Pierce County Council Introduces Small Business Security and Safety Program to Tackle Rising Crime Rates
In response to escalating crime rates and the economic challenges faced by small businesses in Pierce County, the Pierce County Council has introduced Ordinance No. 2023-69, establishing the Pierce County Small Business Security and Safety Program. Sponsored by Council members Amy Cruver, Paul Herrera, and Dave Morell and requested by the County Executive's Office and Economic Development Department, the ordinance aims to address the surge in property and business-related crimes, particularly in unincorporated areas and small cities and towns.
The ordinance highlights a substantial increase in call volumes and serious crimes experienced by the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department last year. Property and business-related crimes have surged, negatively affecting commerce, livelihoods, and community well-being. Some of alarming statistics for 2022 include a 21 percent increase in non-residential burglaries, a 71 percent increase in armed robberies, and a 96 percent increase in motor vehicle thefts in unincorporated Pierce County compared to the previous five years.
The ordinance states the following figures for 2022.
Whereas, in 2022, more than 800 non-residential burglaries, 130 commercial
28 robberies, 123 shoplifting incidents, and over 600 fraud and forgery incidents were
29 reported in unincorporated Pierce County;
To address these challenges, the ordinance establishes the Pierce County Small Business Security and Safety Grant Program. Administered by the Pierce County Economic Development Department, the program aims to assist small businesses in unincorporated areas or small cities and towns by providing grants to improve security and safety measures. The grants will reimburse 50 percent of eligible costs, up to $20,000 per applicant, for physical changes to business premises, such as lighting, alarms, cameras, secure entrance doors, fencing, and other devices that enhance safety and security. These improvements will enable law enforcement to respond more efficiently to public safety issues.
Eligibility for the program is limited to small and micro-stage businesses with no more than twenty employees that have been in operation for at least two years. Businesses must be located in unincorporated Pierce County or within a city or town in Pierce County with a population of less than 8,000 people as of April 1, 2023. The selection process will consider various factors, including the applicant’s business sector, geographic equity, participation in previous grant programs, and the prevalence of criminal activity near their business.
The Economic Development Department will provide periodic reports to the Pierce County Council, documenting the program’s activities, participant demographics, grants awarded, and other measures of program performance. The ordinance is set to become effective on January 1, 2024.
With the introduction of this program, Pierce County aims to create safer environments for businesses, employees, customers, and the broader community while fostering economic stability and growth in the region.
