what ’ s working
Stronger Together
AWB ’ s Grassroots Alliance celebrates 10 years of advocacy , support and community-building .
Debbie Ritenour
Over the last decade , AWB ’ s Grassroots Alliance has more than quadrupled its membership while expanding its services and support to chambers of commerce throughout Washington .
At A Glance
AWB ’ s Grassroots Alliance was established in 2014 with
25 chamber members from across the state .
Today , the alliance has 113 members .
Members receive tools and resources from AWB to help strengthen and support their advocacy efforts on behalf of
Washington employers .
Dru Garson , center , leads AWB ’ s chamber relations . He was joined by a few of the 100-plus members of the Grassroots Alliance during their annual meeting in 2023 during AWB ’ s Spring Meeting .
When 25 chambers of commerce throughout Washington came together in 2014 to form AWB ’ s Grassroots Alliance , little did they know the power they were about to unleash . Today , the 113-memberstrong coalition plays a critical role in ensuring employers ’ voices are heard at the local , state and federal levels .
“ As an individual chamber , your voice is important ,” said AWB Director of Chamber Relations Dru Garson . “ But as
“ Learning about the potential impact of proposed legislation on businesses in different areas of the state makes our advocacy work more robust and more inclusive .”
— Andrea Reay , president and CEO of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber
a member of the Grassroots Alliance , you ’ re able to amplify your voice . There ’ s power in numbers .”
Garson notes that the relationship between AWB and the Grassroots Alliance is mutually beneficial . Grassroots Alliance members benefit from AWB ’ s advocacy expertise , while AWB benefits from members ’ insights and experiences .
“ We have a really strong system of chambers throughout Washington state ,” Garson said . “ We learn from them just as much as they learn from us . The future is bright for the Grassroots Alliance .”
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