Cutting Costs of Doing Business

Washington Manufacturing Services (WMS)
WMS is a not-for-profit organization focused on helping manufacturers in Washington compete. WMS offers a variety of services, including consulting regarding lean manufacturing, plant layout, etc. A local WMS representative can work with you to identify improvement areas and process changes to make your firm more competitive.

Business Energy Efficiency Programs from Puget Sound Energy
Puget Sound Energy (PSE) offers free energy audits to its business clients to help them lower their energy costs and has incentive funding for commercial and industrial electric and natural gas customers who install cost-effective modifications to existing electrical and mechanical systems for energy efficiency. Each project is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Business Services & Efficiency Programs from Tacoma Power
Tacoma Power offers free energy audits to its business clients to help them lower their energy costs as well as rebates on energy efficient refrigerators, lighting, and industrial transformers. They also offer design assistance for energy efficient building projects.

Lakeview Light and Power Rebate Program
Customers of Lakeview Light and Power can now take advantage of rebates that help cover up to 70% the installation cost for energy efficient lighting retrofits in non-residential buildings. Program managers say they have seen retrofits save manufacturing companies upwards of 40% on their lighting bills.

Peninsula Light
Peninsula Light offers a commercial lighting program to its customers that agree to update lighting to improve energy efficiency. Under the program Peninsula Light will pay for engineering costs associated with the lighting upgrade when the business pays fixture and installation cost.

County Regulatory Concerns
Joe Phillips in Pierce County's Economic Development Division is the Assistant to the County Executive for Business Services. He can help businesses who are having permitting challenges with Pierce County. Joe can be contacted at 253-798-9813 or jphilli@co.pierce.wa.us.

Assistance with Environmental Rules and Regulations
The Environmental Coalition of South Seattle (ECOSS) is non-profit resource team working for companies to help them navigate environmental and safety related requirements. These services are free of charge and confidential to your company. A representative at ECOSS is available to assist you with devising a plan that will give guidance on how to prevent potential issues, guidance on what regulatory divisions are looking for and suggestions on preventative measures to reduce inspection fees/fines.