Thurston County Chamber

06/16/2026

What if support for your mental wellness was available anytime you needed it?

Join Doug Foresta of Workforce180 as he sits down with Dr. Tara Deliberto, Ph.D. — co-founder of Yuna.io, author, and scholar — to discuss the new Yuna.io app and how it can help you stay grounded, manage stress, and find calm in everyday moments.

Yuna.io isn't designed to replace real human connection. It's designed to make support and self-care more accessible whenever and wherever you need it.

Don't miss this insightful conversation on the future of mental wellness and digital support tools.

06/15/2026

Celebrating 100 Years!

The Olympia Country and Golf Club is marking a century of community, connection, and recreation in 2026. From golf and pickleball to waterfront views, family events, and unforgettable celebrations, the Club continues to be a place where lasting memories are made.

Here's to the next 100 years!

Read the full story: https://thurstonchamber.com/june-2026-voice-magazine/

06/15/2026

HR professionals, business leaders, and benefits administrators are invited to join SHRM Olympia for an insightful virtual session exploring the latest findings from USI’s 2026 Benefits Benchmarking Study.

This timely presentation will cover key trends impacting employers across the Northwest, including:

• Benefits plan design and contribution trends
• Rising healthcare costs and cost-containment strategies
• Pharmacy and pharmaceutical management updates
• AI’s growing influence on employee benefits
• Marketplace developments and emerging compliance concerns

Attendees will gain practical insights to help navigate evolving benefits challenges and prepare for the year ahead.

🗓 Tuesday, June 16, 2026
⏰ 8:15 – 9:30 a.m.
💻 Virtual via Zoom
🎓 Earn 1 SHRM/HRCI credit

Register today: https://shrmolympia.starchapter.com/meetinginfo.php

📊 Ready to stay ahead of the latest benefits trends? Join us for a high-level overview of USI’s 2026 Benefits Benchmarking Study and explore what’s shaping the future of employee benefits across the Northwest!

During this virtual session, we’ll cover:
✔️ Plan design & contribution trends
✔️ Communication strategies
✔️ Pharmacy & pharmaceutical updates
✔️ Rising renewal pressures & cost containment strategies
✔️ AI’s growing influence on benefits
✔️ Marketplace updates & emerging compliance concerns

🎯 Learning Objectives:
1️⃣ High renewals and cost containment strategies
2️⃣ Pharmaceutical management updates
3️⃣ AI’s influence on benefits
4️⃣ Recent marketplace updates
5️⃣ Emerging compliance concerns

🗓️ June 16, 2026
💻 Virtual Meeting

Don’t miss this timely and informative discussion designed to help HR and benefits professionals prepare for what’s next. Register today!
https://shrmolympia.starchapter.com/meetinginfo.php?id=66&ts=1779997640



SHRM
Washington State SHRM
SHRM Rainier West

06/10/2026

Did you know that more than 6,700 acres of land and nearly 20 miles of shoreline across Thurston, Mason, Grays Harbor, and Lewis counties have been permanently protected through the work of Capitol Land Trust?

For more than 40 years, Capitol Land Trust has been conserving the forests, wetlands, shorelines, and working lands that make the South Sound such a special place to live, work, and play. Their work goes far beyond public nature preserves—protecting critical habitat, restoring ecosystems, and ensuring these lands remain healthy for generations to come.

Through partnerships with landowners, Tribes, local governments, schools, volunteers, and community organizations, Capitol Land Trust is helping connect people to nature while safeguarding the natural beauty that defines our region.

Learn more about their impact, upcoming projects, and vision for the future in the latest issue of The Voice.

🔗 Read more at the link here: https://thurstonchamber.com/june-2026-voice-magazine/

📸 Bufflehead landing at Bayshore Preserve. Capitol Land Trust Executive Director Dave Winter and Communications Manager Mary Kniestedt (photo by Shanna Paxton Photography); Bayshore Preserve.

06/09/2026

The Chamber wants to thank commenters for staying engaged, expressing their concerns, and helping us understand just how significant the West Bay Yards project is to our community.

We recognize that Olympia is constrained by the Growth Management Act (GMA) and the legal requirement to accommodate growth within urbanized areas. We recognize that compliance with the GMA will necessitate greater density. We recognize that greater density will result in more people living, working, and enjoying our urban core. And we recognize that greater density may lead to what many have identified as their top concern: increased traffic.

First, before it can be approved, the project must meet the City's requirements for a multimodal transportation system designed to accommodate greater density along the West Bay Drive corridor. Second, as a mixed-use development, West Bay Yards incorporates connectivity to multiple transportation options—not only as an amenity, but also as a way to meet transportation requirements.

Will traffic increase? Probably.

Is some level of increased traffic anticipated under the GMA? Yes.

Will this project provide alternatives to driving and support a more connected transportation network? Absolutely.

06/08/2026

How complicated is the approval process for West Bay Yards?

Just for fun, we ran the staff report written for the Hearings Examiner hearing (1.WBY-Staff Report.pdf ) through an AI tool and asked: “list all the city rules, regulations, and requirements the developer addresses”. Here is what we got:

1. Olympia Municipal Code (OMC)
A. OMC Title 14 – Environmental Policy (SEPA)
B. OMC Title 16 – Buildings & Construction
OMC 16.60 – Tree, Soil & Native Vegetation Protection
· Requires 30 tree units per acre, 50% in Soil & Vegetation Protection Areas (SVPA).
· Trees must meet OMC definitions for size and species.
OMC 16.70 – Flood Damage Prevention
· Habitable structures must be 1 ft above Base Flood Elevation.
OMC 16.80 – Sea Level Rise Flood Damage Prevention
· Requires SLR resiliency to 16' NAVD88.

