Featured story: Robust Job Creation and Economic Opportunity Anchor Kitsap for a Future of Endless Opportunity

The Kitsap Economic Development Alliance (KEDA) recently announced its 2025 economic impact results, highlighting a powerful return on investment of $11.75 for every dollar invested in its core activities.

Those combined efforts, which include its APEX Accelerator government contracting program, supported 1,605 total jobs and generated $330.4 million in total economic output for Kitsap County.

“Our goal remains to conduct economically impactful work, helping generate wealth, jobs and investment for all our community members in this spectacular place we call home,” said Joe Morrison, KEDA’s Executive Director. 

Substantial Progress Made Towards Five Year Strategic Goals

In addition to assisting 265 businesses and training 56 startups, KEDA achieved significant progress toward its "One Kitsap" five-year strategic goals, notably seeing a 2024 regional GDP growth rate of 6.9%. 

Morrison emphasized that these figures likely underreport the organization's full impact, as KEDA continues to drive community wealth, job creation, and industrial expansion throughout the region.

“To perfectly capture return on investment in the field of economic development, teams should really measure every single interaction they have. This includes not just the larger-scale efforts, but the casual conversations and the quick introductions you make in the course of
ordinary, daily work,” he said. 

Job Creation on Track to Hit Targets 

Job creation remains a crucial aspect of KEDA’s core initiatives.

“We are in a serious inflection point about the work to grow jobs and increase economic opportunity in Washington. Successful economic development requires Washington State to be a competitive and welcoming place to do business,” said Suzanne Dale Estey Executive Director, Washington Economic Development Association (WEDA) in this Facebook post.

KEDA had set a goal to create or retain 2,500 jobs in the region. As of spring 2026, 1,149 have been created, representing almost half of their target number.

Those efforts also include the recent debut of KitsapHealthCareers.org, which was created in partnership with Kitsap Community Health Priorities to showcase and strengthen Kitsap County’s healthcare workforce.

The goal of the website was to design a user-friendly platform to engage and promote local job postings and educational pathways, enabling healthcare professionals to easily explore a wide range of careers with hospitals, schools, tribes, and various healthcare systems.

As an added bonus, they also get a glimpse of the many benefits of living and working in the West Sound region. 

Notable Achievements  

KEDA is also proud to highlight the achievements made through our programs and by our thought leaders, who work tirelessly to ensure Kitsap County remains well-positioned for economic growth:

• James Davis, Economic Development Manager at KEDA, earned the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), one of the most respected credentials in the field of economic development.
• Chad Melton, President of St. Michael Medical Center and Interim Market President of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, was named WEDA's 2026 Economic Development Advocate of the Year, highlighting his leadership in the Health Sciences Expansion at Olympic College Poulsbo. Melton, who was recently elected board chair for KEDA, secured a $2.5 million gift from Virginia Mason Franciscan Health for the first phase of the Health Sciences Expansion at Olympic College Poulsbo.
• KEDA APEX, which provides exceptional, experienced help for small businesses
  pursuing government contracts helped secure $51.1 million in contracts for APEX clients.

Through its commitment to strategic growth, job creation, and fostering vital community partnerships, KEDA is proud to support economic opportunity and prosperity in Kitsap County