After a record-breaking year, Kitsap Bank gave back to the communities it serves, including downtown Bainbridge Island.

This year, the Bainbridge Island Downtown Association received a $10,000 donation from the bank as part of the Main Street tax-incentive program.

Downtown leaders, community stewards and bank employees gathered at the Kitsap Bank branch on High School Road recently to see Andrea Mackin, director of the Bainbridge Island Downtown Association, receive the oversized check for the donation.

“Kitsap Bank’s contribution really underscores their desire to be a part of our community and to support the revitalization of local communities,” Mackin said. “They did a really wonderful thing for us by adding some visibility to the tax incentive program.”

Kitsap Bank also donated $10,000 each to organizations in Gig Harbor and Port Townsend to take advantage of a tax credit for 75 percent of their donation to the main street tax incentive program.

The downtown association advocates for downtown merchants through events and other promotions such as Dine Local and the Bainbridge Island Wine Festival, bringing in people and dollars to support local businesses.

Recently the nonprofit lost funding from the city, and in turn operated with a skeleton crew.

“These are tough times for small nonprofits,” Mackin said. “We want to be sure we are here to deliver the programs and services that are essential to supporting our downtown businesses.”

The downtown association has limited sources of funding aside from membership funds and money from B&O tax incentive programs. The donation from Kitsap Bank will help pay salaries for 1.5 full-time employees and programing for economic development and promotional activities.