BUSINESS & COMMUNITY NEWS
GRAND OLD 4TH UPDATE: LET THERE BE BEER (& WINE)
In a moment most pleasing to our Chamber President, we are happy to announce today that the Grand Old Beer Garden is set to roll out the barrel in Waterfront Park on July 4th from 11am to 5pm.

We are even happier to confirm that it is our local partnerships with Bainbridge Brewing, Eleven Winery, and Bainbridge Island Rowing that make this announcement possible.

Image courtesy Kitsap Sun/Dale Perry
ISLANDERS DALE & CAROL PERRY HELP GET AID TO UKRAINE BY THE TRUCKLOAD 
Through Dale's company (Energy Resources of Ukraine), a Bainbridge couple are collecting and delivering much needed supplies to Ukraine.

Read more about their efforts (and the $400k+ that they have already raised) in the Kitsap Sun.

FERRY
Image courtesy of WSDOT
WSF ANNOUNCES PLAN FOR RETURNING TO FULL SERVICE
As crew and vessel resources become available over time, WSF plans to restore full ferry service on a route-by-route basis (Bainbridge is the 2nd-highest priority route).

The plan takes into account COVID-19 impacts to its workforce, regular ridership and peak summer ridership, plus the ability to hire, recruit and train employees, and the impact of retiring staff, and lack of vessels due to aging fleet.

Sketch courtesy of Haggar Scribner Properties
LOCAL INVESTMENT GROUP EYES MIXED-USE WINSLOW DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
The group includes Islanders with deep connections to the community: Tom Haggar and Priscilla Zimmerman Haggar, Rob and Jayne Scribner, Larry and Sandy Nakata, Ron and Sue Nakata, and Susan and Ron Allen.

The project’s plans include two new mixed-use buildings with first-floor commercial space and rental units above, all atop underground parking, on property just off Ericksen Avenue.

Image courtesy of WSDOT
PROPERTY TRANSFER FOR FUTURE 305 ROUNDABOUT(S) AT COUNCIL NEXT WEEK
WSDOT is hoping to place additional roundabouts on SR 305 – similar to the one under construction between Bainbridge Island and Poulsbo at Johnson Road and SR 305.

On March 22, the city council will hold a public hearing to consider the transfer of a city-owned piece of property to WSDOT that could indirectly allow for the construction of one of these roundabouts on Bainbridge Island.

The land is located at the corner of SR 305 and West Port Madison Road.

Read more at The Island Wanderer
Image courtesy of Gov. Jay Inslee's Office
WA BILL REQUIRING SALARY/BENEFITS DISCLOSURES FOR JOB POSTINGS GOES TO GOVERNOR
The Washington State Legislature has passed SB 5761, which requires inclusion of salary and general benefit descriptions in all job postings from businesses with 15 or more employees.

If signed into law by the governor, the bill would go into effect Jan. 1, 2023.

Image courtesy of Washington state
DOL SUSPENDS LATE FEES FOR BUSINESS LICENSE FILINGS
In January, the state’s Professional and Business License System was shut down in response to a potential data breech and subsequent investigation.

To limit the impact upon licensees who expired during the outage, DOL is automatically waiving all late-filing penalties through April 1st.

Image of proposed Hyla High School building, courtesy of Hyla
PLANNING COMMISSION TO REVISIT BETHANY HOUSING, HYLA HIGH SCHOOL PROJECTS
After the special meeting of March 10, the Planning Commission chose to revisit public comment and continue their work on both the Bethany Lutheran Affordable Housing project, and the proposed Hyla High School site on Ericksen Avenue at their next meeting on March 24.

PLANNING COMMISSION APPOINTEES CONFIRMED
Ariel Birtley (Position 1 through 06/23) and Benjamin Deines (Position 7 through 06/2022) were appointed to the Planning Commission by City Council at their March 8 regular business meeting.


TONIGHT'S CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
Tuesday March 15 at 6pm 
Tonight's agenda topics:

  • Capital funding
  • Pavement Management Index goal and road maintenance budget
  • Development of Capital Replacement Needs Program


NEWS IN BRIEF
CHAMBER UPDATES
BAINBRIDGE B2B FUN IS BACK:
CHAMBER AFTER HOURS RETURNS MARCH 24
In another sign of optimism, the Chamber's monthly After Hours business mixer returns for the first time in a long time on Thursday March 24 at 5:30pm.

To get things started, the Chamber Team is hosting an open house (and thank-you party) at our newly-remodeled offices on Winslow Way.

This is a great chance for Chamber Members new and old to come hang out with your fellow Bainbridge business owners, and enjoy sparkling conversation, with complementary tasty beverages (from event sponsor Eleven Winery) and small bites from chamber partner T&C.

Admission is free to members, with a $20 charge for non-members.

Please note that space is limited, so please go ahead and RSVP ASAP OK?
SPRING IS COMING: TIME TO DISPLAY YOUR 4X9 RACK CARDS
As part of our renovation project, the Chamber has expanded capacity for 4x9" promo cards in new indoor and outdoor racks at the Ferry Info Kiosk and our Winslow Way Offices.


TWO NEW WAYS TO JOIN THE CHAMBER TEAM
With all the new activity at the Chamber, we have flexible, part-time openings now available for:

  • Licensing Trainees
  • Island Ambassadors

(and front desk volunteers too!)


YOUR INPUT REQUESTED
KITSAP BUSINESS SURVEY
Q: How would you rate the usefulness of these weekly Chamber Newsletters for you and your businesses?
Select one:
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Bonus Q: What part of the newsletter do you find most useful?
Recent Results:

Q: When the mask mandate ends March 12, what will be the mask policy at your business?

