Congratulations to the Port of Bremerton, Kitsap Economic Development Alliance, elected officials, and business leaders for investing $45,000 in the Boeing Max project study to bring attention to Kitsap County. We agree Kitsap County… and the Kitsap Peninsula… has a lot to offer businesses and their employees. Getting them to make the move takes persistence, investment and time.

The beauty and accessibility of our natural environment — 238 miles of shoreline, snowcapped mountains beyond, and close proximity to the 13th largest metropolitan market in the United States, makes it easy to command the attention of businesses prospects. Encouraging them to actually make the move to Kitsap County is much more complex and typically long-term, on-going investment process. read more »

Last year, during one of the worst economies in decades, Yakima County, population 239,000, collected $2,300,000 in lodging taxes. Kitsap County, population 247,000, collected just $975,000. Why did Yakima generate so many more lodging tax dollars than Kitsap County? It’s not just because they have more hotels or are a major tourist destination. It’s because years ago Yakima decided to make tourism a cornerstone of their economic development; an investment decision that continues to pay dividends today. read more »

Tourism can play a key role in Kitsap’s economic recovery and we can begin now, this weekend. Nothing will stimulate our local economy more quickly and with less time and effort than by promoting tourism.

Tourism is clean and green and we have the infrastructure in place; Kitsap is ‘tourism ready.’ It is a proven growth industry, even in tough economic times. read more »

Sam Askew, president of the KPVBC Board and Patricia Graf-Hoke, executive general manager, announced the formation of special KPVCB Committee called the Kitsap Peninsula Brand & Tourism Development.

“This has been one of our long term goals and at the KEDA/Port of Bremerton vitality summit yesterday, it’s clear tourism and
tournaments, conventions and developing our own brand are much on people’s minds,” Askew said. “Patty’s proven abillity to bring people together to help in this critical branding process is one of her strengths, and one reason we hired her,” said Askew. read more »

For a couple of hours each week, hundreds of residents and visitors from throughout Kitsap County, wander through rows of a simpler life, greet neighbors with relaxed smiles, listen to farmers share how-to-advice and take time to smell the flowers. We are reminded, again, of the healthy benefits to the planet, mind and heart of eating home grown food and buying from crafters making foods, clothing and gifts the right way…slowly and with care.

Welcome to your local Farmer’s Market. read more »

Since writing about the wonders of the web in the April issue, it appears the twitter about Twitter is already starting to quiet down and a few days ago, I read that the folks at MySpace are reinventing themselves in the “face” of growing competition.
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What about the Internet? It’s on the tip of everyone’s tongue and one of the most-asked questions at our marketing workshops. Everyday we hear about some exciting new technology associated with the Internet and wonder, is this THE marketing tool that will help generate more customers for my business?
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Research makes it clear that when it comes to consumer spending, women are king, queen and tween. According to polls and studies by Allianz, Business Week, and Gallup, women make or influence 80 percent of all purchase decisions of consumer products and services and, by 2010, will control 60 percent of our country’s wealth. Women also like the convenience of the Internet, at least for shopping, and those age 30 to 49, account for 46 percent of online purchases, compared to 36 percent for men in same age group.
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When Laura Nesby, owner of Mor Mor’s Bistro in Poulsbo read our article celebrating retailers in the February issue of the Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal, she called to say thanks and lament how much she missed talking with other women business owners.

She is not alone because women entrepreneurs in Washington State mean business, and a lot of it.
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