Kitsap Regional Economic Development Council (KREDC) Executive Director David Porter recently noted that the organization is less than $5,000 away from hitting its target goal of raising $50,000 from the private sector for its Marketing Outreach Fund. Achieving that goal will trip a matching $50,000 grant from Kitsap County.

Porter convinced the county commissioners earlier this year to reduce the annual amount the county contributes to the group, but that if it could raise $50,000 from the private sector, to match that amount. He then challenged the local business community to support the organization’s efforts by funding its outreach program with the $50,000 needed to trip the county grant.

The fund is used to market Kitsap County outside of the area as a good place to do business. Porter believes California is a fertile field as the business community there, hobbled by excessive regulations and taxation, is experiencing a massive outflow of companies seeking more business-friendly locations. The KREDC has also used some of the money to establish a presence at national business site selector events, and recently hosted a number of nationally known site selection consultants as they toured the county.

For more information about the KREDC’s efforts, contact Porter at (360) 377-9499 or porter@kitsapedc.org.