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND
KITSAP COUNTY-WIDE
173 Total Responses
NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
SCRAPPY ART LAB: MORE ART, LESS WASTE
Rachel Knudsen and her one-of-a-kind Island business is entering its 3rd year of taking material donations from the community and turning them into all kinds of arts and crafts programming for all ages.

  • After school programs
  • Seasonal and summer camps
  • Kid drop-off dates
  • Family art & build Saturdays
  • Parties
  • Workshops
  • Special events
  • Small company gatherings
  • Team-building events

Got leftovers?

Scrappy Art Lab takes rinsed and clean household items items in groups of at least 10 pieces:
crown metal bottle caps, corks, small glass bottles, plastic caps or lids, small chipboard boxes, paper rolls, gently used arts and crafts supplies, maps, small wood scrap, some fabric scraps and samples. 


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BAINBRIDGE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
DAVID KOTZ WOODWORKS
David Kotz is looking for an experienced business executive to purchase and operate a majority of the company that bears his name with the goal of taking the organization to the next level.

Kotz fully intends to support the new owners in an ongoing advisory role.

JOB & VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
SAGE/FAR BANK FLY FISHING
Bainbridge-based positions include Seamstress, Reel Designer, and Production Associates.

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND POLICE ACADEMY SEEKS RECRUITS
WATSON FURNITURE SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR 10 JOBS
Multiple opportunities for graphic designers, marketing professionals, engineers, production supervisors, team members and more.

CITY NEEDS ETHICS BOARD VOLUNTEERS
The city is looking for volunteers to serve on its ethics committee.

Applications are due by 4 pm Thursday March 31.

MEMBER NEWS & EVENTS
Image courtesy of Keith Brofsky
80 YEARS OF HEALING EVENTS
Throughout March
Throughout the month of March, Bainbridge Island cultural centers and organizations commemorate the signing of Executive Order 9066 which resulted the forced removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII.

Take time to visit and remember at these locations:


  • March 11-30 - Bainbridge Island Historical Museum Let It Not Happen Again installation in the museum’s lobby. From March 24 to March 30 view a recently restored original US Army poster instructing Japanese Americans to leave the Island will be on view.

  • March 11-June 12 - Bainbridge Island Museum of Art Americans Incarcerated: A Family’s Story of Social Injustice memorializes the eviction of Japanese Americans during World War II.

  • Wednesday March 30, 11am-Noon - Survivors and speakers will commemorate 80 Years of Healing at the National Japanese American Exclusion– a day that marks the very first displacement of Japanese American citizens as a result of President Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066.

BUSINESS EDUCATION & SUPPORT
Image courtesy of Washington Hospitality Association
FOSTER A CULTURE OF SUPPORT AT YOUR BUSINESS
To drive employee success and fulfillment during the pandemic and beyond, a tool-kit released by the Washington Hospitality Association focuses on helping businesses and managers implement best-practices in the following areas:

  • Communication issues
  • Upholding standards while prioritizing employee wellbeing 
  • Managing long hours and inconsistent shifts
  • Managing fear or creating trust 

CUSTOM GRANTS THROUGH PSE HELP BUSINESSES SAVE
Thinking its time to go green to save a bit of green?

PSE grants can help. Businesses looking to make energy efficient upgrades with customized incentives can get up to 70 percent of the costs covered through a variety of programs.

Image courtesy of SBRR
SBRR WEBINAR: STARTING A BUSINESS
Wednesday April 20, at 2 pm
Have an idea for a business, but not sure where to begin to start it?

Register for the state’s Small Businesses Requirements & Resources webinar which will provide tools, best-practices, and outline steps for turning your great idea into a thriving business.

LOCAL COVID UPDATES
MASKS NOW OPTIONAL AT CHAMBER OFFICES
In line with the state mask mandate lifting last week, the Chamber team is equally pleased to welcome smiling unmasked faces - as well as those who still prefer to wear a mask - to our Winslow Way offices.

But even as we enjoy the newly-relaxed requirements, please do remember that some people and some locations still choose and/or need to wear masks, including:

  • Medical facilities
  • Long-term care facilities
  • Public transit – including state ferries and county buses

Image courtesy of Kitsap Health
COVID RATES CONTINUE TO FALL ACROSS KITSAP
As of March 11, the latest County COVID infection rates are now down to just 61 cases per 100,000 residents.

Island numbers are down to 44 cases per 100k, but all parts of the county are now also below 80/100k.

Since the start of the pandemic, there have now been 1,780 total cases recorded on Bainbridge, only 2 of them new over the past week.


Vaccination rates on Bainbridge continuing to lead the county - more than 99% of Islanders aged 12+ are vaccinated, alongside 74% of 5 to 11-yr-olds.

Image courtesy of Amazon
FREE AT-HOME COVID TESTS + N95 MASKS AVAILABLE ONLINE
Free tests from the new federal website are being distributed.


Free tests from Washington State are being restocked:


Millions of free N95 masks are being distributed to pharmacies and supermarkets, including Safeway, Rite Aid, Walgreens on Bainbridge (limit 3 per person).

CHAMBER RESOURCES
FREE CHAMBER CONFERENCE ROOM + POP-UP SPACE BOOKING FOR MEMBERS
Hold your next meeting, client greeting, or business development event at the Chamber’s new conference room.

With seating for 10 people, a 50” video screen, and giant whiteboard wall – it’s the perfect place to think big.


The Chamber is accepting 1 or 2 week bookings to help businesses without a storefront on main street promote their services, products, events or organizations.

The space is 6 foot x 6 foot and comes with power and a video monitor provided

ERASE THE WASTE TABLE-TENTS & SIGNAGE AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES
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.