BUSINESS & COMMUNITY NEWS | |
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'Tis The Small Business Season (jingle all the way through the year's end)
As is our Chamber tradition, we encourage all community members and visitors to join us in celebrating and supporting our local small businesses during this special time of year.
Studies show that 68c of every dollar spent here stay in the community and will generate another 48 cents of local benefit.
Go Bainbridge, and please consider:
- Prioritizing shopping at local small businesses for all holiday needs
- Exploring the unique and handcrafted products and services offered by small businesses
- Engaging with small businesses for entertaining, dining, and services
- Sharing your experiences and support for local businesses on social media, using #SmallBusinessSeason, #bainbridgechamber, #bainbridgeisland
The Chamber would like to join with our partners at the Downtown Association to thank you to the City for officially declaring November 25 Small Business Saturday on Bainbridge Island to get the season rolling.
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The ceremonial ribbon cutting featured Ted Spearman’s family (with Ted’s wife Marie Spearman wielding the scissors) flanked by WA Governor Jay Inslee, former WA Governor Gary Locke, Bainbridge Island City Manager Blair King and City Council members Clarence Moriwaki, Jon Quitslund, Joe Deets, and Leslie Schneider, with expert ribbon holding skills displayed by COBI staffers Kate Brown and Brenda Landolt. |
Grand Opening: The Ted Spearman Justice Center
On Wednesday November 15, our community came together to celebrate the grand opening of the new Ted Spearman Justice Center – a $20 million facility housing Bainbridge Island’s police station, municipal court, and emergency operations center.
Years in the making, the project was designed by local architect Matthew Coates, built by Bainbridge’s Clark Construction, completed on time and on budget through the oversight of a team of City staff led by Public Works Director Chris Wierzbicki, and named for a trailblazing judge who was also a long-time island resident and active community advocate.
The Ted Spearman Justice Center aims to be fully operational at the start of 2024.
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Grand Old 4th of July Event Organized by the Chamber, sponsored by the COBI & BIPD | |
On The Agenda: Tonight's City Council Study Session
Tue Nov 21, 6pm
Tonight's City Council Study Session focuses on 2 main topics:
- Winslow Wastewater Treatment Plant Capacity
- Permitting for Special Events
Council will review whether
- additional regulation related to events on private property is desired
- consider criteria for City co-sponsored events
- limits to the number of major events hosted in the City
In addition, the Bainbridge Island Chamber has asked to initiate a conversation regarding the establishment of a film location permit process as part of an ongoing partnership wiith WA Filmworks.
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BI School District Asks for Community Help To Evaluate 3 Future Scenarios
BISD administrators are currently vetting the viability of consolidating/closing schools in order to operate more efficiently due to anticipated budget challenges for the 2024-25 school year.
This is a time-intensive process that evaluates:
- Space availability in BISD schools
- Cost savings gained by reimagining how schools are staffed
- Ability to run well-resourced schools for the BISD students
No decisions have yet been made and public input is actively encouraged.
Click here to see the full presentation and learn more about all 3 scenarios.
They will also be reviewed at a School Board Study Session at the High School on Nov 27 at 5:45pm.
To give your feedback, please complete this online form from the School Board at any time.
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Target Store in Seattle
Photo courtesy of Seattle Times
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New WA Team Fighting Organized Retail Theft Presses First Charges
In April, the state Legislature and a task force with Association of Washington Businesses & Washington Recovery Alliance helped create a 10-person Organized Retail Crime Unit focusing on investigating and prosecuting groups of individuals who steal and resell products from retail stores.
Shawn Dale Nanez was the first person charged with first-degree organized retail theft in King and Kitsap counties, accused of stealing more than $50,000 in merchandise from Target stores, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
A proposed state Senate bill would have set new requirements for reporting organized retail crime to law enforcement and provided tax relief for retailers and cannabis shops to pay for physical security improvements. The bill died in committee in the 2023 legislative session.
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2024 National Civics Bee Open for Essay Submissions
Do you know a middle school student passionate about making the world better? Let them showcase their ideas and civics knowledge in the National Civics Bee Washington State Competition, which begins today with an essay writing contest.
Students can win prestige, cash prizes up to $1,000, and a chance to represent Washington state at the National Civics Bee Championship in Washington, D.C. next fall.