Fire Access Standards (OMC 16.05, 16.32–16.46)
· Fire lane widths, turning radii, hydrant spacing, and apparatus access apply.

C. OMC Title 17 – Boundary Line Adjustments
· OMC 17.30 governs BLA requirements; project completed a BLA in 2022.

D. OMC Title 18 – Unified Development Code

OMC 18.06 – Urban Waterfront Zoning

· Permitted uses, height limits/bonuses, view corridors, building coverage.

OMC 18.12 – Cultural Resources

· Requires tribal consultation and DAHP coordination.

OMC 18.20 – Shoreline Master Program (SMP) Includes:

· Shoreline Substantial Development Permit (SSDP)

· Shoreline Conditional Use Permit (SCUP)

· No Net Loss of ecological function (18.20.410)

· Public access requirements (18.20.450–460)

· Vegetation conservation (18.20.490–496)

· View protection (18.20.500–507)

· Lighting standards (18.20.680)

· Fill standards (18.20.830–837)

Restoration & enhancement (18.20.850–855)
Shoreline stabilization (18.20.860–864)
OMC 18.32 – Critical Areas

Important habitats, geologic hazards, and shoreline‑related critical areas.
OMC 18.36 – Landscaping
· 24" soil depth, 80% vegetative coverage within 3 years.
OMC 18.38 – Parking
· Vehicle and bicycle parking minimums.

OMC 18.100 / 18.110 / 18.155 – Design Review
· West Bay design standards, pedestrian orientation, massing, articulation.
E. OMC Titles 10, 12, 13 – Engineering Standards
· Street standards, utilities, right‑of‑way requirements.
· Applies to West Bay Drive frontage improvements and trail connections.

F. OMC 12.16 – Right‑of‑Way Vacation
· Must meet criteria in RCW 35.79.035 for any ROW vacation.

2. Engineering Design & Development Standards (EDDS)

· EDDS 2.040 – West Bay Drive frontage requirements.
· EDDS 4 – Shared‑use paths and trail standards.
· EDDS 5 – Stormwater standards (via DDECM).
· EDDS 6 & 7 – Water and sewer infrastructure.
· EDDS 8 – Solid waste enclosure and access.

3. Drainage Design & Erosion Control Manual (DDECM)
· Project must comply with the 2022 DDECM, including stormwater treatment, flow control, and erosion control.
4. Comprehensive Plan Policies
· Land Use: GL1, PL1.2, PL1.5
· Transportation: GT4, PT4.3, PT9.2
· Parks & Trails: PR4.5, PR5.2, PR5.4
· Shoreline Policies: PN12.11.F, PN12.11.J, PN12.26.D–F

5. State & Federal Regulations

· RCW 90.58 – Shoreline Management Act
· WAC 173‑27 – Shoreline Permits
· MTCA Agreed Order (DE 21726) – Toxic cleanup requirements
· U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Section 10/404 permits (if applicable)
· WDFW Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA)
· DAHP – Archaeological/cultural resource requirements
Wow! That is quite a list. Let’s applaud the developer and their team for successfully meeting all the above regulations to the City’s requirements!

06/06/2026

“The Squaxin Island Tribe believes that the West Bay Yards project, as presented, will provide positive environmental benefit to Budd Inlet and the Southern Salish Sea.” - Kris Peters, Chairman, Squaxin Island Tribal Council

“West Bay Yards successfully incorporates all the different interests of our broad and diverse community.” - Amy Harding, Former Commissioner, Port of Olympia

“This is exactly the type of project envisioned by nearly every city council member since 2001.” - Doug Mah, Former Mayor, City of Olympia

“No other project in the foreseeable future will address our region’s need for both housing and environmental clean-up like West Bay Yards.” - David Schaffert, President/CEO, Thurston Chamber

06/01/2026

Will West Bay Yards allow public access?

Yes. West Bay Yards is a proposed mixed‑use project. The shoreline restoration includes a large public esplanade connecting to parks, viewing platforms, and public recreation areas. The Thurston Chamber supports projects that combine more housing, environmental cleanup, and public access to Budd Inlet.

05/31/2026

Will West Bay Yards help Budd Inlet?

Yes. West Bay Yards is a major new waterfront development planned for West Bay Drive, on the site of the former Hardel Plywood facility that burned down in 1996. Before construction begins, the team will restore the shoreline, create a natural tidal beach, and restore habitat for salmon and other marine life. This $4 million restoration effort, paid by the developer, is based on the City of Olympia’s West Bay Environmental Restoration Assessment.

05/30/2026

Will West Bay Yards address our housing crisis?

Yes. The project includes 478 new desirable market-rate residential units for the region, and we need all types of housing. West Bay Yards is a proposed mixed‑use project that would bring new homes, commercial space, and major shoreline restoration to Olympia’s westside waterfront. The Thurston Chamber likes how this project brings more housing to the region.

📸Artist rendering of the project.