“ We paid small businesses to perform services for people whose lives were adversely impacted by the pandemic , or as a result of the economic downturn it caused . Services included things like providing free dental care , auto body work , home maintenance , even free meals for first responders and front line workers . The idea at the time was to help small businesses ramp up following several months of closure , and at the same time , help people who were negatively impacted by the pandemic . In total , we were able to engage about 350 small businesses across the northwest , and Columbia picked up the cost , with in aggregate of about $ 600,000 .”
— Andy McDonald , EVP , chief credit officer , Columbia Bank
Finalists :
Heritage Distilling Company , Inc . Jubilant HollisterStier
Washington Resiliency Award
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health was one of the first providers to offer free virtual urgent care during the pandemic , helping more than 13,000 patients . Ten triage centers tested more than 108,000 patients for Covid . And the company ’ s Benaroya Research Institute led to a clinical trial of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine . The company also supported several large-scale vaccination sites and community partnerships . Altogether , VMFH vaccinated more than 370,000 people .
“ When the pandemic first started , we took immediate steps to ensure continued access to care for our patients , and I ’ m proud to say Virginia Mason Franciscan Health was one of the first in the country to offer free virtual care to all . We stood up 10 Covid-19 triage centers and screened and tested over 100,000 patients in just five months . When vaccines became available , we partnered with businesses community , organizations and churches to reach the most vulnerable in our communities .”
— Eric Wymore , vice president of Pharmacy Services , Virginia Mason Franciscan Health hospitals
Finalists :
Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories , Inc . STCU
AWB also formally presented its Legislator of the Year Award and recognized Washington ’ s outstanding manufacturers , who received awards last month during AWB ’ s Manufacturing Week bus tour .
Legacy of Leadership : Gary Chandler , Brad Tilden Legislator of the Year : State Sen . Curtis King , R-Yakima Manufacturer of the Year : Vaughan Co . Manufacturing Excellence Award for Operational Excellence : Penn Cove Shellfish
Manufacturing Excellence Award for Green Manufacturing : Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Manufacturing Excellence Award for Innovation : SIGMADESIGN
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