The Washington Retail Association (WRA) retained Washington Economics Group (WEG) to quantify the economic impacts of a proposed Back to School Sales Tax Holiday in the State of Washington. WEG studied a proposed three-day holiday that would occur in August covering clothing items priced at less than $75 and school supply items priced at less than $10.

Next year, the Washington Retail Association is planning on running a "Sales Tax Holiday" for back to school shopping time which they believe will be good for families, good for the tax base and good for retailers. The WRA will be looking for Washington Chambers to support their efforts in seeing this legislation passed.

Click here for a copy of the analysis of costs and benefits of a back to school sales tax holiday in Washington state, CLICK HERE.  For additional more information about the "Sales Tax Holiday", you can contact:

P: (360)943-9198 or (800)752-9552

Jan Teague, President/CEO - ext.19
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Mark Johnson, VP of Government Affairs - ext. 15
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Congratulations to Patti Mullen who was hired as the President/CEO of the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce starting January 1st.  Patti has been the executive director of the West Seattle Chamber for the last eight years and an active member of the WCCE as well.  She takes over for Tom Pierson who was recently hired as the President/CEO of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber earlier this year.  For more information about this, click here.

WCCE is pleased to welcome Kelly Parker of the Vancouver Chamber, Matt Bott of the Issaquah Chamber, Stephanie Hamilton of the Anacortes Chamber and Debbie Doran-Martinez of the Moses Lake Chamber to the board of directors for 2011-12. Coming back for another term on the board is Tom Pierson, now with the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber.

Leaving the WCCE Board is Rick Winsman of the Kelso-Longview Chamber, LeRoy Tipton of the Grays Harbor Chamber, Brent Erickson of the Camas-Washougal Chamber and David Schaffert of the Thurston County Chamber. Rick and LeRoy will also be retiring from their respective Chambers at the end of this year. It is with much gratitude that we say “Thank you” and all the best to these superb Chamber professionals and leaders!