Why supporting entrepreneurs means investing in the long-term resilience of our communities
One year ago this month, we celebrated the graduation celebration of the 2025 Matchstick Lab Micro Business Accelerator cohort, a program that brought together 24 groundbreakers in the Kitsap community and invested heavily in the growth and development of the next iteration of Kitsap businesses.
In 2025, the program doubled in size and geographic reach, made possible by funding secured by the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance (KEDA) through the Washington State Microenterprise Association (WSMA). Since its inception in 2023, the program has served 301 individuals, representing more than 150 unique businesses, and exceeding every grant-defined inclusion goal—supporting women, veterans, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and returning citizen entrepreneurs.
A Season of Growth
June also marks the six year anniversary of me, a facilitator for this incredible work, packing up my life into a U-Haul and towing my 20-year-old Nissan Frontier from Montana to Washington. I carried with me visions of community impact, leadership development, and a deep commitment to leaving the spaces I enter better than I found them.
What is the connection between a 20-something Bozeman-ite and the Kitsap entrepreneurial community? The question is an important one. And the answer lies in how I have fully embraced my place as a Washington resident, Kitsap-ian, and Bremertonian. It is thanks to Matchstick Lab and the work of this community in igniting our collective imaginations that have contributed massively to this shift.
Our Shared Duty of Care
As Alanna Imbach and I welcomed the third cohort of the Matchstick Lab Micro Business Accelerator last year, I was struck by the duty of care we hold for one another as business owners and community members. The cohort participants who accepted the challenge we set before them leaned into the experience with full commitment. And we leaned back. I firmly believe that local businesses are the backbone of our communities and—if we do not care for one another—we have lost the thread of what it means to build a space together.
The 2025 cohort was rooted in authenticity and support. We met each other at the intersection of business-owning and human-being. This level of connection remains the springboard for Kitsap (and the world, really), as we continue to build the economic powerhouse of this county.
A Region Ready to Show Up
We have a special opportunity this year as we welcome $180 million in anticipated visitor spending through the FIFA World Cup Bremerton Fan Zone. Organizations like the Downtown Bremerton Association, Visit Kitsap Peninsula, KEDA, and many others are leaning in with gusto to support our community in preparation. A strong and authentic business presence will make this revenue a reality for Kitsap, and I am excited to see how Kitsap businesses show up for this opportunity.
On the coattails of FIFA, Matchstick Lab reconvenes this fall in the same spirit of authenticity. With the support of KEDA, Matchstick Lab’s 2026 Micro Business Accelerator Weekend is reimagining past program curriculum into a three-day format.
What Comes Next
In response to feedback from the community, our programming is now designed around two business-stage tracks: early-stage operators and growth-stage businesses. This targeted approach ensures that participating businesses receive relevant, peer-aligned technical assistance. By delivering targeted business technical assistance to operating microbusinesses, this work serves to ignite the foundation of Kitsap’s local economy—supporting entrepreneurs who create jobs, circulate capital locally, and contribute to community resilience across urban, rural, and sector-diverse contexts.
I am looking forward to engaging with entrepreneurs from across the region into this new Micro Business Accelerator Weekend—and to the welcome, energy, and insights they’ll bring with them. I remain continually grateful for the chance to participate in this community and to extend the roots of my life among such supportive, intentional, and hard-working folks.
