Trade war bites Washington apple industry
Washington state may be losing its largest market for apples given Mexico’s new retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports. Agricultural stakeholders say they are disappointed that they are being targeted by...
View ArticleLens Video: Head tax- Sending the right message to business
Lens sat down with State Sen. Steve O’Ban (R-28) to discuss the Seattle City Council’s decision to repeal its business head tax, as well as what Washington can do to better incentivize employers to...
View ArticleWorries linger over Washington’s economic growth
The city of Seattle’s short-lived head tax may be dead, but for some state officials a cloud of uncertainty still hangs over the long-term health of Washington’s economic climate – even as the latest...
View ArticleLens Video: Woodinville- An unexpected hub for wine
Lens sat down with two Woodinville winemakers to discuss what the city has to offer for starting winemakers, and why it became a hub for wine tasting even though it is located hours away from many of...
View ArticleA look into Woodinville’s thriving wine industry
When planning a trip to taste Washington wine you don’t have to travel five hours east of Seattle. Woodinville is only 30 minutes from the city and has transformed over the past few decades into a hub...
View ArticleFixing Puget Sound region’s growing pains
It’s no secret that the Puget Sound region has a housing and traffic problem, but some local and regional lawmakers say regional policy for managing it may need some fine-tuning to help alleviate...
View ArticleSeattle goes strawless: no more plastic pointy things…
Seattle has become the largest metropolitan city to forbid the use of plastic straws and utensils as part of the plastic utensil and straw ban which took effect July 1. The rule now requires all bars...
View ArticleHousing inventory woes may ease
It’s no surprise that Seattle and King County have problems with expensive housing prices and inventory shortages, Seattle was ranked 2nd on Forbes’ list of fastest growing cities for 2018. Recent data...
View ArticleThe “Amazon Effect” on Spokane’s business community
Although Spokane was not chosen as the location for Amazon’s HQ2, the city’s efforts were not in vain. The company has announced it would be building a fulfilment center, a warehouse where incoming...
View ArticleBusiness Profile: Dick’s Drive-In, then and now
When looking for a burger in the Seattle area, the spinning Dick’s Drive-In (DDI) sign may be hard to pass up for many Washingtonians. More than a stopping place to grab a low-cost, delicious burger,...
View ArticleLens Video: Dick’s Drive In- Growing alongside Seattle
Lens met with Jasmine Donovan, Executive Vice President and CFO of Dick’s Drive-In, to learn about how the restaurant got its start and has remained successful as Seattle has continued to change. The...
View ArticleWashington growers: Remove the tariffs
Washington’s agricultural stakeholders continue asking the Trump administration to resolve problems stemming from the current trade war between the U.S. and other major trading partners for...
View ArticleSeattle City Council insulates Showbox venue
The Seattle City Council voted this week to prevent the Seattle Showbox concert venue from being torn down and replaced by apartments. Proponents of the ordinance argue the music spot increases...
View ArticleDriver shortage extends beyond trucking industry
A lack of drivers to meet freight demand isn’t a new problem to the trucking industry both nationally or in Washington state, but now it’s starting to affect businesses and customers that rely on them....
View ArticleWashington’s stake in ongoing trade talks
Washington state needs to position itself to best take advantage of Asia’s consumer boom, which is where trade stakeholders believe businesses will reap the most benefits. That is just one takeaway...
View ArticleBolstering Washington tourism
Washington state is reenergizing its statewide tourism efforts with the approval of a statewide tourism agency in March, however it has a way to go to catch up with neighboring states. As the...
View ArticleLarge harvest underway for Washington pears
While Washington is known for its apples, pears are also a vital part of the state’s economy and offer a unique opportunity for agricultural businesses and growers to sell these two fruits together to...
View ArticleWashington’s stake in NAFTA replacement
Although the United States has reached an initial agreement with Mexico under the new United States-Mexico Trade Agreement, Washington state trade representatives say they are concerned that Canada has...
View ArticleStakeholders discuss affordable housing policy
Green-building advocates and representatives from the housing sector and local government spoke this week at the 2018 Built Green Conference event on hot housing topics including sustainability,...
View ArticleTreading lightly on tax reform
A state House work group has held public meetings this year to discuss problems with Washington’s tax structure and potential regulatory changes. While those discussions may lead to recommendations to...
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