The Ebb and Flow of Bainbridge Businesses
To date, the coronavirus has not been kind to Bainbridge retailers, especially those on Winslow Way, who depend on tourists taking the ferry from Seattle. Over the past several weeks, a number of businesses have either closed their doors or re-focused their operations. These include:
The Good Egg
at Winslow Green (closed its doors),
Proper Fish
in Lundgren Station, (closed but its owner is selling to staff, so the business should reappear),
Millstream
in Lundgren Station (closed for a time by former, recently reopened by new owners),
J'aime Les Crepes
(closed Bainbridge location in Madrone Lane),
Paraffine USA
(owners are retiring and taking their tea business online),
Pelindaba Lavender
, (Madrone Lane, closed. Not sure what’s happening with that space),
Churchmouse Yarns & Teas
,( closing its retail outlet Madrone Lane and focusing on online sales. It's unclear whether they will re-open their storefront),
The Traveler
on Winslow Way (will eventually close as owners are retiring. A potential buyer backed out of the deal in January).
SHiFT
on the Lundgren Station boardwalk will be closing at the end of August and is selling off its inventory of ethically-made, sustainably-sourced clothing and accessories.
The Island Gallery
is moving its business entirely online. In the coming months, other businesses in Winslow may have to close their doors if business doesn't improve.
But not all is doom and gloom. The island's residential real estate market is booming, as many real estate agents are as busy as they have ever been. Historically low interest rates and a desire by many to escape more urban areas are igniting sales. Other industries, too, are incredibly busy these days: construction companies, landscapers, nurseries, plumbers, electricals and other tradesman. One iconic island company -
Sage
- is seeing its fly-fishing rods literally fly out the door, as demand for outdoor recreational products is soaring during the coronavirus.
Elsewhere on the island, the Lynwood/Pleasant Beach area seems to be maintaining itself, as two new businesses:
Joe’s To-Go
and
Pleasant Beach Donuts
have recently opened to complement the area's other retail mix ; Coopertop on Sportsmen's Club has not lost any tenants to date, says spokesman Doug Nelson, while areas such as Rolling Bay and Island Center appear to be keeping stride, as are firms located in the Day Road business parks.
All that being said, there are still lots of empty office spaces and some retail spaces standing empty across the island. The coronavirus has created a very mixed island economy. Stay tuned. We are still in for a very bumpy road.
-- Kevin Dwyer
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Join Us for Chamber Virtual After Hours at Eleven Winery
Thursday, Jul. 23, 5:00 - 6:00 PM
Matt Albee, owner of
Eleven Winery
, located in the Day Road Business Park, with a tasting room on Winslow Way, will host the Chamber's first Virtual After Hours. Albee will provide a tour of the winery, some insights into his wine-making, bottling, distribution and so forth, and how company has coped during the Coronavirus. The event is presented by the Chamber in cooperation with Office X-Pats and will begin at 5 p.m.
Guests are encouraged to provide themselves with their libation of choice. For a complete virtual/sensory experience, we suggest you stop by Eleven's tasting room or the winery itself for a bottle to enjoy in the comfort of your own home.
Stay tuned for info on how to attend.
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Recovery Assistance Funds for Manufacturers
Impact Washington
is inviting Washington based US Small-and medium-sized manufacturers (SME's) to apply for CARES Act Recovery Assistance funds. These funds provide services that directly support a manufacturer's ability to recover from the coronavirus.
The available funds are awarded through the Emergency Appropriations for Coronavirus Health Response and Agency Operations as authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Through a formal Request for Applications, Impact Washington applied to the NIST MEP Emergency Assistance Program for a portion of the nearly $50 million allocated and were awarded $1.2 million in Recovery Funds.
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KEDA Partners with Kitsap County
to Administer Small Business Rental Relief Grants
Tomorrow, July 21, online applications open for rental relief for businesses located in unincorporated areas of Kitsap County.
Kitsap County has committed up to
$880,000
for small business assistance using Federal CARES funding. $750,000 to be awarded to businesses in Unincorporated Kitsap County and $130,000 to be awarded to those within incorporated Kitsap County cities. (Incorporated cities in Kitsap County may offer separate funding opportunities.) These funds must be fully distributed by October 31, 2020. The intent of this grant is to reimburse business related commercial rent or lease expenses paid between March 1, 2020 and date of grant application.
Successful applicants may receive up to
$5,000
based upon eligible COVID-19 impacts. Program details, eligibility requirements and application timeline and process are available at
www.KitsapCaresSmallBiz.com
Three Phased Application Process:
Applications will be accepted via an online application which will go live at noon on each of three predetermined dates (July 21st, August 4
th
, and August 11
th
). Funds will be awarded on a first-come-first-served basis to eligible businesses.
All applications will be reviewed for consistency with all eligibility criteria and verified for application requirements. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
·
Phase 1: July 21st
for Unincorporated Kitsap County ($375k – 75 awards)
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Phase 2: August 4th
for Unincorporated Kitsap County ($375k – 75 awards)
·
Phase 3
: August 11th
for Incorporated Cities ($130k – 26 awards)
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Beaches Starting to Close for Shellfish Harvesting
With summer temperatures on the rise, the Washington State Department of Public Health is beginning to close certain areas of Puget Sound and the Hood Canal because of the presence of biotoxins in certain shellfish.
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We Still have Plenty of Masks!
Thanks to the purchase of nearly 16,000 masks by the City of Bainbridge Island, through CARES Act funding, the Chamber still has plenty of disposable and (some) reusable mask to distribute. The Chamber is the designated distribution center for the island. If you are interested in masks, please
email Kevin Dwyer
and he will arrange a deliver or pick up point. Stay strong, be well and mask up!
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Sometimes We All Can Use Some Help..and It's Free!
SCORE Kitsap
provides free and confidential business advice to entrepreneurs working to launch a new business or grow their existing businesses in Kitsap County, WA. Their volunteer mentors have extensive experience from a broad range of industries and specialties to help you. And they meet with business people all over Kitsap County… Port Orchard – Poulsbo – Bremerton – Kingston – Silverdale – Bainbridge Island.
Click here
to find your personal mentor.
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____________________________________________________________________
Website Updates
Please let us know if there is any additional information we can provide or visit the chamber web site,
www.bainbridgechamber.com
for the latest updates.
Kevin Dwyer, President/CEO
Mickey Molnaire, Director of Marketing & Membership
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