Kitsap Economic Development Alliance reports steady recruitment, Navy real‑estate outreach

Joe Morrison, representing the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance, told the Port Orchard Economic Development & Tourism Committee on Feb. 14 that KEDA's fourth'quarter results are roughly tracking at or above 50 percent of annual goals and that staff expect to ramp up recruitment during the remainder of the year.

KEDA's work includes helping businesses locate or expand, connecting companies to export opportunities, and providing training, Morrison said. "Just send us an email or give us a call. We're really responsive. All our emails are listed on our website," he said when a council member asked how businesses first engage the organization.

The presentation highlighted several items of local interest. Morrison said WaveC, a local autonomy program focused on unmanned surface vehicles and other maritime systems, has drawn international interest: WaveC had engaged delegations from Latvia and Australia in the prior quarter and was pursuing contact with Sweden in the current quarter. "They get a lot of interest from international delegations," he said.

Morrison also described a six'month Kitsap industrial lands, buildings and infrastructure survey KEDA is completing to inventory industrial sites and evaluate whether the county has available buildings and utility capacity to support new or relocating firms. He said that work is particularly relevant given "long term federal investment in this area, billions of dollars for the shipyard project," and that local industrial land and buildings will be needed as contractors and the Navy stage work.

On federal procurement and real estate, Morrison said the Navy has started a 2025 real estate solicitation process that will initially request property owners to fill out a basic spreadsheet to qualify sites. He said the Navy is seeking administrative space, warehouse space, lay'down yards and industrial space and that local property owners should respond to be considered for later, more detailed stages.

Morrison said KEDA will spend more time on recruitment during the final months of the year and noted the organization anticipated hiring a workforce position to help place qualified workers, including work tied to Navy-related workforce needs. He closed by pointing committee members to a lengthy Kitsap Sun article about KEDA's work and said staff will share the survey findings and next steps as they are released.

Committee members asked about local industrial capacity and parcels in Port Orchard. Nick Bond, Port Orchard community development director, and Sean Raja, associate planner, said some Port Orchard Industrial Park pads are under activity or preparation, and that waterfront industrial parcels are largely utilized. Bond noted a private owner had submitted a comprehensive plan amendment seeking a change from industrial to residential for a small property because of limited commercial access; that amendment will enter the city'wide docket for 2025 and may be reviewed by the council later in the year.

The presentation was an informational briefing; no formal committee action was taken.