteen different sessions will explore many angles of import issue at Housing Forum July 8

AWB and nine other diverse business and statewide advocacy groups join forces at the Housing Forum to be held July 8 in Bellevue. The goal: to bring together problem-solvers from across the state and political spectrum to make headway on ensuring affordable housing for the workforce and families in all the state’s communities. Register today! Read more »

Two weeks left: Evening of Excellence and Manufacturing Excellence award nominations due June 30

It’s time to nominate Washington’s top employers for AWB’s annual awards. The Evening of Excellence and Manufacturing Excellence awards are a chance to showcase excellence and best practices. From entrepreneurship to green manufacturing, it’s time to shine. Learn more and nominate your company or another outstanding employer today. Read more »

Other News

Washington employers donate nearly $50 million to build supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness

Leading Washington employers like Amazon, Microsoft and Premera Blue Cross are making big commitments to help chronically homeless people get off the streets and connect to services. Read more »

‘Mad dash’ as cherry season begins; pears and apples to come next

The longer, hotter summer days mean the start of cherry picking and packaging season. “It’s a sprint, not a marathon,” said one Wenatchee packer, whose facility sorts, packs and ships cherries for 20 hours a day, seven days a week during this peak season. This year’s cherry harvest is expected to yield 24.3 million boxes. Read more »

New AWB graphic highlights tremendous impact of community and technical colleges

Washington’s community and technical colleges add more than $20 billion to the state’s economy, create more than 321,000 jobs each year and provide a significant return on investment, new data shows. Read more »

Washington’s average wage tops $65,000 a year in 2018

Washington workers saw average annual wages increase by 5.5% last year, which is the biggest increase since 2006, state officials report. Read more »

Planners identify Opportunity Zone possibilities in Chelan, Wenatchee

Economic development officials in Central Washington have identified opportunities to invest in Opportunity Zones in Wenatchee and Chelan. The goal of the program is help investors revitalize underserved communities. Read more »

Applications open until June 30 for Don C. Brunell Scholarships

There is still time for the children or grandchildren of AWB members to apply for the 2019 Don C. Brunell Scholarship for Future Leaders. The scholarship, in honor of AWB’s longtime former president, can fund up to $2,000 for students attending undergraduate, graduate or career/vocational programs. Read more »

AWB Events & Resources

THIS WEEK: Protect your business by learning more about cybersecurity at special event June 19

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and AWB are sponsoring a special event in Seattle this Wednesday that will focus on how you can protect your business or nonprofit from increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks. Read more »

Employment law basics for your business with AWB’s popular webinar series

AWB’s popular Human Resources and Employment Law Webinar Series wraps up next month with a session on accident prevention and accident investigation led by Tim O’Connell and Karin Jones of Stoel Rives. The series concludes July 10 with a talk on accident prevention and accident investigation plans. Read more »

Webinar: Anti-Harassment Training in the #MeToo Era

Whether this is your first or 21st anti-harassment training, this webinar will provide you with key take-aways for conducting workplace investigations and preventing and responding to harassment. The webinar will be held Wednesday, June 26. Learn more and register online. Read more »

Key Hearings/Meetings

AWB’s Model Toxics Control Act Committee to meet Tuesday, June 18

Peter Godlewski, AWB government affairs director for environmental policy, will host a conference call meeting with the AWB MTCA Committee on Tuesday, June 18 at 10 a.m. The meeting will look back on this legislative session and plan for future actions. Contact Godlewski at 360.943.1600 to learn more or Tommy Gill for call-in information.

AWB Employment Law Committee to meet Tuesday, June 18

The AWB Employment Law Committee will meet at AWB’s offices on Tuesday, June 18, at 2 p.m. Participants can also join the meeting via conference call. The meeting will cover several matters, including the new CR 102 Draft EAP Overtime Rules. Contact Bob Battles, AWB government affairs director for employment law at 360.943.1600 to learn more or Tommy Gill for call-in information.

AWB Water Quality committee to meet on June 20

AWB’s Water Committee will meet this Thursday at 10 a.m. at the AWB offices in Olympia. Contact Peter Godlewski at 360.943.1600 for more information.

AWB Energy Committee to meet Monday, July 8

AWB’s Energy Committee will meet Monday, July 8 at 10 a.m. at the AWB offices in Olympia. The meeting will look back on the most recent legislative session and plan for future actions. Contact Peter Godlewski at 360.943.1600 or PeterG@awb.org to learn more.

Tweet of the Week

Education in Prison

They Said It

It’s a Dog’s Life

“While having dogs at the office brings the obvious playfulness and endless wagging tails, it also heightens employees’ emotional intelligence, helping them feel more comfortable opening up with one another.” ~ Jovana Teodorovic, head of people and culture at Rover, a Seattle-based pet-sitting service that ranked the nation’s most dog-friendly companies. Amazon was No. 1 on the list, and another Seattle-based company, Trupanion, was listed as No. 3.