a weekly digest for bainbridge business owners and our island community
BUSINESS & COMMUNITY NEWS
NOW HIRING: HELP LEAD THE CHAMBER INTO THE FUTURE
A new position is available at the Bainbridge Chamber as of today: Vice President of Community Engagement.

The VP will create and support connections across Bainbridge, and plays a key role in our organization’s ongoing evolution to better serve our members, the local economy, and our Island community.

This is a management-level full time position that blends elements of a variety of skillsets across event management, marketing, development, and customer service.

Image courtesy of BLIS
BLIS APARTMENTS SOLD FOR $65,500,000
The 114-unit multi-family community located near the ferry terminal between Cave and Ferncliff Avenues sold to Carin West from SoundWest Group for $65.5 million, based on its prime location in a “supply-constrained submarket.”

The complex features 107 apartments and seven loft townhomes and the includes a courtyard terrace, fitness center, EV charging stations, central community spaces and conferences rooms.

Image courtesy of COBI and Coates Design
WINSLOW MALL PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION REVEALS REDEVELOPMENT POSSIBILITIES, CONCERNS
In its early stages, The Winslow Mall (renamed as Winslow Town Center) redevelopment project was at the planning commission last week for a design presentation and open public comment session.

Overall, the project by new owners Canuck Cerise LLC looks to substantially refresh the look and feel while keeping its mid-century bones.

Said local architect Matthew Coates of Coates Design, “I am very excited about this project - I think we all recognize the importance of this space in our downtown environment and what it can do for public ambiance and cultural development as well.”

However, reservations were also expressed from existing tenants with regarding their place in the redesigned facility:

At Issue:
  • Public restroom and employee restroom access
  • Elimination of the Mall's affordable rentable apartments
  • Removal of artist studio space
  • Removal of additional kitchen, hand washing facilities for kiosks (like Coquette)
  • Concerns around stakeholder discussions, construction phasing, and potential displacement of long-term businesses.

More opportunities for public comment around this project will be available at the design review board stage, and upon its return to the planning commission at a later date.



TONIGHT'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOCUSES ON BUDGET
Tuesday Sept. 27, 6pm 
City Finance Director DeWayne Pitts will present the City's 2023-4 Budget proposal tonight, with projected revenue growth of 5% in 2023, and 1% in 2024.

Biggest additional line item costs would be incurred by facilities maintenance, pavement repair, a new equity/inclusion officer, and consultants for the Winslow Subarea Plan and City Comprehensive Plan.

Public hearings on the budget are expected to be set for October 11 and November 8.


The agenda also includes:
  • Renaming Waterfront Trail in Honor of Charles Schmid
  • Approving Michele Bombardier as Bainbridge's Poet Laureate
  • Confirming final appointments to 2023's Lodging Tax Advisory Committee


Image courtesy of COBI
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING EXAMINES EV CHARGING 
Thursday Sept. 29 at, 6pm
This week’s agenda focuses on a Public Hearing regarding Ordinance 2022-14 related to adding electric vehicle charging infrastructure requirements to certain types of new development and expansion projects.

The amendment also provides incentives for voluntary installation of DC fast charging stations and/r additional Level 2 charging stations.




KITSAP ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE ADDS NEW PROGRAM AND TEAM MEMBERS
Having won a $500,000 grant from the Washington Department of Commerce, KEDA has hired two new team members to launch its new "WAV-C" maritime autonomy and innovation program in Program Manager Seth Abelson, and Business Development Manager Rochelle LeMay.


In addition, James Davis joins KEDA as the organization’s new Economic Development Manager. He comes to Kitsap after most recently serving as Business Development and ScaleUp Program Manager for Thurston Economic Development Council.

LAST CHANCE FOR EMPLOYER INPUT IN THE FUTURE OF HOUSING ON BAINBRIDGE
Online Survey Deadline is Friday
How has the availability of affordable housing affected you as an employer?

The City is developing a Housing Action Plan (HAP) to identify actions that can help Bainbridge Island promote more housing, more housing diversity, and affordability.


