Mission

The Covington Chamber of Commerce is committed to actively promoting a strong local community.

Vision

To enhance the demand for local business in our community through partnerships that foster a strong economy.

It all started in 1992...

In 1992, the City of Covington was not yet established as an official municipality. A group of local business owners had an idea and a passion to create Covington as a clearly defined, separate city from neighboring cities. Working with the local post office, the group was able to make their mission a reality by forming the Covington, Washington Chamber of Commerce, a 501(c)6 nonprofit, on July 2, 1992.

With business and community support, this group of visionary leaders - including some who remain actively involved today - worked diligently to develop an initial identity for Covington. In 1997, the City of Covington was born and had a strong foundation of local business representatives and community individuals supporting and partnering together to make Covington the best place to live, work, shop and play!

Since those early days, the Covington Chamber has grown and evolved, along with the changing in times. In 2017, for example, the Chamber became a virtual operation, resulting in significant cost savings while still being able to serve our members. In 2020, we helped our businesses and community weather the pandemic, and we continue to adapt as needed to provide the support our businesses need and want.

A timeline

Our Chamber has a rich history in the Covington community. Here are highlights from the past 30 years.

• 1992: The Covington Chamber of Commerce was founded.
• 1996: The Covington Chamber creates a scholarship administered by the Kent Community Foundation for a local student planning to attend a two- or four-year school to study business.
• 2002: The City of Covington and Covington Chamber created the Covington Economic Development Council known as CEDC (pronounced see-dis). CEDC consists of five members appointed by the City of Covington and five members appointed by the Covington Chamber.
• 2006: The South Sound Chambers of Commerce Legislative Coalition (SSCCLC) was created under the leadership of Sam Pace, Shaunta Hyde, Gary Nomensen and Tom Pierce. Seven local chambers of commerce were initially involved: Auburn, Covington, Enumclaw, Federal Way, Fife, Kent and Puyallup/Sumner. 
• 2008: The Covington Chamber joined the Washington Chamber of Commerce Executives (WCCE).
• 2012: Racing legend Mario Andretti helped a Covington, Washington business open their doors. We have an autographed hat in our archives to commemorate that occasion.
• 2017: The Covington Chamber became a virtual operation.
  
• 2018: The Covington Chamber of Commerce joined the Association of Washington Business (AWB), including the Grassroots Alliance, a group of fellow chambers of commerce and associations.
  
• 2022: ​The Covington Chamber joined the Washington Festival and Events Association (WFEA).
  

"If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself."

~ Henry Ford

2021 Achievements

Like 2020, 2021 has presented us with many challenges — COVID, labor shortages, supply chain issues, etc. But that didn’t stop the Covington Chamber, our board, members, volunteers and staff from making it the best year it could be! Here are some of the amazing things we accomplished as a team in 2021:

• Added 17 new members and two returning members
• Added 3 new board members: Mark Smith, Multicare; George Frasier, Green River College and Green River College Foundation; Elaine Cruzat, Eat the Frog Fitness
• Received a disaster relief grant for $18,854 from state funds and facilitated by AWB
• Received $7,167 in PPP2 funds to use toward payroll
• Put $6,000 in our Good Work Fund thanks to our 17 high-level sponsors
• Awarded our first $2,350 scholarship from our Veterans’ Spouse Scholarship to assist a veteran spouse in going back to school to earn a nursing degree
• Awarded three Covington Chamber scholarships totaling $10,000
• Hosted five ribbon cuttings: Ristretto’s Coffee & Wine Bar, Eat the Frog Fitness, Vineyard Park of Covington, Nana’s Southern Kitchen and The Door Organics
• Launched a job board, free for members
• Delivered 28 PPE kits to area businesses most affected by new vaccine verification requirements
• Organized and promoted a COVID Town Hall hosted by Valley Medical Center and Multicare
• Launched the Clean, Safe, Welcome City committee to improve Covington for residents, visitors and businesses
• Hosted virtual and in-person luncheons and happy hour events

Thanks to everyone who contributed to our success in some way in 2021. We appreciate your support of our mission and of the Covington community!