Jun 30, 2020

Dana Kindberg Optometry

Kindberg

In Redmond, Dana Kindberg Optometry is launching Sports Vision Academy, a new venture that trains athletes to receive and process visual information faster and more accurately. The program begins with a visual acuity test to address any existing vision deficits, then an individual performance baseline is developed to create an athletic profile specific to the sports each patient plays. Other markers such as eye movement, brain processing and reaction time are also measured and tracked.

Seattle Art Museum

Effective Sunday, the Seattle Art Museum will begin furloughs and reductions in staff hours as a result of the pandemic. The museum, along with the Asian Art Museum and Paccar Pavilion at Olympic Sculpture Park, has been closed since March 12. SAM has been paying regular wages to all staff since the closures due to donations and a $2.8 million Paycheck Protection Program loan. SAM said it will maintain health insurance for its staff through the end of September. It is working towards a July 31 reopening, but that could change given the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic.

Arcimoto

Eugene, Oregon-based electric vehicle maker Arcimoto will retire all of its convertible promissory notes with the repayment of about $769,000 of its notes and the conversion of $1.4 million of debt to equity at $4.25 per share. This comes in addition to the $3.45 million senior secured note that was repaid on June 15. The moves leave the company debt free, except for $1.6 million in equipment capital lease financing.

PotlatchDeltic

Spokane-based PotlatchDeltic agreed to sell about 72,000 acres in Minnesota to The Conservation Fund for about $48 million. The deal is expected to close later this year. PotlatchDeltic has a long-term strategy to maximize shareholder value through rural real estate sales. It said nearly all of its ownership in Minnesota is under contract, with a series of closings scheduled to occur through 2022. PotlatchDeltic is a REIT that owns 1.8 million acres of timberlands in several states.

Port of Seattle

The Port of Seattle formed a partnership with five local nonprofits in an effort to save youth jobs for the summer and beyond. The port's Opportunity Initiative aims to provide summer jobs for 220 youth, ages 16 to 24, who have been adversely affected by the pandemic. Youth unemployment was around 25% in May, according to the port. The $1.5 million initiative is funding job programs at Seattle Goodwill, Seattle Parks Foundation, Partners in Employment, The Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee, and Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle.

Jun 26, 2020

Traction Guest

Metcalfe

Traction Guest CEO Keith Metcalfe won a Stevie award as “Maverick of the Year” in the Business Services Industries category. The award was part of the 2020 American Business Awards program, which had over 3,600 nominations. Seattle-based Traction Guest operates a cloud-based visitor management service.

Perkins Coie

In Seattle, Perkins Coie hired David Daggett as a partner in its Technology Transactions & Privacy practice. Daggett's practice includes complex technology and related commercial transactions, with a focus on cloud-based products and services, intellectual property, commercial issues in mergers and acquisitions, and technical standard setting. He previously was a partner at Davis Wright Tremaine.

Loge Co.

Outdoor lifestyle hotel group Loge Co. on July 1 will reopen its five properties in Washington, Oregon, California and Colorado. In response to the pandemic, the company has instigated steps that include contactless check-in and room entry, deep cleaning of rooms before and after visits, do-it-yourself housekeeping kits, redesigned outdoor spaces for physical distancing, mandatory mask use for staff and vendors, and pre-shift physical and mental health checks for staff.

Arcimoto

Eugene, Oregon-based electric vehicle maker Arcimoto is partnering with lean design expert Munro & Associates to evaluate Arcimoto's manufacturing processes and supply chain in order to drive down costs and accelerate production. Arcimoto is now taking pre-orders for its three-wheel vehicles from West Coast commuters and fleet operators.

Korean Women's Association

Pierce County Human Services issued a $555,800 grant to the Korean Women's Association to help people impacted by COVID-19 pay their rent. The grant comes from the Coronavirus Relief Fund of the CARES Act. These funds will allow KWA to provide $800 worth of rental assistance for 200 Pierce County households over three months. KWA provides services to diverse communities in 11 western Washington counties.