Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce

a weekly digest for bainbridge business owners and our island community

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In case anything ever does not display correctly for you, we will now also provide a link to the each week's Chamber News at the top of each edition:

Click here for the webpage version of this week's Chamber News

BUSINESS & COMMUNITY NEWS

Murden Creek construction

Photo courtesy of The Island Wanderer

Two Nights of Major Roadwork On 305 This Week


Overnight and early morning travelers who use State Route 305 on Bainbridge Island will want to plan for extra travel time this week as work is done to wrap up the fish culvert project near Sportsman Club.


9pm Thurs Oct. 12 through 6am Fri Oct. 13

Flaggers will alternate a single lane of traffic on SR 305 between Northeast Lovgreen Road and Sportsman Club Road.


9pm Fri Oct. 13 to 6am a.m. Sat Oct. 14

SR 305 will close to all travelers near Sportsman Club Road.


Please note that this work is weather-dependent and could potentially be rescheduled.


Additional fish culvert traffic delays are starting this week on HWY 305 - just south of Poulsbo north of Agate Bridge for the next 18 months.

Project Overview & More Details

Up Tonight At City Council: Fee Subsidies for Affordable Housing Projects

Tue Oct 10, 6pm


City Council will discuss draft Resolution No. 2023-07, to create a program to subsidize land use permit fees for affordable housing development to encourage their creation.


The current version reflects the following changes:

  • A new tier will provide 100% affordable developments with a 100% offset for land use permit fees.
  • The tiered fee reduction in the original resolution for developments with less than 100% affordability will be available to nonprofit housing developers only, excluding for-profit developers and public agencies.
  • The city will contribute $30,000 toward building permit and utility fees for nonprofit developments with 4 or more units that are 100% affordable at or below 80% area median income.


Attend the meeting in person or via zoom to show your support and add your voice...

Tonight's Agenda & Zoom Link

Image courtesy of Sound Publishing

Voting Now Open For Best of Kitsap 2023


The winners from each category in the Best of Bainbridge, Best of South Kitsap, Best of North Kitsap and Best of Central Kitsap are now going head to head to determine the best in Kitsap County.


Those winners include many Chamber members, as well as our very own Grand Old 4th celebration (in Annual Event of the Year up against Fathoms O' Fun, Viking Fest, and the Kitsap Fair) - so please head on over and support the island!


You may vote once per day in each category. Results will be announced in a sepcial results section inserted in the Bainbridge Island Review, North Kitsap Herald, Port Orchard Independent and Central Kitsap Reporter on Dec. 15.


Voting will remain open until Sunday October 22

Vote Early & Often Here

Replacing aging equipment near the Port Madison Substation this summer

Photo courtesy of PSE

Phase One Upgrades at Port Madison Substation Complete


To improve electric reliability for Bainbridge Island customers, PSE replaced some aging equipment at the Port Madison Substation this summer.


Work included: 

  • the underground portion of four distribution lines near the substation
  • an old circuit switcher with a high-voltage circuit breaker to better protect the substation equipment
  • 12.5 kV circuit breakers with “smart” 12.5 kV circuit breakers to allow for remote control and automation of the distribution system 


In addition, they trimmed trees near the substation and along the transmission lines that serve the island, installed a new pole, and adjusted existing poles near the substation.

Learn More About Project 

AWB: Housing Becoming More Unaffordable State-Wide


The latest data from the AWB Institute suggests that housing is only getting more expensive for Washington residents.


In Q2 2022, the state's median home resale price was $654,900, just 0.1% higher than the same quarter the previous year. but even as home prices stay stagnant, rising mortgage rates have made home buying increasingly unaffordable.


In the second quarter of 2023, WA's Housing Affordability Index was at 57, down five points from last year and a full 49 points from three years ago (an index rating of 100 would mean that housing and income are in balance and affordable).

