CHAMBER OFFICES HOLIDAY HOURS
Please note that the Chamber's last day of business for 2021 will be Thursday, December 23.

Our offices (including the Licensing Desk and Visitor Information Desk) will be closed from Christmas Eve through January 3.

We will re-open at 9am on Tuesday January 4, 2022.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
BUSINESS & COMMUNITY NEWS
LONG-TERM CARE TAX PROGRAM PUT ON HOLD
Gov. Jay Inslee announced Friday he would pause tax collections for the new state-run long-term care insurance program.

That means employers will not need to deduct the 0.58% payroll tax starting Jan. 1, 2022, as the law required.

If employers still end up deducting money for the tax, Democratic leaders in the Legislature are expected to create a mechanism to refund those premiums to workers.

WASHINGTON STATE JOB GROWTH REBOUNDS
Washington employers added 12,800 jobs in November, according to the monthly report from the state Employment Security Department (ESD).

Washington’s November growth outpaced hiring for the United States as a whole, which saw a 62% decline, to 210,000 jobs, in November, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

REMINDER: WA MINIMUM WAGE RISES TO $14.49 ON JANUARY 1
Cost-of-living increases have seen the state minimum wage rise by 80c/hour next year.

Special higher rates still apply to Seattle and SeaTac, so SeaTac's minimum wage becomes $16.57 per hour, and Seattle's $16.69 per hour,

The 2021 state minimum wage is currently $13.69 per hour

FINAL COUNCIL MEETING OF 2021 IN BRIEF
In addition to presenting the oath of office for Brenda Fantroy-Johnson and recognizing the service of outgoing mayor Rasham Nassar, a jam-packed last regular business of 2021 saw Council:
  • Approve the County's growth plan (including projections for 28,660 residents on Bainbridge by 2036).
  • Confirm the recommendations of the Lodging Tax and Cultural Funding committees
  • Ratify a grant application for $60k (with $20k in matching funds) to help support business waste reduction efforts in '22
  • Extend the Housing Design Demonstration Project and set a public hearing for 02/22
  • Vote to formally discuss the Island's primary care crisis after the holidays

US BANK SOLE BIDDER AT KITSAP MALL AUCTION
U.S. Bank, which held the loan defaulted on by the owner of the Kitsap Mall, will be the mall's new owner after it was the sole bidder at the mall's foreclosure auction on Friday.

U.S. Bank bid the $30 million minimum at the sale held outside the Kitsap County Administration Building in Port Orchard on Friday 12/17.

BUSINESS FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
S.T.E.P. FUNDING PROGRAM AIMS TO HELP LOCAL BUSINESSES ACCESS INT'L MARKETS

A new round of funding from the Small Business Administration makes up to $10,000 available to qualifying Washington businesses who want to explore new markets.

Funds can be used to optimize websites and search engine strategy for trade, ship samples to prospective clients, or to offset the cost of being part state trade delegations to international trade shows.

DEADLINE FOR EIDL LOANS IS FAST APPROACHING
The U.S. Small Business Administration recently announced lifting the cap from $500,000 to $2 million for the COVID-19 EIDL program.

Loan funds can be used for ordinary operating expenses and working capital, including payroll, purchasing equipment, and paying off debt.
The deadline for applications via the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan homepage is Dec. 31
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

BUSINESS BOOSTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
VISIT BAINBRIDGE HOLIDAY EVENTS GUIDE OUT NOW
As part of their new seasonal campaign to bring visitors to the Island, Visit Bainbridge presents an extensive listing of holiday fun.

Remember to tag your events and posts with #bainbridgeholidays to have VBI amplify your efforts with reposts and spotlights...

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND GENERAL STORE IS HERE TO HELP ONLINE FOR THE HOLIDAYS
As Island vendors make their preparations for the holidays, this is a reminder to submit up to 5 products per business for free.

The store is here to help showcase the best of Bainbridge businesses, makers and more.

In 2020, more than 5,000 General Store visitors clicked through to buy Bainbridge more than 1,500 times...

COMMUNITY HOLIDAY EVENTS
MUSICAL HOLIDAY FIRETRUCK IS MAKING ITS JOYOUS ROUNDS
6-9pm nightly through Dec. 24
HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES AROUND THE ISLAND
100% of funds/winter wear collected donated to relief organizations in our community

Featuring the art of Jean-Claude Louis to raise funds for AHB
December 15-22

Through Sunday January 9.

Wed-Sun throughout the holidays

Through Friday December 31

Lunchtime celebration for families

Full run-down of community events
LOCAL COVID UPDATES
ISLAND COVID RATE LOW, BUT OUTBREAK UNDERWAY
A clump of new COVID cases at BHS are still too new to impact the overall Kitsap rates (or to know if they are attributable to the Omicron variant) but serve as a reminder to stay safe over the holidays.

In the (5-days-delayed) Kitsap County numbers, around 91 cases per 100,000 residents (substantial transmission) are noted as steady.

Island numbers are also steady at 16 cases per 100k (moderate transmission).

Island vaccination rates continue to rise and now exceed 96% for those aged 12 and above, as well as 67% of all Island's 5-11-yr-olds (triple that of other parts of Kitsap).

Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 675 total cases on Bainbridge, 11 new since last week's report.

No more clinics are expected on Bainbridge this year, but vaccines continue to be available at local pharmacies.


FREE SIGNS, MASKS, HAND SANITIZER FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS
With the support of the City, County, and Bainbridge's own Breath Café, the Chamber still 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 simply email us - we are here to help...