BUSINESS & COMMUNITY NEWS
GRAND MARSHALS NAMED FOR 2022 FOURTH OF JULY PARADE
As the Chamber team plans the return of the Grand Old 4th, the ways in which our community has pulled together over the past 2 years remain at the top of our minds.

With that mindset, the choice for this year's Grand Marshal is obvious, if a little unconventional...

At the head of this year's parade, we are delighted to announce you will see the leaders of the Bainbridge Prepares Partners (Bainbridge Prepares, COBI, BIFD, and the Community Pharmacy), alongside numerous supporting local organizations and hundreds of Island volunteers...

Yes, you did read that right: It will be both a parade-within-a-parade, and a small recognition of what has been their amazingly huge effort to ensure that vaccinations were available to every Islander and many of our neighbors too.

On behalf of the Chamber and our community, we offer our grateful thanks... see you all on the 4th!

Artist rendering courtesy WSDOT
BIG CHANGES PROPOSED TO BAINBRIDGE FERRY TERMINAL
WSDOT are now taking public comment on their proposed design to create a modern new structure more likely to withstand earthquakes, alongside other key changes:

  • Clear glass windows finally revealing views of the harbor, Sound and Seattle skyline
  • Better ventilation in summer, infrared heaters in winter
  • Shorter overhead walkway with a more gradual slope
  • Replacement of outside ramp with emergency-only staircase
  • Make doors to East Balcony (along flag plaza) exit only

Construction of the new elevated passenger walkway at the Winslow terminal is slated to begin this summer.

Image courtesy of COBI
BREAKING DOWN TONIGHT'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Tonight (02/22/22)'s meeting features 2 lead items and a 6pm start:

  • Waste Reduction Staff: Consider creating a new COBI position to focus on:
  • Community engagement to meet greenhouse gas reduction goals
  • Business support for the waste-reduction ordinances.
  • See project webpage

  • Food Waste Digestion Facility: Would use island-only organic materials to turn waste into renewable natural gas and/or electricity at the Vincent Road transfer station.
  • Download COBI PDF

Also on tonight's agenda:
  • Council May Buy Unused Land in Islander Mobile Home Park
  • Confirmation of recommended new planning commission appts
  • Consider appointment/process of new Ethics Board positions.


NEW CITY PERMIT SAVES TIME, REDUCES BACKLOG
New STFI (Subject To Field Inspection) permits are intended for most indoor residential alterations or remodels (within the existing footprint, without raising roof lines).

  • Since debuting in August, 34 STFI have been now issued
  • Average time for issuance is 7.5 days (instead of months)
  • Reduces backlog for traditional permits

Image courtesy of Kitsap Economic Development Alliance & Western Washington University
KEDA & WWU UNVEIL UPDATED KITSAP COUNTY ECONOMIC PROFILE
Kitsap County’s mainstays continue to thrive - but pandemic-fueled changes in demographics and growth point to fresh greater future opportunities for local business owners.


Hear more at KEDA’s free online Annual Meeting on Wednesday March 30 from 9:30-11:30 am

Image courtesy of COBI
ADOPTION OF BAINBRIDGE SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION PLAN LIKELY
The Sustainable Transportation Plan, which offered three possible scenarios to meet the island’s growing need for more efficient and inclusive mobility, was reviewed at the Feb. 15 City Council study session.


Council members will likely choose to adopt the plan and may also decide on a preferred scenario at the March 8 Meeting.

WA BUSINESS LEADERS SOUND THE CALL FOR TAX RELIEF
With Washington’s estimated surplus of $11.2B, many business leaders are calling for tax relief to help employers continue to recover, reinvest, and create jobs in 2022 and beyond.

Senate Bills 5957 and 5769 both propose tax relief by cutting B&O tax for manufacturers. SB5769 would also repeal capital gains tax and offer significant property tax relief as well.

Follow the passage of SB5957 & SB5769
Image courtesy of Wikipedia
STATE LEGISLATURE BILLS REACH SESSION MILESTONE 
The Washington Retail Association recently released its list of high-impact bills that were either squelched or are moving forward after the Feb. 15 cut-off.

Bills of interest to businesses include:
  • Prohibition of nondisclosure agreements for certain acts
  • Providing wage and salary information to applicants
  • New language requirements for prescription drug labels
  • Allowing the Department of Labor and Industries to adopt new ergonomics regulations

NEWS IN BRIEF
YOUR INPUT REQUESTED
KITSAP BUSINESS SURVEY
Q: Now that Gov. Inslee will soon end the mask mandate, what level of in-person event are you comfortable with?
Select one:
Indoor & outdoor without masks
Indoor & outdoor with masks
Outdoor only - without masks
Outdoor only - with masks
Not at all - online only for me
Recent Results:

Q: How confident are you today that your business can emerge from the pandemic stronger than it entered it?

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND ANSWERS
KITSAP COUNTY ANSWERS
109 Total Responses
MEMBER NEWS & EVENTS
Image courtesy of Cascade Bicycle Club
FIFTY YEARS OF CHILLY HILLY!
Sunday Feb. 27, Feb. 8 am - 3 pm

Five Decades: That's how long the Cascade Bicycle Club has been staging what Bicycling Magazine called "one of four classic rides in the nation" right here on Bainbridge. 

