a weekly digest for bainbridge business owners and our island community |
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BUSINESS & COMMUNITY NEWS |
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CITY INVITES EMPLOYER INPUT ON ISLAND'S HOUSING NEEDS VIA SURVEY, FOCUS GROUP |
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:
To get more involved in the process, please let the Chamber know if you would like to join an upcoming focus group meeting to be held in the Chamber Conference Room.
The focus group will be led by Triangle Associates, a neutral third-party facilitator, and dinner will be provided.
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WSF FERRIES MOST DELAYED IN 10 YEARS, BAINBRIDGE IS 2ND MOST DELAYED ROUTE |
Feeling the ferry crunch? You’re not alone – WSF is having its worst year in the last decade.
What does delayed mean?
- WFS aims to run 95% of ferry trips on time each year. This year, its running 85.3% on time.
Most delayed routes:
- Anacortes/San Juans
- Seattle/Bainbridge Island
- Edmonds/Kingston
Why?
- Anacortes/San Juan is always delayed, especially in summer with visitor traffic.
- But this year, Bainbridge and Kingston routes are seeing higher passenger volumes, longer waits, and are doubly burdened by terminal construction.
Aging Workforce:
- There’s a shortage of more than 100 people at WSF, most due to retirements at all levels from deckhands and engineering to captains.
Thinning Fleet:
- There are only 21 vessels in the WSF fleet now. That is the smallest number it’s had in the past decade. That spells trouble when say, someone rams a ferry dock.
So yes, the ferries have been as late as they feel – but at least now you know more about why...
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INFLATION, WORKFORCE BIGGEST CONCERNS FOR BUSINESSES |
Inflation may be showing some signs of easing, but it’s still the top concern for Washington employers, according to the Association of Washington Businesses’ latest survey.
Chief concerns among business owners were:
- Inflation (68%)
- Lack of qualified workers (65%)
- Supply chain disruptions (56%)
- Government regulations (49%)
- Overall tax burden (40%)
Nearly all respondents indicated they had seen increases in their costs to do business and voiced concern over the possibility of a recession. 15% indicated that they had delayed hiring and 33% had delayed making capital expenditures.
On a brighter note, more than 40% of respondents said their businesses were growing and only 3% reported laying off staff.
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Photo courtesy Pete Saloutos |
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CITY GRANTS 1: LTAC FUNDS ISLAND VISITOR PROGRAMS
Deadline: Sept. 29
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$350,000 in grants from the City’s lodging tax revenues is now available to drive the island’s tourism efforts.
Applicants may seek a minimum award of $2,000 and a maximum award of $175,000.
The grants are intended to support marketing efforts that target visitors coming from 50 miles or more who are most likely to stay overnight.
Eligible proposals are limited to visitor marketing projects, operations, special events or festivals, and eligible capital facilities.
Individual persons are not eligible for funding.
For-profit, private businesses are not eligible for funding.
The city’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) reviews and provides its recommendations to the city council for final funding decisions.
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Photo courtesy BI Prepares |
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CITY GRANTS 2: HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAM FUNDING
Deadline: Sept. 29
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The city has $660,000 available to support human services (defined as those services which assist people in meeting the essential life needs of food, clothing, shelter and access to health care) in the 2023-2024 funding cycle.
Applicants are limited to 501(c)(3) nonprofits (but the nonprofits may sponsor projects from individuals or private companies).
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Q: Would you support a community-wide 'shop local for the holidays' promotional campaign?
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(please select an answer)
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Recent Results:
Q: How important to your business is revenue from visitors and tourism?
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Almost half of the 100+ Island's businesses responding to this survey consider tourism revenues to be very important to their survival, while 25% consider it entirely irrelevant.
Kitsap County-wide, and on Bainbridge , visitor spending is at least somewhat important to around 55% of responding businesses.
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BAINBRIDGE ISLAND RESULTS |
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PAWS & FINS EMPLOYEE REMEMBERED |
Shaun Araneda, beloved friend and employee of Paws and Fins Pet Shop unexpectedly passed away on Saturday August 27.
“He was an incredible guy with the sweetest, friendly smile, an amazing sense of humor, and a soft, soft heart for animals and people.”
“Shaun is going to be terribly, terribly missed by all of us here at Paws and Fins. We're absolutely heartbroken, and all of us send our love to his family, his friends, and of course his adored pets. “
A Go Fund Me campaign set up by Shaun's family is currently raising money to cover funeral expenses.
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KITSAP BANK HOSTS FABULOUS AFTER HOURS FIESTA |
Thank you to our wonderful Chamber Members and Bainbridge Island community advocates at Kitsap Bank for hosting our latest Chamber After Hours!
More than 50 guests headed over to the event in the bank's newly refreshed space, complete with food from Miguelitos (celebrating their own new Lynwood Center location) and a selection of wines from Eleven Winery.
Thank you also to all those that attended and again to Kitsap Bank - thank you for all that you do for the residents of this island and our thriving business community!
