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The Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council contributes to economic development in Kitsap County through
several different programs and initiatives.
Kitsap 20/20 Action Plan
During the last quarter of 2006, the Regional Council worked in close collaboration with the Kitsap
Economic Development Council to gather all of the good ideas about economic development and prosperity that
are operational in Kitsap County. The output of this, including the results of interviews, roundtable
discussions, market analysis and the Steering Committee work is an action plan with specific
implemental steps for 2007-2008. Click here
to read the Report and Action Plan.
Community Development Block Grant Program
The Council is the decision-making Board for the federal Community Development Block Grant Program
(countywide except the City of Bremerton, which operates its own program). The CDBG Program sets
aside one third of its federal grant funding for economic development initiatives in Kitsap County.
Kitsap County Community Development Block Grants
Kitsap County Community Development Corporation
The Council appoints the Board of Directors for the Kitsap County Community Development Corporation.
This organization provides gap financing, microloans, technical assistance, and SBA loan packaging
for community banks to businesses in Kitsap County that create new jobs for low income people.
Kitsap County Community Development Corporation
Prosperity Partnership: Bringing It Home to Kitsap
The Puget Sound Regional Council sponsors an economic development initiative throughout the Puget
Sound Region called the Prosperity Partnership. It is a coalition of public, private, and non-profit
groups working together to promote job creation -- 100,000 new jobs for us -- primarily
in targeted industry clusters:
- Aerospace
- Information Technology
- Clean Technology
- Trade and Logistical Support
- Life Sciences
More information is available at www.prosperitypartnership.org
To understand and realize this initiative's potential benefits for Kitsap County, the Kitsap Regional
Coordinating Council partnered with Olympic College and the Kitsap Economic Development Council in July,
2005, through an all-day symposium: "Bringing It Home to Kitsap." The goal is to answer the Prosperity
Partnership's six Foundation Questions, specifically as they relate to Kitsap - what changes are necessary
to support economic development:
- Transportation System
- Community Capital
- Tax Structure
- Support Small & Medium-Size Businesses
- Workforce Development
- Commercialization of Technology
Read the Report:
Prosperity Partnership: Bringing It Home to Kitsap (July 5, 2005)
Sustainable Energy & Economic Development (SEED)
The Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council particularly recognizes the potential in Kitsap County for
the Clean Technology industry cluster. The Port of Bremerton is currently developing a substantial
clean technology business park at the transportation nexus of the South Kitsap Industrial Area. The
project is called SEED and plans to encompass 80+ acres of LEED-standard development.
Learn more at: www.kitsapseed.com
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