33 miles and 2,173 feet of elevated gain await for avid racers and casual riders alike, with a maximum of 2,500 riders allowed...

If you have a bike, get out there and join in, or cheer them on... (though, word to the wise - if you just have a car, it is a great day to leave it at home).

Image courtesy of the film
REAC SINCE I BEEN DOWN SCREENING
Sunday February 27 at 11am

COBI’s Race Equity Advisory Committee presents “Since I Been Down” at Bainbridge Cinemas. 

The documentary film focuses on the life of Kimonti Carter and a group of his peers growing up in Tacoma amid criminal justice decisions implemented in the 80s and 90s.

A live conversation with filmmaker Dr. Gilda Sheppard will occur after the presentation.

The event will be socially distanced, and proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required upon entry.
Image courtesy of Keith Brofsky
80 YEARS OF HEALING – COMMEMORATION EVENTS AT THE NATIONAL JAPANESE AMERICAN EXCLUSION MEMORIAL 
Wed. March 30, 11 am - Noon
Survivors and speakers, including Gov. Jay Inslee, will Commemorate 80 Years of Healing at the National Japanese American Exclusion Memorial March 30.

Bainbridge Island Japanese Americans were the first citizens displaced from their homes and lands and placed in concentration camps as a result of President Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066 on March 30, 1942.

Parking is limited and reserved for survivors, those with limited mobility and speakers.

A park and ride service from Bethany Lutheran will be available to those who wish to attend in person.

BPA CREATES FREE LENDING LIBRARY OF SELECTED WORKS BY CELEBRATED BLACK PLAYWRIGHTS

In celebration of Black History Month, BPA and its members have created a Free Lending Library.

Borrow timeless classics from August Wilson, Lorraine Hansberry, Jeremy O. Harris and more.

The lending library is located in the newspaper box outside BPA’s temporary offices at 710 John Nelson Drive (in Vineyard Lane). 
BAINBRIDGE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
Image courtesy of Covet Boutique
COVET BOUTIQUE FOR SALE 
Have you always dreamed of owning your own boutique?

The owners of Winslow's Covet Boutique are retiring, which creates an opportunity to own one of Bainbridge’s most established women’s boutiques.

Turnkey operation, proven track record of year-over-year growth, loyal customer base, strong social media presence, website, and established vendor accounts with popular high end quality women’s clothing, jewelry, and shoes. All inventory, fixtures, furniture, and equipment are included with the sale.

BAINBRIDGE JOB & VOLUNTEER OPENINGS
JOIN THE CHAMBER TEAM
Flexible, part-time openings now available both as Licensing Dept. Trainees and Visitor Information Island Ambassadors

BAY HAY & FEED SEEKS BARN MANAGER
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND HISTORICAL MUSEUM SEEKS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
7 FULL-TIME, 14 PART-TIME POSITIONS OPEN AT PARK & REC
BUSINESS EDUCATION & SUPPORT
WEBINAR ON DEVELOPING TRAVEL TRADE BUSINESS
Thursday February 24, 10 am
International Inbound Travel Association Hosts Steps to Success, a webinar designed to help businesses shape inbound tourism development, build dynamic profiles for 3rd-party travel product sellers, and analyze pricing dynamics.

Image courtesy of KEDA
JOIN KEDA FOR A DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION WORKSHOP
Tuesday, March 1, 9-10 AM
Join KEDA for an opportunity to learn more about DEI concepts and help build out the organization’s strategies for equity and inclusion.

BUSINESS TIP: LAY OUT THE CAREER LADDER TO ATTRACT WORKERS 
Whether it’s the pandemic or the false perception that hospitality careers lead nowhere, hiring is tough.

One way to attract new hires is by clearly communicating how future employees can work their way up the ladder to achieve career success.

LOCAL COVID UPDATES
Image courtesy of Gov. Jay Inslee's Office
WASHINGTON STATE TO END MASK MANDATE BY MARCH 21
As vaccination rates continue to increase and hospitalization rates come down, Gov. Jay Inslee said indoor mask mandates for the state would end by Mach 21.

Image courtesy of King5
KING COUNTY EASES VACCINE RECORD CHECKS MARCH 1
King County won't require restaurants, bars, gyms and theaters to check for proof of vaccination starting March 1.

Image courtesy of Kitsap Health
COUNTY COVID RATES CONTINUE TO FALL IN KITSAP & BAINBRIDE ISLAND
As of Feb. 10, the latest Kitsap County COVID infection rates are now down to 186 cases per 100,000 residents.

Island numbers are also down to just 99 cases per 100k, right at the level where new cases slow their spread.

Since the start of the pandemic, there have now been 1,747 total cases recorded on Bainbridge, only 8 of them new over the past week.


Vaccination rates on Bainbridge continuing to lead the county - more than 99% of Islanders aged 12 and above are now vaccinated, alongside 73% of 5 to 11-yr-olds.


Drive-through testing is offered 6 days a week in Kitsap County, with the Rolling Bay testing site on Bainbridge open Mondays and Wednesdays 9am-Noon.


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
ERASE THE WASTE TABLE-TENT 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.

Image courtesy of BI Chamber
FREE MASKS, HAND SANITIZER STILL AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES & NONPROFITS
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 still currently 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...