Congratulations to
AnyTime Fitness

The Elma Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors presented the Business of the Quarter Award, for the first quarter of 2012, to Elma Anytime Fitness owners, Tim Bellon and Ken Evans.  President , Rick Jensen, presented the plaque at the Elma Chamber Meeting, March 14th held at the Microtel Inn & Suites.

Tim and Ken have been involved in fitness throughout their lives and always wanted to open a gym in the Elma area.  Both are originally from Elma and live in Elma.  Their goal was to open their gym close to home with no commute, providing a service for friends, family and community.  However, due to franchise rules the first gym was opened in Tumwater.

Ken & Tim found a location in Tumwater, bought their franchise license, some gym equipment and opened a gym.  It was a success, and that success gave them the ability to open the doors of a second gym in Lacey.  Those two paved the way for the Elma Anytime Fitness.

Construction for the new Elma Anytime Fitness building started in March of 2011.  During the planning period it was very important to Ken and Tim to use local contractors as much as possible.  They officially opened for business on Feb 9th 2011.

Ken Evans said “It’s been really great to have a business that not only supports our families, but also allows us the time to spend with our wives and kids. Working and owning businesses (2) in the Olympia area can lead to some very long days, add the commute and it seems like the day has ended. Working in Elma close to the schools and close to home has been great for us and our families.”

Anytime Fitness currently has 16 employees at the Elma location, most are part time and 8 are close to full time. The jobs include; childcare, janitorial, (hired to inspire) member management team, club managers, book keeping and accounting, along with membership sales.  Local contractors are hired to do jobs like window cleaning, window paining, parking lot maintenance, grounds maintenance, landscaping, club vending machines, mini storage rentals, club paper products, and bottled water service.

Tim and Ken never stop looking for new opportunities for growth and expansion.   Their goal is to have five locations within the next few years, along with the construction of an aquatics center located next to Elma Anytime Fitness.

The City of Elma, incorporated on March 22, 1888, lies within the Chehalis River Valley in Eastern Grays Harbor County, about 30 miles West of Olympia and 40 miles East of the Pacific coast.

Elma has historically served as the commercial center serving the East Grays Harbor County agricultural and timber industries, which even today serve as mainstays to the local economy. Recent years, though, have seen the Elma area economy become increasingly influenced by increasing numbers of commuters and retirees choosing to live in Elma, as well as by increasing numbers of commercial and industrial enterprises.

The East County Industrial Park, lying just West of Elma, and the Satsop Development Park, located Southwest of Elma, continue to attract business and industry new to the area, as well as accommodating businesses that have relocated from other areas of Grays Harbor County.

Elma's fortuitous location at th interchange of State Routes 8 and 12, providing ready access to the Interstate 5 corridor to both the North and South; its modern utility infrastructure, including a state of the art sewage treatment facility and two fiber optic pipelines; great school district; competent, reliable workforce; abounding natural beauty; and an excellent quality of life bode well for Elma's economic future.

Elma is a great place to live and do business. We invite you to visit and see for yourself.