In its ongoing efforts to help cultivate economic growth in Kitsap County, the Viking Bank Kitsap County Advisory Board met recently with Cindy Baker, interim director of Kitsap County’s Department of Community Development. Also in the meeting was Jon Rose, president of Olympic Property Group, a subsidiary of Pope Resources, which has a 150-year history as a land and timber owner in the Pacific NW.

The Board is addressing a number of development issues which affect the area’s small businesses and the ability of the region to attract new companies. These include land use, transportation and infrastructure. The Board also has identified the need to strengthen communication between the development and planning communities as an important step in paving the way for growth. As a result, the Board is reviewing ideas for helping to create an advocacy system to streamline the permitting process.

Established by Viking Bank last spring, the Kitsap County Advisory Board is led by Dr. Thorpe M. Kelly, chairman of the board. Kelly founded Viking Bank in 1992 along with seven other Puget Sound business leaders.

The Kitsap Advisory Board also includes: Doug Stephenson, vice president and Poulsbo market manager for Viking Bank; William Moore, owner and operator of Kitsap Farm Garden & Tractor in Silverdale; Doug Nelson, owner of RE/Max Unlimited Real Estate on Bainbridge Island; Scott Fladgard, owner of Pacific International Tool & Sheer in Poulsbo; John Johnson, attorney in Poulsbo; and Brenda Prowse, owner and operator of Brenda Prowse Properties in Poulsbo.

The Board will continue fulfilling its goals of identifying challenges hindering small-business growth, using financial resources to encourage market expansion and offering solutions in areas of public concern.