We heard from Patric Sazama and Michael Schneider from Impact Washington regarding the results of a recent statewide survey of manufacturers. Impact Washington is a non-profit consulting organization that we partner with to help our local companies.  This is the second year that Impact Washington has commissioned the survey and the survey and ensuing discussion was very informative.  The bottom line is that business owners and CEO’s surveyed feel the state business climate and regulations are still headed in the wrong direction, however companies remain cautiously optimistic, many are confident going forward and some even are planning on hiring in 2012.

Our roundtable discussion got especially heated when the group  reviewed a list of the top concerns among manufacturing executives.  Not surprisingly, rising health care costs, taxes and regulations were all the top concerns of those surveyed, and our group of executives agreed.  Health care also came out as the top incentive as a means for attracting and retaining employees, even above wages.

The health care discussion continued with Sazama pointing out that even in light of this, according to the survey, only 58% of firms offer a health care plan to their employees.

Of other interest to the attendees was the increase in trade and export opportunity. Washington State Department of Commerce has some funding available to companies that want to enter new markets or develop an export plan.  We continue to keep tabs on these type of programs and will make sure to keep our manufacturers informed.

We are very pleased with our first Industry Roundtable for 2012 and look forward to the ongoing networking and interaction with our industry leaders.  If you would like more information on the Industry Roundtable events or local training opportunities, please contact us at 575.1140 or via email, newvision@ycda.com.

Read the full report here. PDF

Industry leaders gather to discuss common issues

Downtown Workshop

George started with an overview of what makes a successful redevelopment project and really emphasized seeing the community through a visitor’s eyes; and even recommends doing a little ‘secret shopping’ to gauge visual appeal, and customer service.  He stressed the importance of having strong partnerships with local agencies and the business community and celebrating small successes.

Granger Dinosaur

Sharp also mentioned the importance of communication, especially taking advantage of the internet and technology.  He used the example of the dinosaurs throughout Granger, commenting, “How neat would it be to have a kiosk at each one that was set up with a QR code so visitors can use a smart phone to learn more about the community or find out more about each dinosaur?”.

Ms. Hansen told us a little bit about the Main Street program – there are programs in 44 states and over 2,000 designated Main Street Communities throughout the United States.  “Communities have not only put a huge financial investment into their downtowns”, she says, “But downtowns are the heart and soul of a community.  They are worth saving.”  In her work with other communities working to re-energize, redevelop or just retain a core downtown, she noted four essential things to a successful downtown program:

Grandview Alive Plan

 1.  Organization:  As both George and Sarah mentioned, coordinating all parties and having a sense of organization is essential to drive a revitalization effort.  Determining who is doing what, playing upon each groups strengths and getting everyone on the ‘same page’ is important – if one group wants parking and another doesn’t, this could be a problem.  Coming to a consensus and arriving at a compromise may be necessary to move forward.

2.  Promotion:  Both speakers also spoke of the importance of promotion, both within the community and to visitors.  Whether it is having a user-friendly, up-to-date website, common signage, a business directory or something unique to the community, promoting events, the downtown and the community as a whole can have positive results as well. Having a common brochure or map of shops and restaurants can invite visitors to stay longer and enjoy lunch at a local cafe, or visit with a specialty shop owner that they might not have otherwise known about.  Hansen commented that, “It takes 15 seconds for a customer to see what is in your store”, not a lot of time to make a positive first impression.

3.  Design:  The element of design can involve many factors such as:

• Maintenance; (Are garbage cans overflowing? Do shopkeepers keep the sidewalk neat and tidy?)
• Signage; (Is there a common theme for signs?  Are signs visible and inviting?)
• Window Display; (Do shops have eye-catching and inviting?  Are windows clean or cluttered with graffiti or outdated posters?)
• Public Improvements; (Has the community invested in roads, infrastructure, sidewalks, etc.?)
• Building Improvements.  (Are owners encouraged to invest in their property, i.e., painting, awnings, etc.?)

4.  Economic Restructuring:  Many communities struggle to make improvements to downtown infrastructure or signage, and business owners face the same challenges – they would have more customers if they could make investments in their business, but they need more customers (and income) before they can invest in improvements.  Sarah talked about some options and incentive programs that downtown programs can take advantage of.  For example, the Main Street Program has different tiers of membership and participation levels that offer various levels of non-financial support; cities that are designated Main Street Programs can take advantage of a tax incentive; some cities have received Federal block grant funding to offer building improvement programs; and finally, some cities pursue grants for infrastructure improvements to help offset planned costs.