Share your experiences and opinions on how affordable housing has impacted your business or organization through this short survey:


NOTE: Thank you to all the Island business owners who volunteered for the upcoming housing plan focus groups - all spaces are now filled!
NEWS IN BRIEF
YOUR INPUT REQUESTED
KITSAP BUSINESS SURVEY
Q: How significant of an impact does lack of workforce housing have on your ability to hire & retain staff?
(please select an answer)
Very Significant
Significant
Not Significant
Irrelevant to My Business
Recent Results:

Q: Would you support a community-wide 'shop local for the holidays' promotional campaign?

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND RESULTS
KITSAP COUNTY RESULTS
252 Total Responses
CHAMBER UPDATE
CHAMBER AFTER HOURS HEADS TO KIDIMU FOR POTIONS & PUMPKINS ON OCTOBER 13
Join us as our Chamber After Hours heads to the wonderful and playful world of KiDiMu for a festive evening of pumpkins and potions...

Sip on potions (wine), and snack on Halloween-appropriate offerings as you decorate mini pumpkins, network, and of course play!

Tap into your inner child - with beverage in hand, of course, thanks to Eleven Winery generously donating the evening's libations...

NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
KAMI TECH INC.
2001 W. Garfield Street, Seattle
Founded in 2005, Kami Tech is a manufacturing company that specializes in seafood and food processing equipment as well as vessel maintenance and pipe work.

From their machine shop on Pier 90 in Seattle, they also rebuild shipping containers for other uses and help their clients source motors, pumps and other parts.

Kami Tech ships products all over the world, and the Chamber is proud to provide their official certificates of origin via Tom Kay, their Bainbridge-based General Manager.

MEMBER NEWS & EVENTS
Image courtesy of BIMA
ART COLLECTOR'S MARKETPLACE AT BIMA
Fri Sept. 30 through Sun Oct. 2
A special three-day flash sale of high-quality fine art, craft, jewelry, antiques, and collectibles donated by regional collectors, featuring more than 200 works from the Northwest and beyond.

The sale will fill the entire downstairs galleries of BIMA, with many pieces priced under $100. Media include painting, sculpture, glass, ceramics, prints, photographs, artist’s books, jewelry, textiles, and mixed media.

Members Only Preview Night on Thursday from 5:30 to 8pm

Open to the public Fri 9/30 through Sunday 10/2 from 10am to 5pm 

Image courtesy of Bloedel Reserve
BLOEDEL RESERVE'S SUPER SQUASH SCAVENGER HUNT
October - All Month Long
Join in the fun as the Reserve’s woodland owls lead you on an all-ages scavenger hunt through the gardens in search of gourds, squash, and pumpkins! 

Stop, explore, and snap a photo of yourselves with our friendly garden guides. Guess the weight of our largest pumpkin this year at the Residence and win prizes at the Shop at the Gatehouse when you complete the scavenger hunt. 

TURN BACK TIME AT THE HISTORICAL MUSEUM
Saturday Oct. 1, 6-9pm
Dance the night away and raise your paddle high (or dash for dessert) for the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum's second Turn Back Time Gala at Wing Point Golf & Country Club.

Appetizers, dinner, and drinks are included in the ticket price, and auctioneering the lively evening is John Curly. 

CALL TO THE WILD GALA
Saturday Oct. 1, 5-9pm
As the only wildlife shelter serving the western Puget Sound, this gala and online and live auction is critical to helping save and rehabilitate local wildlife as well as support their education programs. 

Online bidding starts today and closes at 4 pm Oct. 1. The live event takes place Oct. 1 at Kiana Lodge.

Photo by Sue Larkin, 2019
ANNUAL NATIVE PLANT SALE
Saturday Oct. 8, 5-9pm
Help continue Land Trust’s work by purchasing your native plants at this year's annual plant sale!

Head to Bainbridge First Baptist Church, 8810 Madison Ave. NE.

