Julie Tappero, Board Chair

Why Kitsap?  The best way to answer that question is to tell you my story.

Raising a young family in Southern California in the early ‘80s, my husband and I knew we wanted our children to grow up with safe, fun childhoods, and access to quality education and economic opportunity as adults.  We took out a map of the United States to consider our options.  We chose Kitsap County as our home.

In the late ‘90s, I decided to start my own business, and I again had options.  And once again, I chose to base it on the Kitsap Peninsula.  It was an easy decision to make.  It’s a community where I know my legislators by their first names, and can call them when I have a question or a problem.  It’s a community where business leaders, educators, elected officials and citizens come together regularly to make things happen.  It’s a community that values and supports small businesses like mine. 

As someone who has spent a lot of time working on economic development and workforce development issues, I know that Kitsap is not unique in caring about them.  All communities that are thriving and vibrant like Kitsap care about supporting businesses and their workers.  What makes Kitsap stand apart is the strength of the bonds between the education community, the business community, public officials, and other interested parties.  When an issue or opportunity arises, the partners eagerly grab their seats at the table.  Parochial interests are set aside, and the hard work commences.  Success isn’t just a goal, it’s an imperative.

You’ll find that this website details much of what Kitsap has to offer:  our available industrial land, our talented workforce, our excellent educational institutions, broadband backbone, stable business sectors, transportation options, proximity to rail and deep water ports, and so on.  But what it cannot do is fully communicate the more intangible factors that draw folks like me to Kitsap:  the clean air, miles of pristine shoreline, abundance of recreational and cultural activities, access to top-notch health care, and the spirit of community that draws people in and welcomes them home.

If you are considering where to move yourself and/or your business, and you’ve got that map of the United States out, let me be the one to say to you, “Welcome home!”  Come to Kitsap County.  It’s a decision my family has never regretted. 

Why Kitsap?  Simply because there’s no better place to be!

Julie Tappero
KEDA Board Chair
President, West Sound Workforce