On July 19, the Thurston Economic Development Council (EDC) held an old-fashioned BBQ & Hootenanny! That’s right – delicious food, drinks, hay bales, a

Congratulations to Debra Van Tuinen of Van Tuinen Art, winner of the Small Business Economic Courage Award.

Cornhole Tournament, Bluegrass music from Runaway Train, and hippity-hop races featuring local celebrities.

“We gave out awards to organizations that have shown ‘Economic Courage, ’ including fortitude, perseverance and success in an ever-changing business climate,” said Michael Cade, Thurston EDC’s Executive Director.

What is Economic Courage? Economic courage could be defined as a leader, a business, nonprofit and or organization that, while facing economic uncertainty and a radical retraction of “business as usual,” took extraordinary steps to provide a service, a product, and or a support service that made a positive impact to the community and or employees of their organization. These are individuals that took economic risks to continue to provide a service, product and or resource in the face of unprecedented economic uncertainty. Showing the ability to adapt, change and thrive during a time of uncertainty.

Congratulations to the 2022 Economic Courage Award Winners:
Agricultural Business: Olympia Farmers Market
New Business: Shiplap Quilt Shop and Coffee House
Non-Profit Business: Northwest Cooperative Development Center
Small Business: Van Tuinen Art
Large Business: Crown Beverage Packaging North America

We celebrate all of our 2022 Economic Courage Nominees for their contributions to our community:

Small Business Nominees

• Archibald Sisters
• A&E Relocation Services
• Browsers Bookshop
• The Brotherhood Lounge
• Captain Little
• Chicory
• Delmonico’s Butcher Shop
• Encore Chocolates
• Event Support
• Exit Puzzles
• Firefly Yoga
• Miss Priss Lash and Brow
• Precisely Right Accounting
• Sound Vision
• Taylor Rays Café
• Wayside

Non-Profit Nominees

• Community Farm Land Trust
• South Sound YMCA
• Tenino Food Bank

New Business Nominees

• 507 Taproom and Filling Station
• Adam’s Bagels
• BIPOC Biz Directory
• Buckwheat and Sons painting
• Camp Clout
• Crystal Forest
• Lacey Bin Wash
• Pinball Museum
• VBNC Physical Therapy

Large Business Nominees

• Capital Medical Center
• Dancing Goats Coffee
• OlyFed

Agricultural Business Nominees

• Colvin Ranch – Agricultural
• HotBabes-Hot Sauce
• Kirsop Farm