Proposal Would Pay Businesses For Requiring Proof Of Vaccination

TACOMA, WA — Just last week, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department launched a new program encouraging local businesses to voluntarily require customers to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination before they are allowed inside.

Now, the City of Tacoma is hoping it can entice even more local businesses into requiring vaccine cards at the door.

The health department's program is called BRAVO — or Businesses Requiring A Vaccine Verification Onsite — and marks the first time the county has officially encouraged vaccine verification. Under the program, local businesses are invited to request customers provide COVID-19 vaccine cards or photos of cards, or printed or mobile records from vaccine providers, MyIR or WA Verify, before they are allowed entry.

In return, participating businesses receive guidance, support and free promotion from the health department. But soon, they may also get a financial incentive as well. In an effort to further encourage participation, Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards on Tuesday proposed an initiative to give local businesses participating in the BRAVO program $3,000 for their troubles.

Woodards proposal would set aside $100,000, enough to pay 35 businesses for their participation. The BRAVO program launched with just five participating pilot businesses, ALMA, Crudo & Cotto, Edison City Alehouse, Grand Cinema, Red Star Taco Bar. They have since been joined by a sixth, The Mix.

Incentivizing vaccination verification may be the best way to get businesses to participate, because there are no plans at the county level to force businesses to check vaccine cards. Unlike neighboring King County's vaccine verification plan, which outright requires that all bars, restaurants, gyms and many other businesses check COVID-19 vaccine cards at the door, Pierce County businesses have simply been asked to take part in the program to protect their community— they are not mandated to do so.

As The News Tribune first reported, Tacoma's BRAVO support initiative is one of three suggested by Woodards to help local businesses impacted by crime and the sagging economy. The other proposals include one to set aside $300,000 to pay for window replacements. The city estimates that window replacements would cost an average of $2,500, meaning the money could pay for around 120 window repairs. The third would allocate $250,000 for private security enhancements in business districts.

>> Learn more about BRAVO from the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.