The AWB Institute is hosting the state competition in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and local chambers of commerce in Ellensburg, Port Orchard, Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver and Walla Walla.
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Scenes from First Fed’s
Bainbridge Chamber After Hours
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Photo Gallery: First Fed 100th Anniversary After Hours Party
+ RSVP For Holiday After Hours at the new Buxton Center for BPA
Thur Dec 14, 6-8pm
Thank you for those that joined us for November's After Hours at First Fed Bank to celebrate an amazing milestone: their 100th Anniversary.
Wine was provided by our event partner and sponsor at Eleven Winery alongside delicious tacos from Miguelitos Cocina Mexicana and Connor Freke was announced as Bainbridge's new branch manager...
View the First Fed After Hours Photo Gallery
The Chamber is excited to announce our Holiday Party & December's After Hours at BPA on Dec 14 from 6pm to 9pm - as well as a pre-party drink at OfficeXpats at 5:30pm. Rumors of a dance floor as swirling around for the end of the night...
After Hours tickets are always free for Chamber members and invited guests, with a very limited number available to non-members for $20 each.
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Free "Catch BI Ride" Window Cling Decals for Your Business
The Chamber has a stash of the gorgeous news BI Ride Window Clings for you to put on your business/retail windows to help get passengers easy access to Kitsap Transit's BI Ride App & online scheduling.
BI Ride Service Hours
Monday to Friday: 8:45am - 3:30pm
Saturday: 9am - 6pm
Stop by the Chamber (395 Winslow Way) to pick up your decal from Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm (except for the Thanksgiving Holidays this Thu/Fri).
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Sold Out: Chamber Roundtable with Rep. Greg Nance
Fri Dec 1, 11am
Our upcoming Roundtable to meet with new 23rd District State Representative Greg Nance is now completely full - Thank you members for the swift and overwhelming response - we look forward to seeing the earliest responders at the Chamber!
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Legacy High Performance Coaching
Legacy High Performance provides high-performance coaching for executives, business teams, and individuals seeking to level up their game and get more out of life and their careers.
Ian Coletti also provides training for individuals stuck or unfulfilled in their careers with their Fulfilling Career Formula.
For businesses, they also offer change leadership coaching for leaders who want to be more effective with organizational change and cross-functional capabilities leadership consulting/coaching.
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Tree Lighting Festival
Sat Nov 25, 6 - 7pm
Join the community with the annual Tree Lighting Festival at Town Square (in front of BPA & City Hall)
- Tree Lighting
- Choir Music & Bands from BHS
- S'Mores with BIPD
- Nutcracker Ballet Snippets
Plus add your message to the giant paper chain that will adorn the Downtown tree - create them at little island crafts or KiDiMu.
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BI Disposal Thanksgiving Schedule
In observance of Thanksgiving on Nov 23, BI Disposal will be closed & there will be no garbage or yard waste service.
Thursday route will resume on Friday in addition to the already scheduled pick up.
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Zero Waste Guest Speaker Heather Trim
Wed Nov 29, 5-6:30pm
Heather Trim will speak about the upcoming 2024 Washington state legislative proposals for systemic change that reduce waste, greenhouse gas emissions, natural resource extraction, plastic pollution and toxic chemicals in our environment.
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One Call for All - Support Local Organizations Today
One Call for All's Red Envelopes are in your mailboxes & it is your opportunity to donate to what matters most to you.
With one gift, you can give to as many as 120 worthy local nonprofit organizations.
100% of all contributions go to the organizations you choose.
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JOB & BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES | |
It's the most wonderful time of the year - a season jam-packed with so very many things to do on Bainbridge to celebrate the season... so many that we present them here in abbreviated form - please click 'em all to learn more about 2023's Island Holiday Magic... | |
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Business Info Brochure Racks:
Let everyone know about your business with 4x9" rack cards at both the Ferry Info Kiosk & Winslow Way Info Desk
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The Via Rosa 11 Conference Room:
Seating for 10 people, 50” video screen + internet, giant whiteboard wall: Available to book for 60 or 120-minute sessions
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The PSE Spotlight Pop-Up Window:
Prime position Winslow Way 6ft x 6ft area comes with 43" monitor + stand, power, lights & internet: Available for 2 week slots.
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Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce
Advocacy, Connection, and Community since 1927
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