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With support from Matchstick Lab Micro Business Accelerator, Darren O’Connor transformed an EV charging concept into a scalable manufacturing business.In 2019, Darren O’Connor was in San Diego, hanging out. Taking a break from a career in the telecom industry that spanned over 25 years.One day, he noticed his neighbor’s plug...
Deadline extended: Washington Electric Vehicle Charging Program Round 2 RFA Application deadline extended to Dec. 30, 2025Commerce has extended the Washington Electric Vehicle Charging Program Round 2 RFA application deadline to Dec. 30. Washington remains under a statewide emergency declaration and many communities continue to respond to ongoing flooding and other related...
Request for proposals: For development of child care and energy transmission siting resourcesProposals are due by Jan. 6more infoWashington Stated Dept of Commerce is seeking proposals from firms interested in developing technical assistance documents intended to help local governments site child care facilities and energy transmission infrastructure.Commerce will award one...
WorkSource Kitsap and WorkSource Clallam in partnership with Olympic Workforce Development Council is excited to announce the return of our Small Business grants. The grant supports Black, Latine, Tribal, Asian, Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander small businesses in Clallam, Jefferson, and Kitsap Counties through the Commerce Reinvestment Program Initiative. Two small...
Learn how to prepare for and manage the impacts of government shutdowns, funding delays, and contract disruptions. Practical strategies to protect and sustain your business during difficult times.In today’s uncertain contracting environment, small businesses face shifting budgets, delayed payments, and changing federal priorities. When financial pressures or government shutdowns occur,...
Next summer, over 750,000 visitors are expected to flood the Puget Sound region as Seattle hosts matches for the 2026 global soccer tournament. For Kitsap businesses, this isn’t just a moment—it’s a movement.Event Wrap-Up: Kickstart Kitsap – From Pop-Ups to ProfitKitsap business owners, community partners, and local leaders gathered at...
A new MOU designates Vibe Coworks as the City’s tertiary operations site in case of disaster, underscoring how coworking spaces contribute to community resilience and are increasingly understood to be a vital part of civic infrastructure.See original post on Vibe WorksPOULSBO, Washington (October 27, 2024)—As Poulsbo enters a new chapter...
From Workshop to Worldwide Waters: American-Made Fly Rod InnovationBefore a Sage fishing rod ever gets into the hands of an angler, it passes through dozens of other hands on the production floor.Time. Skill. Immense pride in crafting and perfecting what will eventually roll out the door and across the globe,...
Next summer, the world’s largest sporting event is heading our way: The 2026 FIFA World Cup. With it comes significant potential to boost Kitsap tourism and small business.Slated to be held in 16 different cities across Mexico, Canada and the United States, what’s important for us here in the Pacific...
Port Orchard Is Preparing for a Tourism Wave
Oct 22 2025KEDA applauds the City of Port Orchard for proactively gearing up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — and positioning our region to capture new visitor spending and business opportunities. 🌎A newly seated Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) will guide how roughly $100,000 in tourism-promotion funds are invested to strengthen...
Washington APEX will be hosting a client-based zoom meeting to address this situation. This meeting will go over some key points and concerns about small business contractors who are dealing with a federal government shutdown.REGISTER NOWImpact on Government ContractorsWhen anticipating a federal government shutdown, government contractors should take proactive steps...
From the Pitch to the Peninsula: Kitsap’s Game Plan for 2026As the FIFA World Cup 2026™ prepares to unfold in Seattle, Kitsap County is set to embrace its own wave of opportunity and excitement. Seattle will host six matches, and while we’re using the term “FIFA World Cup 2026™” editorially...
Attention Kitsap Defense Contractors: New Cybersecurity Requirement Takes Effect November 10
Oct 10 2025See story in Kitsap Sun submitted by, Steve Treanor, Help Desk CavalrySteve Treanor, Help Desk CavalryFor Kitsap-based businesses that contract with the Department of Defense (DoD), a new cybersecurity milestone is rapidly approaching. Beginning November 10, 2025, all contractors must meet updated cybersecurity standards or risk losing their contracts. This...
$19.4 million available for installation of electric vehicle charging stations across Washington
Oct 6 2025Commerce is making more than $19 million available to increase electric vehicle charging in Washington. There is at least $19.4 million available in Washington Electric Vehicle Charging Program Round 2 (WAEVCP 2). WAECVP helps fund infrastructure that supports Level 2 chargers and direct current fast chargers for public use clean...
Next summer, over 750,000 visitors are expected to flood the Puget Sound region as Seattle hosts matches for the 2026 global soccer tournament. For Kitsap businesses, this isn’t just a moment—it’s a movement.Kickstart Kitsap: From Pop-Ups to Profit, is happening 1-5:30 October 30 at the Kitsap Conference Center, is your...
Thousands of homes and businesses throughout the area are one step closer to getting reliable and affordable high-speed internet. This major milestone comes on the heels of a recent announcement from the Kitsap Public Utility District (KPUD) that the Washington State Broadband Office has made a preliminary allocation of $14.98 million...
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Contractors in the Crosshairs: Navigating Uncertainty During a Federal ShutdownBy Terry Homburg & Mary Jo Juarez, KEDA APEX Accelerator ProgramAs the clock ticks toward midnight on September 30, the U.S. federal government is on the brink of a shutdown due to stalled budget negotiations in Congress. While the political drama...
Reposted from DVIDS Dry Dock 4 (DD4) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility stands as one of the U.S. Navy’s most significant infrastructure investments. Built in 1942, the dry dock now anchors a series of modernization projects designed to meet the demands of today’s fleet. Earlier this month, Naval...
Top 20 Employment Report September 2025
Sep 22 2025Kitsap County – Top Employers, Hiring Elizabeth Court, Economic Principal, KEDA Private and public sector employers across the county noted a continuing demand for both skilled and entry-level workers in most sectors. The labor market tightened with the unemployment rate dropping to a reported 3.4 percent. The Department of the Navy is...
Request for Proposals: Economic Impact Study
Sep 22 2025RFP Announcement: Economic Impact Study for Belfair Sewer System & Puget Sound Industrial Center SouthKitsap's southern neighbor, Mason County and the Economic Development Council of Mason County, in partnership with KEDA, has released a Request for Proposals for an Economic Impact Study of the Belfair Sewer System and Puget Sound...
The City of Bremerton is seeking input from qualified firms to inform a future tourism branding initiative that will shape the City’s long-term approach to destination marketing. This RFI is the first step in preparing for a formal RFP, anticipated in late 2025 or early 2026, to develop a comprehensive...
Read Kitsap Sun storyCalling All to Entrepreneurs to Seize the World Cup MomentThe City of Bremerton recently approved a new program allowing pop-up shops in downtown storefronts for up to 60 days during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It’s a simple idea with a lot of potential: fill empty spaces,...
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View latest story by Peiyu Lin for the Kitsap SunThe Navy has announced another major step forward in modernizing Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF). On September 5, officials awarded a $377.7 million contract to the Kiewit-Alberici Joint Venture to continue seismic upgrades on Dry...
Read Kitsap Sun story be Peiyu Lin: Prep work to modernize PSNS already worth $447M, with final project estimates unknownNavy Shares Progress on PSNS Dry Dock Plans at Kitsap SummitAt the August 21 Kitsap Industrial Readiness Summit, hosted by the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance in Bremerton, Navy officials provided an...
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