AWB's Housing Affordability Stats

Getty Images

WA Child Care Providers Remain Short-Staffed


First, the good news: Despite the recent expiration of federal pandemic funding that kept child care providers afloat the last few years, Washington state is not likely to see a huge drop in child care services, according to the Washington State Standard.


This is due in large part to the fact that the state used most of the funding and passed new state laws to support child care programs beyond the pandemic.


Now the bad: The child care industry in the state is still experiencing a severe staffing crisis. While 307,000 children under the age of 5 need care because both parents work, only about 27% have access to a nearby licensed provider.

Washington Standard Article

CORRECTION:

The League of Women Voters of Kitsap's Bainbridge Candidate Forum on Wed October 18 at 6:30pm is online-only with no in-person attendance option.


Click here for full details and zoom link

NEWS IN BRIEF






CHAMBER NEWS

Randi Brown & Caron Anderson from John L. Scott - Bainbridge

RSVP Now For Halloween After Hours at John L. Scott

Thu Oct 26, 5:30pm


Ready for a spooktactular Chamber member mixer?


Come join Randi, Caron, & the John L Scott Team for a haunting After Hours at their Winslw Way offices on Thursday, October 26 at 5:30pm.


For those willing to get in the spirit and don a costume, there will be prizes and universal acclaim...


Complimentary wine will be provided by our event sponsors at Eleven Winery.


Tickets are always free for Chamber members and available to a limited number of non-member guests for $20.

Sign Up for October's After Hours

20 Under 40 Awards:

Chamber Standing By To Nominate YOU


Let the Chamber know if you would like to be nominated as a Kitsap business leader under the age of 40 (as of January 30th of the current award year) making an impact in business, philanthropy and/or in our local community


Email membership@bainbridgechamber.com by Fri October 13 to have us nominate YOU.

Info on 20 Under 40 Awards 

MEMBER NEWS

Celebrate Fall & Halloween Bainbridge Island Style


Bainbridge Islanders love their holidays and celebrating Fall and Halloween!


There’s a lot going on throughout the month and Island Wanderer Blog has compiled a list of what’s happening: from costume swap at KidiMu to Pumpkin Walk at Bainbridge Gardens and the annual Trick or Treating event on Winslow Way.


Don your costume and get ready to celebrate cooler nights, falling leaves, pumpkin picking, haunted hayrides, Dia de Los Muertos, & ghost stories.

Read all the Events in October from The Island Wanderer

Volunteers Needed:

Haunted Hayride


Did you miss out on Haunted Hayride tickets? Snag your seat as a volunteer instead!


The Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District’s annual Haunted Hayride is entirely sold out but still has a variety of volunteer needs.

 

From set-up to tear-down, from craft hosts to ghost hosts, from registration to selfie station, consider lending a hand next week, Oct 17-19.

View All Positions & Sign Up Today

Zero Waste Tableware Lending Library


Did you know there is a Table Sustainable Bainbridge's Zero Waste Tableware Lending Library is open to any island organization or individual?


Organizations may visit the lending library before their event to decide what style tableware is needed and email the Sustainable Bainbridge with date, inventory list, and number of guests.


After the event return the items washed and dried.

Tableware Lending Library Info

Celebrate Oktoberfest with

Old Alcohol Plant

Oct 13 - Oct 15


Old Alcohol Plant (OAP) is partnering with the Apple & Cider Festival for a weekend of festivities.


OAP is hosting Oktoberfest is Fri Oct 13 from 4-8pm with beer tasting, Sausage buffet featuring Uli’s Famous Sausage, Uli will be at the Inn cooking up his famous sausages our restaurant will be preparing the sides, and live music by Joel Gibson, Jr.


On Sat and Sun there is a shuttle service to the local Apple & Cider events that Old Alcohol Plant guests can purchase when they book their hotel stay.