Open for Business

We were thrilled to be able to offer this high quality and interactive workshop as part of our Entrepreneurial Friendly Cities Program.  Both speakers presented some excellent tips for our community leaders.  It’s important for communities to work together, find out what makes their city special and work on ways that they can revitalize and retain a vibrant, thriving downtown core, which in many of Yakima County’s smaller cities, is the lifeline to the community.

Join us to kick off the 2012 Business & Industry Roundtable!

DATE:  Thursday, January 27th

PROGRAM: Overview of Roundtable and Presentation of 2011 Manufacturer’s Survey Report

TIME:  Networking & Coffee begins at 7:00 a.m.; Program starts at 7:30

LOCATION:  New Vision offices, 10 North 9th Street, Yakima.

The New Vision Business & Industry Roundtable is based on similar groups that have organized in other communities to support local manufacturers and key industries.  Starting in January we will organize meetings every other month to focus on issues of importance to local industry.  There will be a half hour at the start of these meeting devoted to networking so we can learn from one another and share our business experience.

Roundtable meetings will be complemented by plant tours.  We plan to visit a number of interesting facilities to see and learn more about local companies.  New Vision plans to invite local education leaders on these tours so that we can all work together to develop (or maintain) training programs that meet local business needs.

Check out the full 2012 calendar of events.  As you can see we will kick the year off on January 27^th by discussing the results of a statewide manufacturers’ survey.  We hope you can join us for this roundtable kickoff meeting or join us at other events scheduled next year.  If you have any questions about New Vision’s business and industry roundtable, please contact Tammy Everts or Dave McFadden at 509-575-1140 (or tammy@ycda.com).

New Vision and the Workforce Development Council are pleased to offer Supervisory Training for our local manufacturers.

This three part series will be held in three half day sessions; supervisors can attend one or all sessions.   Perfect for new supervisors or a great refresher for experienced team members. 

 $125.00 per person (plus small fee for credit card payments) for the series.  We have some funding available to help employers offset costs:  $25 credit per person per class.  Some paperwork required.  Talk to Tammy for more details.

Session 1:  Supervisory skills 101. Thursday, February 9th, 8:00 a.m. to noon.

In the first of the 3 part series we will cover the many aspects of tasks, responsibilities and interpersonal skills fundamental for successful, productive and respected supervisors.

• Improve Work Habits by dealing effectively with some the tough issues…tardiness, mistakes, avoiding work tasks, gossip, while maintaining the self-esteem and gaining the commitment of the team member
• As Supervisor learn to Coach, Develop and Mentor Employees beyond just talking
• Direct and Execute Expectations to get the Results you need
• Delegate, when, to whom, why and how for the process to be effective
• Communicate to establish an atmosphere of openness, trust, respect and accountability
• Learn to use your natural strengths to your advantage
• Get to the root of employee problem behaviors and eliminate them
• Turn problems with difficult employees into positive results
• Holding employees accountable and optimizing productivity

Session 2:  Supervisory skills 201. Thursday, March 1st, 8:00 a.m. to noon.

In this 2nd session of the 3 part series we will begin to cover the legal rights of both the employer and employee.   Additionally the focus will be to organize his/her department and employees, visualize future impacts and needs, energize the employees to get their tasks done and supervise their work, ensuring that the productivity and quality standards are met.

• Understanding and Communicating employee and employer rights – company policy compliance, privacy, searches, monitoring computer use, drug and alcohol testing, employee files
• Dealing with discipline issues, including confidentiality and documentation
• Training & Employee development: job related knowledge, skills and abilities, behaviors and interpersonal relations
• Work and Well-being
• Performance Management; effective feedback, performance rating, goals, rewards, strengths and weaknesses, skills, quality, attitudes
• Employee Retention and Company Culture
• Role-modeling – Walking the Talk

Session 3:  Supervisory skills 301.  Thursday, March 22nd.

In this 3rd session of the 3 part series we will cover more complex issues relating to hiring, firing, harassment, discrimination, and violence in the workplace. Employment law will also be covered, as well as related issues FMLA, ADA and EEO. Confidentiality and documentation protocol will be a focus in this session.

• Plan, organize and control outcomes
• Keys to Coaching & Motivating and Building your successful workforce from performance goals to safety
• Manage complaints, find root causes and resolve problems
• Recognizing and Preventing harassment, discrimination, bullying, intimidation, violence, know your role and responsibilities
• Learn about employment laws related to hiring, firing, promotion, Family and Medical Leave, American with Disabilities Act, Equal Employment Opportunity
• Be familiar with lay-offs, dismissals for cause, resignations, retirement, and your part
• Drug and Alcohol abuse in the workplace
• Injury Prevention and Accident Response
• Investigations, complaints, confidentiality, dotting your I’s and crossing your T’s.
• Support Employees to accept change and thrive. Understand why change happens, typical reactions, and employee struggles
• Communicating with Management and getting Results

All classes will be taught by Diana Welch, SPHR, Human Resources Management Solutions.  Diana has over 20 years of HR experience and working with employers.

