Sewer Is the Key to Growth Along Highway 3

The economic opportunity along Highway 3 crosses county lines—and realizing it will require infrastructure, coordination, and long-term vision.

In the classic 1985 film Back to the Future, Doc Brown told Marty McFly that where they were going, they didn’t need roads. Doc was an innovator, not an economic developer. Where our region is going, we most certainly need roads—and sewer. Most importantly, we need strong partnerships to get there.

Along those lines, our organizations recently released a joint economic impact study on what enhanced sewer service along Highway 3 could do for Belfair and Kitsap. Broadly, every $1 invested in sewer returns an estimated $2.50 to $2.80. The details show even greater opportunity for Mason and Kitsap if sewer service is expanded.

Expanding Opportunity in Belfair

In Belfair, providing sewer to another 77 parcels could support up to 4,150 jobs, $190 million in employee compensation, more than $1.4 billion in business revenue, 1,400 family homes, and $50 million in taxable retail sales—strengthening Mason County’s economy and public services.

Unlocking Industrial Growth in Kitsap

Across the county line, the south end of Puget Sound Industrial Center–Bremerton represents one of the largest remaining industrial opportunities in Puget Sound. Current City of Bremerton planning anticipates up to 10,000 jobs within the 20-year planning horizon. With sewer service, this area could ultimately support up to 23,500 jobs, $1.2 billion in employee compensation, and nearly $8.3 billion in business revenue.

Building on Regional Planning

Thanks to the hard work and vision of 35th District legislators, a $3 million grant to study sewer improvements was secured in 2024. Both the City of Bremerton and Mason County studied how a regional approach could grow opportunity, support long-term planning, and reduce costs. Now they’re pursuing independent approaches to providing wastewater service.

One understandable concern was whether industrial sewer expansion in Kitsap would reduce opportunity in Belfair. Our study suggests the opposite: Belfair is well-positioned to benefit from more workers, customers, housing, and business activity, while industrial growth along Highway 3 complements—not competes with—its downtown economy.

Capturing Navy Investment

The timing matters. The U.S. Navy’s planned $10 billion investment in Puget Sound Naval Shipyard creates a major opportunity for Mason and Kitsap. Demand for industrial space, laydown yards, contractors, and local services is already emerging and expected to grow. Sewer infrastructure along Highway 3 can help the region capture more of this investment for residents and businesses.

For Belfair, this growth would mean more than jobs on industrial sites. It would bring more workers, customers, and activity to local businesses in the downtown core, while strengthening Mason County’s tax base and expanding the customer base for sewer service.

Growth That Benefits Both Counties

In the end, our organizations have worked together to study what would happen if sewer service were enhanced in Belfair and extended into the south end of Puget Sound Industrial Center–Bremerton in Kitsap. The opportunity is large, and the economic impact is clear.

Massive economic potential sits along the highway from Belfair to Bremerton. Economic development is not zero-sum: When we create jobs along Highway 3, the benefits extend across both Mason and Kitsap counties. With thoughtful sewer investment, Mason County and Bremerton can turn today’s infrastructure challenge into long-term economic benefit for both communities.

 - Joe Morrison is Executive Director of the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance. Kevin Shutty is Executive Director of the Mason Economic Development Council.