Stay tuned for details of next month's After Hours - coming soon to Island Center by way of Modern Collision... |
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TOWN & COUNTRY GOES BIG FOR 65TH ANNIVERSARY
August 29 through Sept 1
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A brand-new sign was hung this week at T&C as part of the company's big celebrations...
Find retro foods at the hot bar, employees decked out in retro gear, plus on Wednesday and Thursday, find 50s-themed sampling at the demo counter.
The celebration will round out on Thursday, with live music performed by the Silver City 6 from 4-6 pm and free ice cream!
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BAINBRIDGE COFFEE LINK TO GUATEMALA SPOTLIGHTED |
Pegasus Coffee's direct trade relationship with the Cooperativa La Asunción in San Jose Poaquil, Guatemala was highlighted by the recent visit of co-op co-founder Gerson Morales and wife/co-member/Bainbridge native Alisa Moen.
On Aug. 19, Morales met with coffee lovers at Pegasus Coffee House in Winslow and shared how his company is helping Indigenous farmers export high-quality coffee and create economic opportunities for people in the mountainous Chimaltenango region of Guatemala.
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LAST SOUNDS OF SUMMER CONCERT
Wednesday, Aug. 31, 6-8pm
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Join Backstreet Jellyroll and rock the park one last night before this season’s fantastic concert series comes to an end.
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FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK + MOONLIGHT MARKET
Friday, Sept. 2
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Don’t miss the September edition of First Friday Art Walk and Moonlight Market!
Stroll Winslow Way and Bainbridge Island Town Square for amazing works of art, performances, live music, and artisan booths as well as a bevy of food and drink!
It makes a great date night but there’s also plenty of amazing activities for families and children through the day and into the evening.
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MORITANI COMMUNITY PICNIC
Monday, Sept. 5, 4-6pm
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Join Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation and Bainbridge Metro Parks for a FREE family-friendly end-of-summer celebration, at Moritani Preserve.
Pack a snack, toss out a blanket and get ready to dance with Cajun, Creole favorite WHOZYAMAMA !
Do note that there is no parking at Moritani Preserve, and little neighborhood parking around it - please walk or bike to the event, or park in Winslow and walk from there.
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EXPERIENCE THE BAINBRIDGE CREATIVE DISTRICT AT THE BRIDGE FESTIVAL
Saturday Sept. 10, 11am-10pm
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Seen the highway signs and wondering what Washington’s newest creative district is all about?
Join the BCD in a celebratory sampling selection giving a taste of the creativity that Bainbridge arts and culture has to offer.
This day-long festival based in Waterfront Park features live music, poetry, dance and performance art, culinary displays, and artisan vendors accompanied by a beer and wine garden highlighting the island’s craft beverage scene. It runs alongside the Modern Quilt Guild's Festival.
Admission is free.
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BAINBRIDGE QUILT FESTIVAL
Saturday Sept. 10, 10am-4pm
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Simultaneous with the BRIDGE Festival, the 10th annual fall quilt festival will be hosted by the BI Modern Quilt Guild on Winslow Green from 10 to 4.
Over 250 works of textile art will be hung from artists located all over Kitsap County.
Viewers can purchase raffle tickets to win an original work created by guild members, vote for the viewer's choice award, and participate in a silent auction to benefit the World Central Kitchen.
Admission is free.
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PROTECT YOUR TAX RATE, FILE WITH WA ESD BEFORE 09/30 |
Avoid a delinquent tax rate for 2023 by filing all tax reports and paying all current and past-due unemployment taxes, penalties, and interest in full by Sept. 30.
Employers with delinquencies are charged:
- At least a one percentage point increase in their regular tax rate the first year they’re delinquent
- A two-percentage point increase if they’re late a second consecutive year
- The maximum shared-cost (social) tax rate
Can’t pay? Deferred payment contract options which can still protect your tax rate are available.
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JOB & VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES |
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VIA ROSA 11 SEEKS SALAD + PANTRY COOK
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BI BARKERY HIRING P/T SHOP ASSISTANT, MUST LOVE DOGS!
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STREAMLINER DINER HIRING FOR FRONT OF HOUSE |
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MEADOWMEER GOLF + COUNTRY CLUB SEEKS PART-TIME SERVER/BARTENDER (21+ only) |
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BAINBRIDGE ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT SEEKS MULTIPLE POSITIONS |
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JOIN THE reHOME VOLUNTEER TEAM AT MORALES FARM
Skilled and unskilled volunteers, 18 years or older, are needed to work alongside Clark Construction to build three new structures using repurposed and recycled
materials.
This collaborative community project will help ease our farmer housing
crisis while utilizing new and innovative ideas in green building design and serve as
a model for future affordable housing projects.
reHOME, is a partnership with Clark Construction, Coates Design, Friends of the Farms and Housing Resources Bainbridge.
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BY THE NUMBERS: COVID RATES |
Current Cases per 100,000
- Bainbridge Island: 56 (up from 44)
- Kitsap County: 101 (the same as last week)
Bainbridge Cumulative Total Cases
- 2,666 (14 new since last week)
As of Aug. 25, 2022
Kitsap County External Resources:
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FREE CHAMBER MEMBER RESOURCES |
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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
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