The Kitsap Economic Development Council (KEDC) recently completed its first Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) program. The program started with a comprehensive survey of Kitsap County businesses in the spring and summer of 2004 and culminated in a six-month series of in-depth educational programs. Close to 70 Kitsap County businesses participated in the BRE survey. Sixteen entrepreneurs and business owners ultimately took part in the six-month program.

Participant comments about the program were overwhelmingly positive.
“It’s taken me to a mature viewpoint,” said Kris Swartz of West Sound Design Center, Inc. “The past six months have given me an unbelievable wealth of tools.”

“This program brought [the issues, priorities, and principles of growing my business] all back to the radar screen,” said Jeffrey A. Hecker of Hecker Architects.

“We said we’d go to the first one and if it wasn’t helpful we won’t go back,” said Marit Saltrones of JSL Communications, LLC. “And we came back.”

“It was excellent,” said Gail Chafé of ShopLocalBiz.com, another program participant. “The sessions were geared around what the ‘big’ companies do. I realized, ‘I can do that!’” Chafé credits the program as the impetus for her company’s recent hiring of two new employees.

The companies that participated in the program were: Action Training Systems, AMI International, Aqua Tech, Hecker Architects, JPL Habitability, Inc., JSL Communications, LLC, Net Systems, Paratransit Services, Phunghi, Inc., Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe Development Authority, ShopLocalBiz.com, Suquamish Tribe, Twiss Analytical Laboratories, Inc., West Sound Design Center, Inc., WestSound Engineering, Inc., and Windjammer Arts.

Each study session covered one vital business topic in depth, utilizing expert guest speakers and roundtable discussions. The topics covered included community services available to help businesses, marketing, human resource management, financial management, selling to the government, and business liabilities, customized training, and intern programs.

“Our inaugural BRE program was an out-and-out success,” said David Porter, executive director of KEDC. “We wanted to provide all participants with truly useful skills and knowledge to help them grow their businesses. The remarkably positive feedback from participants, whether fledgling entrepreneurs or established businesses, is the best testament to the success of the program.

KEDC was one of seven economic development organizations chosen in a statewide competition to receive funds from the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED) to undertake this initiative.

“KEDC’s ability to again offer a BRE program is contingent upon our competing successfully for CTED funding,” said Porter. “The state budget is still in flux, but funding for this program remains in place. I remain optimistic about our doing this again.”.