The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber will host the next installment of its popular luncheon series on Fri., March 9 in downtown Tacoma. Topics at this week’s event include “Tacoma in 2012” presented by Mayor Marilyn Strickland; the upcoming closure of Exit 133 (I-5) to Interstate 705; New Tacoma Award nominations; an update on downtown road construction projects; and Tacoma and the State Legislature presented by Representatives Jeannie Darneille and Laurie Jinkins.

According to David Schroedel, the Chamber’s Metropolitan Development Director, the quarterly luncheon series that began in 2003 will now be held on a monthly basis. “The series has been a great success,” wrote Schreodel on the Chamber’s “Live Wire” blog ( http://tacomachamber.blogspot.com/ ). “In fact it has been so successful that people want more details about what’s coming. In addition, downtown is only a starting point for things impacting Tacoma. In order to accommodate the speed of happenings in downtown and the greater community, the Chamber is expanding the program to monthly luncheons featuring the greater Tacoma community. This means that over the next few months there will be a series of luncheons with a variety of topics.”

The event will also be re-named the Chamber Luncheon Series. Upcoming events will focus on the environment (April), Tacoma (May), healthy communities (June), and New Tacoma Awards (July).

The Chamber Luncheon Series this week will be held on Fri., March 9 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Pacific Grill Events and Catering, 1530 Pacific Ave. The cost is  $20 (members), $25 (non-members / member walk-ins), and $30 (non-member walk-ins). To register for this event, contact Savannah Kimball at (253) 683-4881 or e-mail savannahk@tacomachamber.org .