SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle's new $15 minimum wage law began going into effect Wednesday, nearly a year after this pricey West Coast city was celebrated by activists as the first metropolis to push employers into providing higher wages. Workers at large businesses and national chains in Seattle will see the minimum wage increase to $11 an hour this week, while small businesses are required to pay at least $10, with a $1 credit for tips or health insurance. Some business owners, including those who already pay their employees $15 an hour or more, have said the new wage will be paid by consumers in higher restaurant and retail costs. Others have said they expect the new wage will give workers more buying power and bring enough new business into their doors to make up for the increase in labor costs. Several Seattle companies have jumped ahead of the phase-in and are already paying their employees a minimum of $15 an hour, including local restaurant chains Ivar's, a grocery co-op and small chain Skillet. Ivar's, a local seafood restaurant chain, announced they would experiment with a $15 wage with a no tips policy to see what their customers thought.