September 23, 2008 - KINGSTON, WA -- The Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council (KRCC) announced today that they are seeking 75 Kitsap and Jefferson County businesses to participate in a six-month, state-sponsored telecommuting program. Participants in the Telework Pilot Project will have access to a comprehensive telework toolkit that includes everything needed to develop, launch and evaluate a telework program.

The Telework Pilot Project is funded by a $150,000 grant KRCC received from the Washington State Department of Transportation's Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Program to develop and test a telework toolkit that will become a model for other communities across the state. KRCC will present the toolkit and pilot project findings to the Washington State Legislature on July 1, 2009.

"With 25% of Kitsap's workers currently commuting to King, Pierce and Snohomish counties daily, it makes perfect sense for us to be the lab rat for evaluating telework in the metro corridor," said KRCC and Poulsbo City Council member Ed Stern. "The Telework Pilot Project presents an opportunity for select companies in Kitsap and Jefferson County to be at the forefront of the shift towards a mobile workforce in the state of Washington."

Kitsap County has over twelve major road improvement projects underway, including the May -- June 2009 Hood Canal Bridge closure. The Telework Pilot Project offers Kitsap and Jefferson County employers and their employees impacted by the strain on area roads with the tools, templates and support needed to put a telework program in place, including a list of Telework Centers that can be used as alternative work sites.

"Telework is important to organizations, the county and the state on many levels," commented Mary McClure, Executive Director of the Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council. "In addition to reducing carbon emissions and strain on area roads, telework can trim overhead and increase an organization's bottom-line, while driving innovation and economic growth through improved recruitment and retention."

KRCC is seeking area organizations that can commit to having at least two employees telework at least one day per two-week period for the duration of the pilot project -- from October 2008 to April 2009. Employers and employees interested in learning more about the Telework Pilot Project are invited to attend one of several orientation sessions being held in Kitsap and Jefferson Counties in September and October. Orientation dates, times and locations can be found at www.kitsapregionalcouncil.org/telework.html. Contact Laura Gronnvall at 360.377.4900 for more information or to register for an orientation session.

Media Contact: Annie Eissler, Mixtur Interactive, 206.965.9505, x2238 or annie@mixtur.com