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As a new commissioner for the Port Of Bremerton, educating myself on the on-going operations of the Port and the impact it has on our community has provided me with a respect and appreciation for this 100+ year-old organization, and those who serve it, for the benefit of our community and citizens. I’ve also learned how critically valuable the Port will be to resolving the economic challenges brought on by this COVID 19 crisis.

I didn’t expect that within the first few months as commissioner we’d be working through these unexpected and unprecedented times. I’m more confident than ever that the Port is positioned to help us weather this COVID storm, but perhaps even more valuable will be our ability to help us dig out from the economic challenges that will result.

The Port of Bremerton was created to support our local economy, to encourage growth of existing and new business, and to help create jobs that support our families and community. We were on the cusp of perhaps our greatest opportunity to expand our facilities and footprint to do just that when, without warning, things changed – for all of us. The Port was also created, and has been building momentum, for times just like these.

The strategic positioning of Port assets in the expanding Puget Sound Region has been gaining recognition for both business development and recreational interests as our desirable quality-of-life reputation and sound economic foundation is marketed to regional and national prospects. The current development of the Amazon warehouse is a prime example of a national company which chose to locate adjacent to, and on, Port property to meet their business expansion needs. The present and future population growth for our area is a major reason for our commercial growth expansion and, also, an increase in airport use and demand for hangar space is at an all-time high. In response, the Port is moving forward to provide additional leasable land and developed hangar space to meet the demand. And, recent FAA approval will ensure that airplane enthusiasts and the local community will, once again, be able to enjoy a restaurant experience at the airport with a newly developed airport diner in the near future.

Everything that has occurred before these times has prepared the Port to respond from a solid financial footing, with the ability to springboard into action to support the economic revitalization of our community. Working with local, state and federal governments we will help sustain what we’ve started over these last years and support efforts to restore local businesses that are poised to emerge from these challenging times.

This is a new playbook for everyone. The impact on our local and world economy and daily lives will continue to be sorted our over the weeks and months to come.  However, the strength of our economy remains, and we will apply all of the expertise and assets appropriate to support our economic recovery.

We are fortunate to have a Port Commission that includes my two colleagues who both have much experience managing economic challenges and building a path to prosperity. I look forward to the weeks and months ahead working with them to help make that happen. For now, we will be supporting our existing tenants and assets at our Marinas and Industrial areas while preparing to craft a plan to manage and emerge from this challenge.

Gary Anderson

Port of Bremerton Commissioner

Your Port of Bremerton staff are still here for you! While non-essential staff are working remotely, they're still available by phone or email during regular business hours. The airport and Avian Flight Center are still open to serve pilots, both marinas are still open (with certain changes to keep everyone safe), and construction projects are starting again.

We know it's a hard time for everyone and we've offered rent deferment programs to our tenants, some of whom took the option. The Port is here to support the community during this crisis and to ensure everyone gets through it together!

In order to help members of the community during this crisis, the Port of Bremerton donated $2,500 to The Kitsap County Food Bank Coalition and $2,500 to Full Circle Meals.

“The Port is here to support and build up the local community through its mission of generating economic development,” Port CEO Jim Rothlin said. “We are in very unusual times and our people need our help to keep businesses afloat and put people back to work. We are just one part of an entire community doing what we can to contribute. We’d like to encourage everyone else to help their neighbors in any way possible.”

If anyone else is interested in donating to the KCFBC, please contact KCFBC President Jennifer Hardison at South Kitsap Helpline at 360-876-4089 or [email protected] with any further questions regarding monetary donations (or in-kind donations as well) to the KCFBC.

For more information, or if you’re interested in helping support Full Circle Meals, please email [email protected]. You can also mail donations to The Arc of the Peninsula, 3242 N. Perry Ave. Bremerton, WA 98310 (please indicate your donation is for Full Circle Meals), go to www.penarc.org, or to https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/full-circle-meals-feeding-the-community-and-the-economy.

The Kitsap Economic Development Alliance website is listing resources to help businesses in these uncertain times. Go to http://kitsapeda.org/media-center/ and scroll down to find them. Resources listed here vary from loans, to employment security, to health, and more.

KEDA is also doing a weekly webinar Thursdays at 10 a.m. to help businesses address concerns related to COVID-19. Register for their weekly webinars here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xZMwd23eSK6M2dO9eZMRgQ

Freedom Boat Club, currently operating from our Bremerton Marina, expanded to our Port Orchard Marina this year! They've moved all of their Bremerton boats to Port Orchard while keeping their training center in Bremerton. They've also opened a Poulsbo location for those a little further north on the peninsula.

There are six boats currently in Port Orchard and five in Poulsbo. The amount of boats in any location depends on how many members they've got signed up there.

Check out their Bremerton/Port Orchard or Pouslbo locations to learn more about them or becoming a member!

Construction on the Port's newest projects was recently allowed to begin again! Our first spec building, a 17,400 sq. ft. building located at 5550 Cruiser Loop SW, should be finished within 6-8 weeks. A few parties have expressed interest in becoming tenants and we're excited to have the space filled.

Our newest project, a 5,300 sq. ft. building along HWY 3 with multiple pad-ready sites, has had the land cleared. Pad-ready sites will be built soon, and following that, the 5,300 sq. ft. building that would be ideal for a brewery!

If you're interested in all or part of either building or the pad-ready sites, please contact Arne Bakker, Director of Business Development at [email protected] or at 360-813-0814.

New hangars are being built at the airport beginning this year. Site-prep and infrastructure work will begin after a bid is awarded on May 26.

Corporate, box, and t-hangars will be built after the site-prep work is done. More details on these will be announced when available.

Bremerton National Airport is getting a lighting upgrade for its runway/taxiway/signage. Construction will begin July 6 and end September 18. During the construction period, airport restrictions will exist at certain times to accommodate construction, including periodic taxiway closures, limited night operations, and a decrease in certain instrument approach procedures. Pilots and tenants should pay close attention to the airport’s Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) once construction begins.

The end result will be a more reliable and more energy-efficient system, with significant reductions in the number of spare parts required to be maintained in inventory.

Bremerton National Airport was awarded $69,000 under the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act from the federal government. “The Port will track both the funding received and how it is ultimately expended.” Hendrickson said. “I’m very thankful that we have the support of the federal government in these unprecedented times.”