More from Old Alcohol Plant

The Great WA Shake Out

Oct 19, 10:19am

Prepare for the World Largest Drill

BUSINESS ACADEMY

Arts WA One-Time Recovery Grants Now Available


COVID Impacts Recovery grants offer small, one-time grants to Washington businesses in the arts, heritage, and science sectors to provide funding for recovery from pandemic economic impacts. For-profit and non-profit businesses are eligible.


Examples of eligible businesses:


  • Arts: Performing Arts Company (Theatre, Dance, Music, etc.), Live Entertainment Venue, Art Gallery, Independent Artist, Writer, or Performer
  • Heritage: Museum, Historical or Cultural Organization
  • Science: Environment, Conservation or Wildlife Organization
  • Grant funding is limited to $5,000 per application. This is based on our goal of providing meaningful funding impact with a limited funding pool.


Applications are open through Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.

Apply & Learn More

MEMBER COMMUNITY EVENTS

A Conversation with ReFashion Bainbridge

Wed Oct 11, 7:30pm


ReFashion Bainbridge is proud to present a one-hour discussion at BHS between J. B. MacKinnon, journalist and author of The Day the World Stops Shopping (in addition to The 100-mile Diet) and Rebecca Rockefeller, co-author of Buy Nothing, Get Everything, and one of the founders of the world-wide Buy Nothing Project. 


More from Island Wanderer

BIFD Pancake Breakfast

Sat Oct 14, 8am - 12pm


Join the BI Fire Department for their Annual Pancake Breakfast at station 21 (8895 Madison Ave NE).


There will be great food, fun games, view the trucks and Airlift Northwest, & meet the crew!


All You Need to Know from BIFD

Turn Back Time: The Sixties Fundraiser Gala

Sat Oct 14, 6-9pm


While dressing in your best ‘60s attire is encouraged, a costume is by no means required.


Hosted by renowned nonprofit auctioneer, John Curley, the evening will feature a captivating ‘60s dance presentation, the melodic tunes of Dick Dearsley, and an exciting dessert dash.


Purchase Tickets & Support History Museum

Night at BARN

Sat Oct 14, 6-9pm


Join BARN for an evening of creativity and community support as for their inaugural signature fundraising event for BARN.


Includes beverages, appetizers, dinner, and creative experiences in BARN studios.


More from BARN

Comedy Night at Sisters' Cider House

Sun Oct 15, 6:30pm


Join Seattle's funniest local comedians with hosts Joey Cruz and Nolan Culver.


Pair your favorite cider with food from Cafe Rendezvous.


Purchase Your Tickets

Housing Decommodified with Francesca Mari

Mon Oct 16, 7:00pm


In partnership with the Bainbridge Library, HRB presents Francesca Mari, author of The New York Times Magazine cover story, “Imagine a Renters’ Utopia. It Might Look Like Vienna.”

 

Mari will challenge our assumptions about housing and why things are the way they are in this country and shed light on those who have lost out under American housing policy.


Register for this Free Event

Social Security 101

Tue Oct 17, 4-5pm


Washington Public Affairs representative, Kirk Larson, will answer questions about when you are eligible to receive retirement benefits, how early retirement affects your benefits, if you qualify for spousal benefits and more.


This program is in partnership with the Social Security Administration.


Register to Receive the Zoom Link

Alexa's Full Day Retreat

Sat Oct 21, 10:30am - 6pm


Join Alexa and Michael from Island Fitness at a beautiful waterfront private location in Port Ludlow with an open and roomy indoor space for a full day retreat.


The day includes mindfulness, meditation, Qigong, yoga, stretching and movement practices.


The event finishing with a special sound bath - feeling the healing power of vibration from beautiful crystal sound bowls.


Register & More Info

For more Bainbridge Island events head over to the community calendar at bainbridgecurrents.com

FREE MEMBER RESOURCES

Business Info Brochure Racks:


Let everyone know about your business with 4x9" rack cards at both the Ferry Info Kiosk & Winslow Way Info Desk

Email For Details

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

Book the Room

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.

Book A Pop-Up


Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce

Advocacy, Connection, and Community since 1927

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