DATE:  Thursday, February 23

PLANT TOUR:  Shields Bag & Printing

TIME:  7:00 a.m.

LOCATION:  Shield Bag & Printing, Rock Avenue (Between 1st & 3rd Avenue & Nob Hill Blvd), Yakima.

RSVP YES: Please RSVP to Tammy (575.1140 or tammy@ycda.com) for the tour so we have a general idea how many will be attending.  Thank you!

The New Vision Business & Industry Roundtable is based on similar groups that have organized in other communities to support local manufacturers and key industries.  Starting in January we will organize meetings every other month to focus on issues of importance to local industry.  There will be a half hour at the start of these meeting devoted to networking so we can learn from one another and share our business experience.

Roundtable meetings will be complemented by plant tours.  We plan to visit a number of interesting facilities to see and learn more about local companies.  New Vision plans to invite local education leaders on these tours so that we can all work together to develop (or maintain) training programs that meet local business needs.

Check out the full 2012 calendar of events.  We hope you can join us for this event or any of the others throughout the year.  If you have any questions about New Vision’s business and industry roundtable, please contact Tammy Everts or Dave McFadden at 509-575-1140 (or tammy@ycda.com).

New Vision and the Workforce Development Council are pleased to offer Supervisory Training for our local manufacturers.

This three part series will be held in three half day sessions; supervisors can attend one or all sessions.   Perfect for new supervisors or a great refresher for experienced team members.   

$125.00 per person (plus small fee for credit card payments) for the series; $45 per person per class.  We have some funding available to help employers offset costs:  $25 credit per person per class.  Some paperwork required.  Talk to Tammy for more details.

Session 2:  Supervisory skills 201. Thursday, March 1st, 8:00 a.m. to noon.

In this 2nd session of the 3 part series we will begin to cover the legal rights of both the employer and employee.   Additionally the focus will be to organize his/her department and employees, visualize future impacts and needs, energize the employees to get their tasks done and supervise their work, ensuring that the productivity and quality standards are met.

• Understanding and Communicating employee and employer rights – company policy compliance, privacy, searches, monitoring computer use, drug and alcohol testing, employee files
• Dealing with discipline issues, including confidentiality and documentation
• Training & Employee development: job related knowledge, skills and abilities, behaviors and interpersonal relations
• Work and Well-being
• Performance Management; effective feedback, performance rating, goals, rewards, strengths and weaknesses, skills, quality, attitudes
• Employee Retention and Company Culture
• Role-modeling – Walking the Talk

All classes will be taught by Diana Welch, SPHR, Human Resources Management Solutions.  Diana has over 20 years of HR experience and working with employers.

New Vision and the Workforce Development Council are pleased to offer Supervisory Training for our local manufacturers.

This three part series will be held in three half day sessions; supervisors can attend one or all sessions.   Perfect for new supervisors or a great refresher for experienced team members. 

$125.00 per person (plus small fee for credit card payments) for the series; $45 per person per class.  We have some funding available to help employers offset costs:  $25 credit per person per class.  Some paperwork required.  Talk to Tammy for more details.

Session 3:  Supervisory skills 301.  Thursday, March 22nd, 8 a.m. to noon.   Register for Session 3.

In this 3rd session of the 3 part series we will cover more complex issues relating to hiring, firing, harassment, discrimination, and violence in the workplace. Employment law will also be covered, as well as related issues FMLA, ADA and EEO. Confidentiality and documentation protocol will be a focus in this session.

• Plan, organize and control outcomes
• Keys to Coaching & Motivating and Building your successful workforce from performance goals to safety
• Manage complaints, find root causes and resolve problems
• Recognizing and Preventing harassment, discrimination, bullying, intimidation, violence, know your role and responsibilities
• Learn about employment laws related to hiring, firing, promotion, Family and Medical Leave, American with Disabilities Act, Equal Employment Opportunity
• Be familiar with lay-offs, dismissals for cause, resignations, retirement, and your part
• Drug and Alcohol abuse in the workplace
• Injury Prevention and Accident Response
• Investigations, complaints, confidentiality, dotting your I’s and crossing your T’s.
• Support Employees to accept change and thrive. Understand why change happens, typical reactions, and employee struggles
• Communicating with Management and getting Results

All classes will be taught by Diana Welch, SPHR, Human Resources Management Solutions.  Diana has over 20 years of HR experience and working with employers.

DATE:  Thursday, March 29th

PROGRAM: STEM: A Critical Education Initiative (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).  Read more about STEM and why it’s relevant to the manufacturing industry.

