The Port of Bremerton has been honored with the Washington Public Port Association’s Community Outreach Award, recognizing the Port’s public outreach efforts tied to the Airport Feasibility Study.
The award highlights the Port’s commitment to transparency, accessibility, and meaningful public participation in evaluating the potential introduction of passenger and/or cargo service at Bremerton National Airport. This initiative displays long-term implications for both regional economic development and local quality of life, and in recognizing the significance of this project, the Port prioritized robust community engagement from the onset.
The Port used a multi-channel outreach strategy to ensure that residents and stakeholders of Kitsap County had opportunities to learn about the project and share feedback. These efforts included a community-wide survey that exceeded response expectations, a hybrid public open house, and ongoing communication through social media, newsletters, and dedicated project websites. The Port used these means to identify and directly address key community concerns and insights that are helping shape the continued work of the study.
“We are honored to receive this award,” remarks Port CEO Jim Rothlin. “The process was essential in identifying a path that delivers an amenity the community can truly appreciate, while also preserving the quality of life our citizens value. Also, thank you to the Port staff for their efforts in this campaign.”
The Washington Public Ports Association represents the system of public ports throughout the state, and advocates for policies and initiatives that strengthen that system. As a public agency created by voters, the Port of Bremerton places emphasis on transparency and responsiveness.
This recognition for community outreach by the system created to uphold such values demonstrates the Port’s commitment to ensuring that the decisions being made are directly informed by the public.
“At the Port of Bremerton, we have as one of our core values the sharing of information with, and asking questions of, our tax-paying public,” says Commission President Cary Bozeman. “This Community Outreach award acknowledges that we build this value into our everyday operating strategy.”
