May 24, 2004 - Following the award of a $121,150 grant from the State Department of Community, Trade & Economic Development, the Kitsap Regional Economic Development Council has been finalizing program components for their Business Retention and Expansion program. An initial and primary component is the BRE Survey that will provide the data for a business resource directory and to identify program participants. The plan is to create a comprehensive inventory of Kitsap County’s business resources and assets, and to facilitate access to them. The KREDC will cast the net widely and select from respondents those enterprises most likely to benefit from full participation in the BRE program regardless of their size or stage of development. The KREDC is looking particularly for Kitsap County businesses that have the potential to create new jobs and attract investment over the next 3-5 years.

Maintaining the confidentiality of the information and data that businesses provide is a priority. Non-disclosure agreements have been completed by the KREDC staff and will be required of all program participants. The KREDC encourages you to participate – and asks that you encourage other businesses you think might be interested to also participate. The BRE Program Survey is available online at http://www.kitsapedc.org/bre/SurveyIntro.htm.

For questions about the program, please contact the KREDC at 360-377-9499 or edckc@kitsapedc.org.

The KREDC is a private, non-profit business corporation whose mission, through collaboration, is to mobilize resources and leverage assets to attract and retain jobs and investments that generate wealth, contribute to the quality of life, and embrace the future. The KREDC has a 25-member board and a full-time time staff of three people.