TIME:  Networking & Coffee begins at 7:00 a.m.; Program starts at 7:30

LOCATION:  New Vision offices, 10 North 9th Street, Yakima.

The New Vision Business & Industry Roundtable is based on similar groups that have organized in other communities to support local manufacturers and key industries.  Starting in January we will organize meetings every other month to focus on issues of importance to local industry.  There will be a half hour at the start of these meeting devoted to networking so we can learn from one another and share our business experience.

Roundtable meetings will be complemented by plant tours.  We plan to visit a number of interesting facilities to see and learn more about local companies.  New Vision plans to invite local education leaders on these tours so that we can all work together to develop (or maintain) training programs that meet local business needs.

Check out the full 2012 calendar of events. We hope you can join us for this roundtable meeting or join us at other events scheduled next year.  If you have any questions about New Vision’s business and industry roundtable, please contact Tammy Everts or Dave McFadden at 509-575-1140 (or tammy@ycda.com).

Owners and CEO’s of some of Yakima County’s largest employers are supportive of the new layout and like the year-long calendar.  A letter went out this week from the leaders of Tree Top, Shields, Amtech, GE Aviation, AB Foods and Magic Metals inviting their peers to attend the kickoff event and participate in the roundtable on a regular basis. Local industry outreach is an essential component to New Vision and this enhances efforts to connect with all our manufacturers every couple of years.

The first meeting kicks off in January with a report and discussion on the results of the 2011 statewide manufacturer’s survey. Coffee & networking begins at 7:00 a.m., and the program starts at 7:30; the meeting will be held at New Vision offices, 10 North 9th Street, Yakima.

We will organize meetings every other month to focus on issues of importance to local industry, such as regulatory affairs, conserving resources and workforce training needs .  There will be a half hour at the start of these meeting devoted to networking so company leaders can learn from one another and share their business experience.

Roundtable meetings will be complemented by plant tours.  We plan to visit a number of interesting facilities to see and learn more about local companies.  New Vision plans to invite local education leaders on these tours so that we can continue to work together to develop (or maintain) training programs that meet local business needs.  New Vision will also offer periodic training seminars to accompany roundtable activities. Whether it’s training for supervisors, an introduction to exporting, or a lean manufacturing seminar, we are committed to organizing professional education opportunities for manufacturers and their employees.

Check out the full 2012 calendar of events.  If you have any questions or would like more information about New Vision’s business and industry roundtable, please contact us at 509-575-1140 (or tammy@ycda.com).

We are pleased to announce that three emerging businesses were selected as winners of our second annual business plan contest.  These entrepreneurs were selected by seven judges that met with business plan contestants yesterday.

Washington Vision Therapy Center won New Vision’s Enterprise Challenge and received a check for $10,000.  The specialized eye clinic is located in Yakima.  Dr. Ben Winters is a developmental optometrist who specializes in providing vision therapy to clients with a particular focus on helping kids.  Winters and his staff help patients correct vision problems that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lens alone.  As the business grows, Winters plans to open more local clinics and eventually expand to other areas as well.

Hop Central Brewing Company placed second in the contest and received a check for $5,000.  Hop Central will be a new microbrewery in downtown Yakima.  The company plans to handcraft uniquely hop centered beers which choice hops for the Yakima Valley.

Milt’s Original Gourmet BBQ Pellets took third place in the contest and won $2500.  The Grandview-based company manufacturers flavor enhanced barbeque pellets made from tree fruit wood and food processing wastes.  The company sells one and twenty pound bags of pellets through farm stores, barbeque dealers and other outlets.

The other five final contestants received consolation prizes that can be redeemed for legal or accounting support from local businesses.  “We are thrilled with the results of our business plan contest”, said New Vision’s Tammy Everts.  “All our contestants have enormous potential in terms of launching or running successful local businesses.  If these emerging companies get off the ground according to their plans we should see them add opening or expanding facility and adding a significant number of jobs.”

Dr. Ben Winters, owner of Washington Vision Therapy, was excited to win the contest:  “We benefited tremendously from participating in the business plan contest.  Having over 40 business leaders review our plan and evaluate our business was invaluable.  We learned a lot and the contest gave us very favorable exposure within our community.  The funds we won will be plowed into our business and support our growth over the next year.”

New Vision’s Enterprise Challenge started in September and featured several educational events where contestants could learn more about managing a business.  There was also a coaching round for final contestants where they could get advice from local experts.  The development association is planning to run the contest again next year.  The contest helps anchor our initiative to support local entrepreneurs and we are confident our 2012 contest will be even better.

Posted by David McFadden, YCDA.com