AWB partnered
with the U.S.
Chamber of
Commerce to host
the first-ever Early
Childhood Learning
event in April.
“It has been a
very rewarding
experience. You
feel that you’ve
been heard. We
actually made
a difference.”
stephanie swanberg,
government affairs
manager, tri-cities
regional chamber
of commerce, said of
her participation in
awb’s legislative day
and hill climb
pg. 18
the grassroots voice
The AWB – Local Chamber Grassroots Alliance,
which grew to include more than 80 chambers
of commerce throughout Washington state,
proved to be a tremendous asset again in 2018.
As the new statewide Paid Family and
Medical Leave program geared up, members
of the Grassroots Alliance attended AWB
webinars explaining the program and
encouraged their members to do the same
throughout the year. They also disseminated
AWB issue briefs on the program to ensure
their member employers had a quality
resource to prepare their business and
employees for the first phase of the program.
of Labor and Industries on new Executive,
Administrative and Professional Overtime
Rulemaking that begin in April. A seat at
the table — and encouraging their member
businesses to offer feedback — has kept the
employer voice front and center.
Many of them also participated in AWB’s
events throughout the year, testified before
the Legislature and advocated alongside AWB
for policies to improve their communities and
support job creation.
Whether a local chamber with a volunteer
staff, an ethnic chamber, or a large chamber
with a wealth of resources, AWB’s Grassroots
The same can be said for the Alliance’s work to Alliance proves the strength of AWB comes
engage with AWB and the state Department
from the people it serves.