The South Kitsap Industrial Area, which for years has commonly been known by its acronym, SKIA, has a new name.

Port of Bremerton commissioners on Aug. 26 unanimously approved re-naming the area the Puget Sound Industrial Center-Bremerton.

Port commissioner Axel Strakeljahn is credited with coming up with the idea of re-naming the area and the new name itself.

“How do we gain regional identity so that when we go to market, whether it be nationally or internationally, our customers and businesses that we communicate with can identify with us?” Strakeljahn said. “And, that’s where ‘Puget Sound’ came from. And, of course, we are a manufacturing industrial center, the only one on the west side of Puget Sound, and thus the name ‘industrial center’ was kept and maintained for that specific purpose. And then we wanted to have the local identity kept in there for Bremerton. That’s really how the name came up.”

Last week, the Bremerton City Council threw its full support behind the new name. Mayor Patty Lent noted that the industrial area was annexed into the city through a series of expansions that began in 2008.

“Since that time, the city has worked to develop plans for the growth of this regionally designated manufacturing industrial center,” Lent said. “Key to the implementation is a marketing plan that includes a name that is more reflective of the industrial region.”

Port of Bremerton CEO Jim Rothlin noted that the port is involved in a wide variety of endeavors — such as its two marinas, the airport, boat launches and more — but the industrial center is where the future lies.

“When it comes to bringing jobs, industrial development and the industrial park is really where that’s going to happen,” Rothlin said. “It’s really what, personally, I’d like to see us spend more and more time focusing on.”

Port commissioner Roger Zabinski also spoke favorably of the name change.

“I think this name resonates well,” he said. “We’ve had a number of names that people have considered, but this one seems to have been the favorite.”

Zabinski also thanked the city for its ongoing support.

“The main thing is we’re working together, the city and the port in partnership,” he said. “That’s what I really appreciate.”