BUSINESS & COMMUNITY NEWS
SCOTUS ROUND-UP:
COVID-19 VACCINE RULE BLOCKED, MANDATE FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS, MASK MANDATE ON PLANES
Mixed fortunes this week for the Biden administration in its dealings with the U.S. Supreme Court.

On Thursday, attempts to introduce a requirement that employees at large businesses get a vaccine/test regularly and wear a mask on the job were rebuffed, while a specific vaccine mandate for most health care workers in the U.S. was allowed.


Earlier today, the court rejected a bid to block a mask mandate on airplanes, keeping it in place until at least March 18.
 
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW BAINBRIDGE ISLAND MAYOR AND DEPUTY MAYOR
At last week's business meeting the Council selected Joe Deets as mayor for 2022, and Brenda Fantroy-Johnson as Deputy Mayor for the first six-month term of the year. Both were elected unanimously.

"It's good to start," said Joe Deets after accepting the gavel during Tuesday's virtual meeting to begin the business meeting. "I always looked at this first meeting of the year like opening day (my baseball metaphor) - new team, high hopes. I'm really excited about our new year."

Under Bainbridge's council-manager form of government, the 7 council members annually choose a Mayor to preside at Council business meetings and to be recognized as the head of the City for ceremonial purposes.
 
The Deputy Mayor serves in the absence or temporary disability of the Mayor and presides over City Council study sessions.


To learn more about the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, watch/read the Chamber's recent election cycle interviews with Joe Deets and Brenda Fantroy-Johnson.
FREE FEDERAL AT-HOME COVID TESTS AVAILABLE ONLINE NOW, STATE TESTS COMING SOON
Impressively, the new federal webiste covidtests.gov is already up and running today, ahead of the 'official' launch tomorrow.

Every home in the U.S. is now able to directly order 4 free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests - and orders will usually ship in 7-12 days.

Order now from COVIDtests.gov

An additional WA website, resulting from a state government/Amazon partnership is expected to also go live in the next few days offering a further 3.5 million free tests by mail exclusively for Washingtonians.
REP. KILMER TO ADDRESS CITY COUNCIL TONIGHT
Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA-06) will participate in City Council's 6pm study session today.

He will share his legislative priorities and offer information about how the City can take advantage of federal infrastructure funding.
 
Rep. Kilmer visited Bainbridge on Jan. 4 to meet with business owners and personally thank the Island's COVID-19 vaccine leaders for their ongoing efforts.
LEGISLATORS STILL MOVING SWIFTLY ON LONG-TERM CARE
Efforts are underway in both the Senate and House to delay the implementation of the WA CARES Act for 18 months, and to allow lawmakers to make necessary revisions.

As of today, having passed through the Appropriations committee, the 18-month delay bill is headed to the floor for a second reading and debate in the House.
YOUR INPUT REQUESTED
KITSAP BUSINESS SURVEY
Business Owners: How is the omicron surge most affecting your business?
(please select your single top answer)
Difficulty hiring
Reduced foot traffic
Staff out sick
Supply chain issues
Uncertain business climate
EMPLOYERS: HOW BEST TO EDUCATE LOCAL WORKFORCE?
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.
BAINBRIDGE JOB OPENINGS
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AT THE BLOEDEL RESERVE
The Reserve is hiring for a number of exciting opportunities including:
  • Director of Development & Communications
  • Development & Communications Coordinator
  • Events Manager
  • Well-being Programs Manager (part-time)
  • Grounds & Facilities Associate

Visit the Bloedel Careers page to learn more about each opportunity.
HELP THE ISLAND: BECOME A BAINBRIDGE AMBASSADOR
Would you like to share your favorite places on Bainbridge Island while providing valuable service and support to our community?

The Chamber is looking for volunteers at our Winslow Way visitor information desk, but also offering flexible part-time paid work at the Ferry Terminal Kiosk.

Kiosk ambassadors greet visitors as they walk off the boat, helping them find the places they wish to visit or connecting them to new places and services they will love.

At the Chamber offices, volunteers engage visitors and locals in person and on the phone, as well as customers for our vehicle, vessel, fish, and wildlife licensing services.

Both positions are a great way to see your friends, neighbors, and fellow Islanders while making fun new connections around Bainbridge.

Hours are flexible and the workload is light. Welcome to a great way to engage with and represent our wonderful Island Community.

Apply online right now or drop off a resume and cover letter in person to Mickey at the Chamber offices.
Equal opportunity employer. 
MEMBER NEWS & EVENTS
WINE ON THE ROCK 2022
February 5-6 and 11-14
Roam Bainbridge Island and explore seven artisan wineries for two fabulous and decadent wine & chocolate-pairing weekends.

Available by reservation only, and just in time for Valentine's Day gifts, tickets are good for one flight plus chocolates at each winery...
BUSINESS EDUCATION & SUPPORT
HOW TO SORT OUT YOUR BUSINESS'S PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX
It might sound like an oxymoron, but Washington State does charge businesses Personal Proptery Tax on business equipment, fixtures and such. It's not generally a huge expense, but there are penalties for not filing.
NEW YEAR, NEW BUSINESS TIPS FROM THE KITSAP SBCC
2 fresh resources from our local Small Business Development Center.

1. Does Your Business Need to File Forms 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC?
 
If you use independent contractors to perform services for your business, for each one that you pay $600 or more for the year, you are required to issue the worker and the IRS a Form 1099-NEC no later than January 31, 2022, for 2021 payments.


2. Start 2022 Off Right: Clean Up QuickBooks
 
January is always such a transitional month. You’re trying to wrap up everything that didn’t get done during a hectic December. At the same time, you have to jump into the new year and start doing your regularly-scheduled work. It can be hard to tell sometimes which year you’re working on.

WA COVID RELIEF FLEX FUND SECURES ADDITIONAL FUNDING
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:
  • Payroll
  • Utilities & rent
  • Marketing & advertising
  • Building improvements or repairs
LOCAL COVID UPDATES
COUNTY COVID RATES SOAR TO NEW HIGH, ISLAND RATES FALL
In today's latest Kitsap County numbers, more than 1,300 cases per 100,000 residents are recorded (up from 1,100 last week).

Island numbers have begun to fall, and are today at 642 cases per 100k (down 50% from last week).

Since the start of the pandemic, there have now been 1,290 total cases recorded on Bainbridge, 167 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 vaccinated, alongside 71% 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-1pm
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.
FREE SIGNS, MASKS, HAND SANITIZER 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 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...