By Seattle Korean Daily Reporter

▶ May Regular Town Hall to Be Held on the 9th at Tacoma APCC
▶ From Free Water Conservation Consulting by SPU and PSE EV Charger Rebates to Hands-On Instagram Marketing Training
▶ Chairman Myung Kyu Oh: “State Government Contracts Are a Shortcut to Building Business Credibility” … Korean Companies Without an EIN Can Also Participate

The Korean-American Chamber of Commerce of Washington State (KACCWA; President Myung Kyu Oh, Board Chair Jiyeon Eun) held its regular May Town Hall Meeting on Saturday the 9th at 10:30 a.m. at the Asia Pacific Cultural Center (APCC) in Tacoma. Open to both members and non-members, the event covered four practical topics for Korean small business owners in a compact 90-minute session: state government procurement opportunities, water conservation programs, electric vehicle (EV) incentives, and digital marketing.

Participants included APCC Board Chair Insuk Suh, Washington State Sports Association President Hee Ryong Kwon, Federal Way Secretary General Gu Lee, Hyun Chul Yang, Growth Manager of Bizcrush — a real-time AI Korean-English interpretation app developed in Korea — and Bon Seong Koo, Financial Advisor & Wealth Planner.

“State Government Contracts Can Be Significant Even for Small Businesses” — Advice from Chairman Myung Kyu Oh

The first session featured an introduction to Washington State government procurement opportunities presented directly by Chairman Myung Kyu Oh (David Oh). Drawing from his own experience operating a refrigeration, HVAC, and electrical service company, Chairman Oh emphasized two key points.

“Washington State is the largest buyer we can work with in Washington,” Oh said. “Even if my business is relatively small, as long as the buyer is strong and stable, the business itself will not easily decline.”

He also explained that successfully navigating the rigorous government contracting process significantly enhances a company’s credibility and credentials, which in turn positively impacts private-sector business opportunities as well. “After winning state contracts, I could personally feel the difference in how private-sector clients responded to my business,” he added.

Regarding procurement categories, Chairman Oh explained, “If it is not a prohibited item, you can assume the state government purchases it.” He noted that nearly every category is included — from a single pencil to fresh food supplies, office products, hotel accommodations, and airline tickets. He added that most Korean-owned businesses, including Korean restaurants, grocery stores, and hotels, are connected to government procurement opportunities in one way or another.

A particularly noteworthy development is the policy shift within DES (Department of Enterprise Services), Washington State’s procurement agency. According to Chairman Oh, before March of this year, the agency primarily focused on expanding contract access opportunities for minority-owned and small diverse businesses. However, since March, the focus has shifted toward helping businesses that have already secured contracts generate actual profits from those contracts. At the same time, support for new businesses seeking entry into government contracting opportunities continues as well.

Another major change is that beginning in 2026, businesses registering with WEBS (Washington Electronic Business System), the state’s electronic procurement platform, will no longer be required to provide an EIN (U.S. Employer Identification Number). This change opens the door for companies based in Korea to directly participate in Washington State procurement opportunities.

Chairman Oh explained, “Whether a company is located in Washington State or not, registration itself is now possible. However, additional assistance such as consulting may still be needed during the actual business process afterward.”

The Korean-American Chamber of Commerce is also preparing a separate open house focused exclusively on state government procurement opportunities, planned for June or July. Korean-owned businesses currently performing state contracts are expected to participate and share their real-world experiences.

Free Water Conservation Consulting and EV Charger Rebates

The second session featured an introduction to water conservation programs presented by Hana Lee from Seattle Public Utilities (SPU). Lee introduced the “Saving Water Partnership,” a collaborative initiative involving 19 utility agencies, and explained that free kits containing bathroom showerheads and faucet aerators are available to residents and businesses.

In addition, a consulting team offers free on-site visits to businesses to identify causes of unusually high water bills, such as large refrigeration units, aging plumbing systems, and water leaks. Rebate programs are also available for toilet replacements and improvements to garden and lawn irrigation systems, applying to both residential and commercial properties.

Lee emphasized, “Replacing outdated equipment with newer systems is ultimately the best way to reduce long-term costs,” and encouraged attendees to “carefully monitor their monthly water bills for any unusual changes.”

In the third session, Hayden Hwang, Secretary General of the Korean-American Chamber of Commerce, introduced Puget Sound Energy (PSE)’s support programs for electric vehicle (EV) drivers. For home charging, customers who install a Level 2 (240V) charger — capable of charging approximately 25 miles per hour — can receive rebates of up to $300. Those who meet income eligibility requirements may also qualify for an additional installation cost incentive of up to $600. In contrast, Level 1 (120V) chargers, which provide only 2 to 5 miles of charging per hour, are considered significantly slower, making Level 2 installation the recommended option.

Separately, PSE’s “Flex EV” program offers a $50 incentive upon enrollment. The program helps manage electricity demand efficiently by automatically adjusting vehicle charging during peak energy usage hours.

For apartments, condominiums, and other multi-family housing properties, up to 100% of the installation and maintenance costs for shared Level 2 chargers may be covered. Workplace charging station installations are also eligible for support at the same level.

Secretary General Hwang added, “With fuel prices remaining high, electric vehicles are definitely worth considering when purchasing a new car.”

Free Marketing with Instagram and Canva: “Category Settings Are the Key to Monetization”

The final session featured a hands-on digital marketing workshop led by Vice President Dia Kang. Kang explained, “We now live in an era where people search for and compare everything on their phones before making purchases,” while demonstrating how to effectively use Instagram and the free design platform Canva.

The point Kang emphasized most was the importance of setting the correct “Category” on an Instagram profile. “You must set your account category as a business or influencer through the Edit Profile menu in order to monetize your account,” she explained. “Recruiters and brands often search accounts using categories like ‘Seattle Food Creator’ or ‘Korean Food,’ so category settings are critical for visibility and exposure.”

Kang also advised attendees to always include contact information in the bio section of their profiles. For businesses, she recommended listing a business address and store phone number, while personal accounts should use an email address instead. She added a practical warning: “If you publicly share your personal phone number, you’ll quickly be flooded with spam calls.”

She also emphasized that videos created for Instagram should always be filmed in a vertical format.

Toward the end of the session, participants paired up and took part in a hands-on exercise, creating one-minute videos introducing each other’s businesses. Kang shared that “a video Hayden Hwang created yesterday surpassed 155,000 views in just one day,” demonstrating how effective free social media marketing can be even in a very short period of time.

The event also featured an active Q&A session. One attendee asked whether it would be possible to help Korean companies enter the U.S. government procurement market through consulting services.

Chairman Oh responded, “As a nonprofit organization, the Chamber of Commerce is limited to providing services within the scope of member support. However, operating a consulting business independently as a private business owner is certainly possible.” He added, “At the same time, it is always important to be cautious about potential conflicts of interest between one’s role as a Chamber officer and personal business activities.”

The Korean-American Chamber of Commerce continues to support information sharing and networking opportunities for Korean businesses through its monthly Town Hall meetings. For inquiries regarding participation in upcoming events, contact Secretary General Hayden Hwang at 312-841-3222.

출처 : 시애틀코리안데일리(http://www.seattlekdaily.com)