This series of basic classes helps our local business owners take their skills to the next level! Click here for details.
Business Sector Round Tables & Focus Groups
Last spring Team Jefferson conducted a series of business sector round table conversations. Business leaders from key industry sectors included:
- food & farm
- marine trades
- arts & culture
- tourism & retail
- real estate & construction
- home-based business and entrepreneurs
- manufacturing/technology
- education, and
- healthcare
BTOP Broadband and NOA NET
On AUGUST 18, 2011 we learned that Jefferson County was awarded $3.2 million in American Recovery Act Funds to bring broadband to communities throughout Jefferson County! Peninsula Daily News article.
This ambitious broadband proposal utilizes federal funds through the American Recovery Act to bring high speed internet connections to all the "anchor institutions" in East Jefferson County. This will provide public broadband infrastructure for telemedicine, distance education, emergency fire and medical response, e-Government, and faster connections at local libraries, schools, and community centers. In the future it will be networked to provide local access to businesses and homes throughout the County including Brinnon and Quilcene. Learn more about this proposal at our broadband page.
Port Townsend Paper Mill Biomass Facility
Over the past two years Team Jefferson has worked with Port Townsend Paper Mill management to connect them to resources at the WSU Energy Office and its national network of energy consultants. We supported the Mill's application for $2 million in ARRA (Recovery Act) funding to develop a green energy biomass co-generation facility; the Mill is now leveraging those funds into a new $55 million investment in incinerators, scrubbing equipment and upgrades. This expansion ensures new green energy jobs in paper production and export, as well as a new product of locally produced "green-tagged" renewable electrical energy. The Mill successfully balances the triple bottom line -- economy, ecology, and community. The Mill continues to practice good environmental management by recycling waste paper and wood products, and the biomass cogeneration facility will reduce forest fire risks while leaving a sustainable level of fiber in the forests; they contribute to a healthy local economy by sustaining 300 union wage jobs, plus 175 temporary and 30 permanent positions for building the cogeneration facility; and good community by being the first successful biomass co-generation green jobs project on the Peninsula! These new projects ensure employment that continues to support local schools and health care in Jefferson County.
The PUD Energy project
This local proposal, chaired by Team Jefferson Chair Bill Wise and the members of the Citizens for Local Power, is moving toward development and implementation of a local electric utility that will generate 40-60 new well-paying jobs in Jefferson County.