Business

Kent Downtown Partnership Breakfast Hour is Feb. 11 at ShoWare Center

The Kent Downtown Partnership is having its next Downtown Breakfast Hour 7 a.m. Feb. 11 at the Kent ShoWare Center. Called "Time to Rise and Thrive," the morning program will have several element, including the introduction of new Kent Police Chief Ken Thomas, updates on the city-owned ShoWare Center, the status of the city's part-way built parking garage, and Green River Community College's Kirk Davis, speaking about how local businesses can "rise and thrive" in the current economy.

  • Feb 4, 2011
  • BY Wire Service
Giant sandbags line the Green River levee at Three Friends Fishing Hole in late December. The city of Kent is getting the levees evaluated by private firms to ensure flood protection and to meet federal standards for certification.

Flood-map meeting Feb. 7 in Kent: See how preliminary federal maps could affect your flood insurance

Kent residents and business owners near the Green River will soon find out how new preliminary Federal Emergency Management Agency flood-insurance maps could impact them. FEMA will present the new flood maps at an open house from 6-8 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Kent Senior Activity Center, 600 E. Smith St.

Giant sandbags line the Green River levee at Three Friends Fishing Hole in late December. The city of Kent is getting the levees evaluated by private firms to ensure flood protection and to meet federal standards for certification.
George Patterson opened Self-Serve Garage January in Kent

Self-Serve Garage in Kent offers space, tools, info for doing your own repairs

For George Patterson, it was the sticker shock. The former Army medic needed a tune-up for his Jeep Grand Cherokee, and learned it would cost the hefty sum of $600 at a repair shop. But if he did it himself, it would be only $200-$300.

George Patterson opened Self-Serve Garage January in Kent

Interested in running your own 7-Eleven store? Seminar scheduled in Kent

To anyone who's ever considered owning a franchise store, an upcoming seminar in Kent could help point the way. A 7-Eleven franchise seminar will run 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 27, at a Kent 7-Eleven office located at 20819 72nd Ave. S., Suite 800.

  • Jan 11, 2011
  • BY Wire Service

Technology firm opens new location in Kent

Pacific Network Technologies Corporation, a leading provider of support for SKYLINE software, Property Management Accounting Solutions, and Information Technology for real estate, earlier this month announced the opening of an office in Kent.

  • Jan 10, 2011
  • BY Wire Service

AAA Washington locates facility in Kent

AAA Washington has opened a branch office in Kent. The insurance agency, based in Bellevue, is continuing its goal of having AAA offices in communities that are most convenient to members by opening a new insurance-only office in Kent. AAA offers a full line of personal insurance products - home, auto, life, travel, renters, umbrella, watercraft - from a variety of companies.

  • Jan 10, 2011
  • BY Wire Service
State Attorney General Rob McKenna.

The time to tackle gang activity is now, State AG Rob McKenna stresses

Gang activity is on the rise. Less than two weeks ago outside Southcenter Mall, a gang confrontation resulted in gunfire and a multi-agency police response. A day later, a few miles down the road in Maple Valley, a 19-year-old man and 16-year-old girl were injured in a gang-related shooting on the Lake Wilderness Trail.

  • Jan 7, 2011
  • BY Wire Service
State Attorney General Rob McKenna.
Kent Realtor Marti Reed.

Local Realtor Marti Reeder earns five-star billing in Seattle magazine

In the December 2010 issue of Seattle magazine, Kent Realtor® Marti Reeder of John L. Scott was named a Five Star Real Estate Agent for Overall Satisfaction.

  • Dec 28, 2010
  • BY Wire Service
Kent Realtor Marti Reed.

Nominations being accepted for Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award

National Guard and Reserve members and their families across Washington have the opportunity to give the gift of thanks to civilian employers who go above and beyond in support of their military service by nominating them for the 2011 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.

  • Dec 20, 2010
  • BY Wire Service

Kent Station site of community Christmas Giving tree

Kent Station is sharing the holiday spirit this season by giving back to children and families in the community. In partnership with BECU, Calvary Community Church, Project U(th), and Kiwanis Key Club, Kent Station is sponsoring a Giving Tree, accepting donations for holiday meals for families in need, and offering a gift-wrapping station.

  • Dec 16, 2010
  • BY Wire Service

Learn about Block Watch for businesses in Kent at Dec. 9 meeting

Learn about keeping an eye out for crime and protecting your business Thursday. The Kent Downtown Partnership is sponsoring a community crime-prevention meeting from 9-10 a.m. at Maggie's on Meeker (307 W. Meeker.)

