08.28.25

Cantwell Celebrates Grand Opening of New Asian Pacific Cultural Center in Tacoma

New APCC facility opening Friday will include an arts gallery, performing arts center, culinary kitchen, & more; Cantwell helped secure $400k for program housed in APCC aimed at ensuring at-risk AAPI youth can graduate

EDMONDS, WA – On Friday, leaders of the Asian Pacific Cultural Center (APCC) in Tacoma will celebrate the grand opening of a new building with upgraded facilities that will better serve the region’s Asian American and Pacific Islander community.

 

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) issued the following statement:

 

“The center offers language classes, youth tutoring, cultural studies, even mental health support. Thousands of people use it every year. It helps connect people to their heritage and also provides useful skills.”

 

Thanks to the new and modernized layout, the new facility will allow APCC to serve approximately 25% more community members across all of its programs. The new facility opening Friday includes an arts gallery, performing arts center, culinary demonstrations kitchen, Asia Pacific garden, community courtyard, and a tea room.

 

In FY22, Sen. Cantwell helped secure $400,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for APCC’s Promised Leaders of Tomorrow (PLOT) Youth Program, which helps at-risk, low-income Asian and Pacific Islander youth in Pierce County stay in school and graduate. PLOT is one of many programs that will be housed in the new building.

 

APCC had previously been housed at an aging 64-year-old building at South Park for over a decade. APCC broke ground on its new facility in September 2023 and temporarily relocated to the Eastside neighborhood. Friday’s ribbon cutting ceremony will signal the return of APCC to South Park.