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January 8, 2025d

 

The Worlds Largest Sporting Event is Coming this June. What does that mean for Kitsap?

Learn how to scale, staff, and prepare for

2026’s soccer-driven opportunities


KEDA is proud to sponsor the Ready Kitsap: Business & Tourism Summit, a one-day event designed to help businesses understand what’s coming in 2026 and take practical steps today to scale, staff, and succeed.

 

MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS & SMALL BUSINESS

 

Olympic College Workshops


1/28 Setting up an AirBnB


1/17 Fundamentals of Setting up Your Own LLC


2/3 Essentials for Small Business Marketing


3/3 Shopify Basics for Product Sellers– Setting up an Online Market Place


3/5 Setting up an AirBnB

New workshops coming soon - Ride Share and Food Trucks!

 

STAY KITSAP 26 - A countywide initiative


Stay Kitsap 26 is the premier home-base for visitors traveling to the Pacific Northwest for the once-in-a-lifetime World Championship Soccer experience in the summer of 2026. See it here


Featured Story:

Turning Big Ideas Into Market-Ready Products

Photo credit Brittany Kelly and Vibe Coworks

You won’t know what’s possible until you try, and every step, even the uncertain ones, brings you closer to making your vision real.”


Great ideas don’t always come with a clear roadmap. When Darren O’Connor set out to bring his EV charger to market, he faced the same hurdles many founders do: limited capital, unfamiliar territory, and big manufacturing risks. With support from Matchstick Lab, he turned uncertainty into a scalable, market-ready business.

“I’d tell any aspiring entrepreneur to take the leap, even if it feels uncomfortable—you’re not alone. I started with a prototype and no idea how to bring it to the EV market. What matters is starting small, testing your ideas, gathering feedback, and being willing to pivot.”

👉 Read more about Darren’s journey and how Matchstick Lab helps entrepreneurs turn ideas into reality.

BIPOC Community - We need to hear from you!

 

Newly updated! Kitsap Quick Facts

Visit our website for additional economic data

 

Kitsap Childcare Taskforce seeks your input!

 

Next BE$T 6-week program starts Jan 20!

 

Inventech Marine Solutions featured in the latest WestSound Magazine!


Inventech is growing—expanding to more than 90,000 square feet and delivering world-class boats for military, public safety, and recreational use nationwide.

President Jenson Charnell credits Kitsap’s talent and business ecosystem for making that growth possible. Learn more about Inventech Marine Solutions

 
 

Attention Washington State Non-profits! 
$50,000 Grants Available!

The Washington State Department of Commerce is soliciting applications from non-profit organizations to support planning and readiness activities for capital projects expected to be completed or shovel-ready within the next five years. This includes funding for pre-development and pre-construction work, such as feasibility studies, design, permitting, and stakeholder engagement..


CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS


 
 
 

UPCOMING CLASSES & EVENTS

 
 
 
 

Prime Connect

Jan 14th, 8-9 AM

Letters to the Government

Weds, Jan 28th, 3-4:30 PM

Wednesday with the Deputy for Small Business -NUWC Keyport

Weds, Jan 21st, 10-11 AM

Contracting Coffee Hour

Wed Feb 2nd, 9-:30 PM



SEE COMPLETE CLASS SCHEDULE

RRECENT SIOP NEWS

 

 APEX Accelerators your official government contracting resource


KEDA's APEX Accelerator Team is available to assist Kitsap businesses who are interested in doing business with the government. Businesses who enter into a contract with the Navy will need to be registered in SAM and become familiar with government contracting protocols. We provide no cost, confidential, one-on-one technical assistance in all aspects of selling to federal, state, and local governments regulations, certifications, marketing and proposal review. WA APEX also assists agencies, departments and primes in their efforts to comply with federal and state procurement diversity and subcontracting goals. KEDA's APEX Accelerator service area covers Kitsap and North Mason Counties.


VISIT KITSAP APEX ACCELERATOR

 
Facebook  Instagram  LinkedIn  YouTube


 
 
 
 

Resources & Guides

Become an APEX Client

WA APEX Training Calendar

Subscribe to BidMatch

WA APEX YouTube Channel 

 

Kitsap Economic Development Alliance

2021 NW Myhre Road, Suite 100

Silverdale WA 98383

360.377.9499


kitsapeda.org info@kitsapeda.org


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