  • 9-11am - Early access for BI Land Trust Members
  • 11am-4pm - Public access from


PASSPORT SATURDAY
Saturday Oct. 15, 8am-2pm
Need a passport? You're in luck! Stop by the Bainbridge island Municipal Court's Passport Saturday where you can submit applications without an appointment.

The court is located in the Rolling Bay neighborhood at 10255 NE Valley Road.

Regular Passport services are offered:
  • Mondays - Walk-ins welcome from 8:30-11am and 1:30-3 pm
  • Wednesdays & Thursdays - By appointment only

KITSAP RECYCLING EVENT - STYROFOAM & MATRESSES
Saturday Oct. 29, 9am-3pm
Recycle that old mattress or clean Styrofoam at the Kitsap County Fair Grounds.

You can bring clean and dry foam, dry mattresses and box springs, packing peanuts, takeout boxes and meat trays #6 EPS.

Limit one carload per household only. Businesses, box trucks and trailers will not be allowed.

BAINBRIDGE BUSINESS ACADEMY
KEDA HOSTS FALL FORUM
Thursday Oct. 20, 1-5pm 
Level Up!, KEDA’s Fall Forum is now open for registration and will discuss the future of Kitsap County’s economy, threats and opportunities as well as discuss exciting innovation programs.

The event will be hosted in the Kitsap Conference Center at Bremerton Harborside.


By special arrangement, all Bainbridge Island Chamber Members can receive KEDA's $85 “investor rate" by signing up with the discount code 22chamber

BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
AMAZON SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS
Deadline: Sept. 30
Have an Amazon Business Account? Then you could be eligible to receive one of 15 new grants Amazon is sponsoring with Entrepreneur Magazine.

The grants are at three levels: $25,000, $20,000 and $15,000.

Application Requirements:
  • Business must be self owned by a US resident with US HQ
  • Applicant must be 18 or older
  • Annual revenue of $1M or less
  • Existing Amazon Business Customer
  • Completed application and review of terms and conditions

JOB & VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
BLOEDEL SEEKS DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNICATIONS COORD.

BAINBRIDGE METRO PARKS HIRING MULTIPLE POSITIONS
BISD SEEKS TO FILL VARIETY OF VACANCIES

BI LAND TRUST HIRING PROJECT & DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNICATIONS COORD.

BIMA SEARCHING FOR EXHIBITIONS ASSISTANT 

LOCAL COVID UPDATES
COVID BIVALENT BOOSTERS, VACCINES FOR LITTLE ONES AVAILABLE AT NEW CLINIC
Saturday Oct. 1, 11am-5pm
Bainbridge Prepares, COBI, BI Fire and BI Community Pharmacy will host a COVID Booster Event at Commodore Options Lower Gym.

Eligible individuals for the bivalent booster:
  1. Aged 12 and older 
  2. Had the initial vaccine series 
  3. Had subsequent boosters
  4. Waited at least 2 months since last booster

This clinic also has 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-dose vaccines available for pediatric (6 months to 4 years) clients.

BY THE NUMBERS: COVID RATES
Current Cases per 100,000
  • Bainbridge Island: 56 (same as last week)
  • Kitsap County: 63 (down from 66 last week)

Bainbridge Cumulative Total Cases
  • 2,720 (14 new since last week)

As of Sept. 22, 2022

Kitsap County External Resources:
FREE CHAMBER MEMBER RESOURCES
VIA ROSA CONFERENCE ROOM:
Seating for 10 people, a 50” video screen + giant whiteboard wall – Avail. for 60 or 120-min sessions


PSE POP-UP SPACE:
6' x 6' space with display stand, power, internet + 43" monitor -
Avail. for 1-week-or-2-week slots.


BROCHURE RACKS:
Newly-expanded capacity for 4x9" promo cards in our indoor and outdoor racks at both Ferry Info Kiosk + Winslow Way Info Desk.


BAINBRIDGE FILMWORKS:
Make your home or business available to film/tv productions via a new WA Filmworks partnership