Gov. Jay Inslee announced last month he would pause tax collections for the new state-run long-term care insurance program.

But as it turns out, only the Legislature has the authority to fully eliminate the requirement to pay.

That leaves employers with a tricky decision to make between choosing to collect the tax (and possibly refund it later) or to not collect (and potentially have to do it down the line in bulk).

In the face of uncertainty, Seattle office of employment law firm Fisher Phillips crafted a nice summary of the pro/con to help you make the right decision for your business.

To help explain Bainbridge's new restrictions on single-use plastic to consumers, COBI has begun to send out free table-tents to our local eating and drinking establishments.

If you have not yet received yours, or need some more, please come pick them up for free at the Chamber office.

On December 23, the Hearing Examiner approved the Wintergreen Townhomes Project that will include 73 single-family townhomes, 31 of which will officially be affordable housing units.

Starting Saturday, private health insurers will be required to cover up to eight home COVID-19 tests per month for people on their plans.

The Biden administration announced the change Monday as it looks to lower costs and make testing for the virus more convenient amid rising frustrations.

In addition, the federal government will launch a new website this month to distribute 500 million test kits directly to homes, while Governor Inslee has announced a soon-to-be-launched additional state website to also distribute testing kits across WA.

Gov. Jay Inslee presented his 2022 State of the State speech today to the Washington State Legislature as they begin the crucial work of the 60-day legislative session.

He urged legislators to take “Action…this Day” on a number of crucial issues such as homelessness and housing, climate change and protection for salmon, as well as continuing the fight against COVID.

Nancy Treder, the Bainbridge Review's new reporter is looking to find local businesses that have experienced negative social media comments or rumors during the pandemic.

Olympic College is asking for employer participation in a Comprehensive Local Needs Assessments survey to ensure that they are offering the right Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.

The goal is to:

1. Best fulfill our workforce needs, with relevant eductaioin and experience.

2. Identify gaps and barriers to students in special populations and then determine strategies to close those gaps.

The City of Bainbridge Island and the Race Equity Advisory Committee will commemorate this special day with a free screening of this cinematic chronicle of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, AL in 1965.

Free at Bainbridge Cinemas.

Available by reservation only, and just in time for Valentine's Day gifts, tickets are good for one flight plus chocolates at each winery...

February 11-14: Tickets and info 

As 2021 becomes 2022, BIMA continues to feature a diverse array of works from their permanent collection.

This Fall/Winter rotation includes art by Barbara Helen Berger, Marceil DeLacy, Philip McCracken, Heikki Seppa, and Joan Tenenbaum through January 30.

Proof of vaccination required for entry for everyone age 12 and older

The Small Business Flex Fund provides access to working capital to those that need it most – smaller, local business and nonprofits with fewer than 50 employees and annual revenue of less than $3 million.

The fund recently announced a new $40 Million funding round of low interest loans up to $150,000 for:

Just a few weeks ago, the on-Island rate of infection had dropped below 25 cases per 100,000 people. That is now but a fading memory as omicron has made a mockery of previous levels.

In today's latest Kitsap County numbers, more than 1,100 cases per 100,000 residents are recorded (more than 10x the December rate).

Island numbers are not much lower at 974 cases per 100k (60x our December rates).

The impact of that increased infection rate has been somewhat reduced by Island vaccination rates continuing to rise - they now exceed 99% for those aged 12 and above, and 71% of 5 to 11-yr-olds.

Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 1,123 total cases recorded on Bainbridge, 448 of them new over the past 3 weeks.

In response, the Rolling Bay testing site has now been expanded to include Mondays AND Wednesdays 9am-1pm (closed next Monday for MLK Day).

With the support of the City, County, and Bainbridge's own Breath Café, the Chamber has fresh supplies of N95 masks, disposable masks, and hand sanitizer available for free to all public-facing Island business and nonprofit organizations.

We also have free posters available to help businesses make it clear to all customers that masks are required for entry at their location.

To grab yours, give us a call, stop by our offices, or email us - we are here to help...