PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County commissioners have approved offering two vacant office spaces in the Brinnon Community Center available for leasing.
The commissioners approved the proposal last Monday, after a local businesswoman approached county officials with interest in renting one or both of the spaces.
Hood Canal Adventures owner Christina Maloney has been operating as the sole kayak renting and tour company in Brinnon for 11 years without a storefront.
She approached county Central Services Director Mark McCauley about the possibility of renting either one or both of the offices on the lower floor of the Brinnon Community Center, McCauley said last Monday.
The commissioners’ decision is not an agreement to lease the property to Maloney, but is the first step of the process of eventually leasing the property, which will be a separate decision by the commissioners after requests for proposals have been received, commission documents said.
Maloney said she will submit a proposal and hopes to see Brinnon grow economically, she said Monday.
“The village of Brinnon is an economically struggling area of Jefferson County and opportunities for new businesses and expansions are almost non-existent,” Maloney said.
“I’m here to share my dream of the future of Brinnon.
“Imagine having a small amount of new storefronts and offices in the downtown area of Brinnon. It’ll provide additional goods and services to locals and visitors and the new small businesses will freshen up the town; give it some vitality. “
McCauley has been working with Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP) on potential lease options because OlyCAP is contracted by the county to operate the community center and will receive a portion of the rent, commission documents said.
The space on the north end of the community center used to serve as the office for the former Bayshore Hotel. The space on the south end used to serve as clinic space, commission documents said.
More information about Hood Canal Adventures can be found at kayakbrinnon.com/blog.
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Jefferson County reporter Zach Jablonski can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 5, or at zjablonski@peninsuladailynews.com.