  • Dec 8, 2010
  • BY Wire Service

Open house Thursday at Pacific Metal Fabrication in Kent

Pacific Metal Fabrication, Inc., will be hosting an open house from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, at their manufacturing-operations center in Kent. The facility is located at 833 First Ave. S. This 19,000-square-foot fabrication space is nearly double the size of the company's previous shop space in Pacific.

  • Nov 29, 2010
  • BY Wire Service

Valley Cities Counseling of Kent has grand reopening celebration Dec. 2

Valley Cities Counseling and Consultation is having a grand reopening celebration of its Kent location at 3:30-5:30 p.m. at its office at 325 W. Gowe St. Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke will cut the grand-opening ribbon at 4 p.m. The event will be catered by locally owned Kona Kai Coffee Co. The public is invited to drop by to meet Valley Cities staff, as well as to see the newly remodeled building. Valley Cities is a community behaviora

  • Nov 29, 2010
  • BY Wire Service
Santa Claus and  Mrs. Claus give Debra Brewer the naughty or nice test before she and her family went to Santa’s house for photos last November at Kent Station. Santa’s House will open this weekend at the retail shopping complex

Black Friday opens holiday shopping season: Kent Station geared up for shoppers

The biggest shopping season of the year was right around the corner, and earlier this week, a regional retail complex in Kent was gearing up with high hopes. “Obviously Black Friday is a big day for us,” said John Hinds, general manager of Kent Station, of the day that officially opened the Christmas shopping season. “This is really our time of the year.” The recession may be alive and well, but for Kent Station, Hinds said, business actually has been up – “we’re really happy – our comparison sales have been in the double digits all year,” he said. “This is a very good sign – not only for Kent Station, but also the economy.”

Santa Claus and  Mrs. Claus give Debra Brewer the naughty or nice test before she and her family went to Santa’s house for photos last November at Kent Station. Santa’s House will open this weekend at the retail shopping complex
Collision technician Kevin Johnson works Nov. 4 on the van that will be donated to Food Lifeline at Precision Collision Auto Body.

Local businesses put wheels on their donation to Food Lifeline

The reward of work took a new twist for Kevin Johnson as he helped repair a 1999 Ford Windstar van last week inside a Kent body shop along Pacific Highway South. Johnson, a technician at Precision Collision Auto Body, joined fellow employees and other businesses to repair the van as a donation to Food Lifeline, a nonprofit group based in Shoreline that distributes to food banks across Western Washington.

Collision technician Kevin Johnson works Nov. 4 on the van that will be donated to Food Lifeline at Precision Collision Auto Body.

Newly formed Education Committee connects business, school communities

One of the Kent Chamber of Commerce's newest committees meets 2 p.m. Dec. 7. The Education Committee is "dedicated to strengthening the partnership between local business community and education creating proactive partnerships, thereby contributing to the attractiveness of Kent as a place to live and work," according to a description on the chamber's Web site.

  • Nov 18, 2010
  • BY Wire Service
The Seattle Thunderbirds are a Western Hockey League franchise based in Kent

Kent Chamber Night with the T-Birds is Jan. 14 – chamber selling tickets now

The Kent Chamber of Commerce is hosting "Chamber Night with the Seattle Thunderbirds Hockey Team" at the T-Birds' Jan. 14 game against the Everett Silvertips at the Kent ShoWare Center.

  • Nov 18, 2010
  • BY Wire Service
The Seattle Thunderbirds are a Western Hockey League franchise based in Kent

Grand opening at Capital Accounting & Tax Services

Capital Accounting & Tax Services will have a grand-opening ceremony 4 p.m. Dec. 1 at its location at 524 West Meeker, Suite 6. Mayor Suzette Cooke will be on hand for a 5 p.m. ribbon-cutting. Business leaders are encouraged to attend, as well as anyone interested in Capital Accounting & Tax Services' ownership and employees.

  • Nov 18, 2010
  • BY Wire Service
Kent School Superintendent Edward Lee Vargas delivers his state of the school district address during the Nov. 3 Kent Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

Kent schools chief promotes district strategy plan

Kent Schools Superintendent Edward Lee Vargas emphasized at a Kent Chamber of Commerce luncheon the importance of the district's new strategic plan now under development. Vargas covered many topics during his State of the School District speech at the Nov. 3 event at the Meridian Valley Country Club in Kent. But the strategic plan for the next decade looms as a key project.

Kent School Superintendent Edward Lee Vargas delivers his state of the school district address during the Nov. 3 Kent Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

Kent Downtown Partnership hosts talent contest

Kent Downtown Partnership is hosting its own local talent contest 7-9 p.m. Jan. 29 at the Kent Senior Activity Center. Organizers are looking for talent and sponsors.

  • Nov 9, 2010
  • BY Wire Service