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Originally published in the Kitsap Sun, this article was updated with information from KEDA’s Annual Meeting and Economic Forecast on April 9. Joe Morrison, KEDA Executive Director morrison@kitsapeda.orgMy new favorite pastime is filling up my gas tank whenever it’s half full. That and monitoring prices per gallon like I never have before.Warning Signs Are Hard to Ignore Related, on Tuesday Goldman Sachs increased their probability of the US entering a recession this year to 30 percent. That same day Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, said his firm’s model now forecasts recession risk at 49 percent, “pointing to stagnant retail sales,...

Commerce 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 transportation in communities across Washington.Who can applyPublic agencies, tribal entities, retail electric utilities, nonprofits, and private entities. Private entities have additional requirements to apply, described in the RFA documents. Not all entities are eligible for all funding categories. Request for Applications DocumentsFull RFA documentExhibits A-H in Word and PDF formatsQuestions and...

KEDA is thrilled to announce that our application to the 2025 Washington State Microbusiness Accelerator grant program has been approved!  The Washington State Microenterprise Association (WSMA) has approved $2 million in small grants to 46 nonprofit organizations to help business owners strengthen their business skills, innovate and access financing to create jobs and grow local economies in every region of the state.  This program is funded through the Washington State Department of Commerce. This funding supports the return of  Matchstick Labs  2025 Microbusiness Accelerator! The program is specifically crafted to accelerate the entrepreneurial endeavors of small business owners who have powerful new...

The 2025 accelerator will double its reach, supporting 24 entrepreneurs with enhanced mentorship, training, and resources in both Bremerton and Poulsbo.POULSBO, Washington—Kitsap’s small business entrepreneurs have a new opportunity to grow their ventures with the launch of Cohort III of the Matchstick Lab Micro Business Accelerator, which has significantly expanded for 2025.Executed by Matchstick Lab, in partnership with Kitsap Bank, Kitsap Community Resources BE$T Program, Kitsap Economic Development Alliance (KEDA), Rice Fergus Miller, Spark Commons, and Vibe Coworks, the no-cost, 13-week program provides hands-on mentorship, expert-led workshops, and an unmatched network of peers and community business leaders.Now in its third...

Workforce shortages are a pressing issue for Washington employers! Employers, workers and all community members are encouraged to share their thoughts on Washington’s workforce system through a new survey.The survey is part of the Washington Workforce Training & Education Board’s community outreach as the state’s next workforce plan is created. The plan, Talent and Prosperity for All, is being developed now and will guide investments of roughly $1.3 billion in state and federal dollars that serve nearly 500,000 Washingtonians. Many Washington employers face a serious shortage of skilled workers, and workers need family-wage jobs that offer stability and opportunities to advance.TAKE THE...

The transformation of West Sound Technical Skills Center in Bremerton is visibly underway, with the first phase of a multi-year renovation project progressing steadily. Onlookers can see the 125-foot yellow crane carefully maneuvering steel beams to construct a new, two-story, 50,000-square-foot building on the southeast corner of the campus. This ambitious effort is on track for completion by September 2025, just in time for the 2025-26 school year.Andersen Construction and Bassetti Architects are spearheading the project, working diligently to meet the tight timeline despite the challenges of winter weather. "They're out there four days a week, 10 hours a day,"...

Fermentation, Community, and a Commitment to Sustainability in Kitsap CountyNational Entrepreneurship Month celebrates innovation, resilience, and the transformative power of small businesses in our communities. In Kitsap County, one local gem exemplifies these values: Iggy’s Alive & Cultured, a fermentation house founded in 2012 by Ilgvar “Iggy” Daga on Bainbridge Island. Now led by owner Paul McClellan, Iggy’s thrives on a mission to foster resilient cultures through its artisanal fermented beverages and foods. As Iggy’s celebrates its 12th year, its journey offers valuable insights into the power of community-centered entrepreneurship and sustainable practices. Rooted in People-Centered ValuesIggy’s has become more than...

Federal Funds Grant Writing Assistance Program (FFGWAP)Washington is launching a program to support access to Federal Funds grant writing assistance for communities across the State. In response to the unprecedented clean energy funding available via the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the Washington Department of Commerce, in partnership with Hagerty Consulting, is launching the Federal Funds Grant Writing Assistance Program (FFGWAP).The FFGWAP is designed for Washington community-based organizations, local government agencies, ports, housing authorities, tribes, businesses, and others eligible to receive Federal funds to prepare and submit grant applications, and to help Washington meet...

Read full story on Kitsap Sun;  Northwest Maritime high school students could be a new hope for WSF workforce deficitIn a new program, Washington State Ferries is aiming to remedy its shortage of maritime workers by training high schoolers.About a dozen 12th graders enrolled in Northwest Maritime and Highline Public School’s Maritime High School boarded a ferry leaving the Coleman Dock in Seattle on Wednesday. For the rest of the day, their second day of “Classroom on the Water,” the students would travel across Puget Sound, absorbing vessel operation skills and knowledge with hands-on learning and instruction from various instructors...

Watson Unveils New Expansion and Manufacturing Improvements for 2024 Watson Furniture Group, the industry leader in function-first design and respectful manufacturing, has completed a multi-million-dollar business expansion and process enhancement that includes a 10,000-square-foot warehouse addition, and new precision tooling on the factory floor.According to Watson President CK McKenzie, these upgrades will improve capacity, reduce waste, and safeguard the supply chain, without compromising the refinement and reliability that Watson customers have come to expect from their best-in-class lines of office furniture.“While the market is slower, we’re taking the time to invest in more space, equipment, and employee training,” McKenzie said. “We’re...