FROM THE CHAIR

It is with enthusiasm that I present to you the first issue of BeTech, newsletter of the Business, Technology, & Education Committee of the Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce.

Every day we hear about the Pacific Northwest’s strength in technology, particularly in the fields of aerospace, defense, biotech, and computer science. Just look at a map of the Puget Sound with pins on Seattle, Redmond, Everett, Auburn, and Kent. Little Norway is not far from these giants, and we have our share of manufacturing and technology right here. Paladin Systems, Trulife, and Watson Furniture may come to mind. These companies have been Poulsbo fixtures since the early 1990’s. Other companies have come and gone. Either they could not find the right formula to make it work, or the climate was just not right. Perhaps both. Enter Western Washington University. Their collaboration with Olympic College to provide four-year degree programs in our area is a game-changer, and it demonstrates our city leaders’ commitment to help prepare our kids for the future, and they don’t have to leave home. (Okay, parents, maybe we should look into building dorms.) It is also an investment in a skilled workforce needed to support Poulsbo’s emerging cluster of businesses in the tech sectors. BeTech will showcase these organizations in an effort to promote awareness of what exists in our backyard and our capacity to welcome new players. Learn more.