Please join us in welcoming
to the Chamber!
Happy to have you aboard!
Chamber News
April Luncheon

Join us for the first Networking Luncheon of 2023

Our Networking Luncheons are where members get the opportunity to showcase their business by purchasing a networking space. With your space you can promote your business with your flyers, samples, swag and network with the room. 

We are very excited to be able to offer these types of luncheon programs as they are well received and well attended… not to mention, quite fun!

This month will be hosted and catered by Port Orchard Eagles

Please register early so that we can have a headcount for catering needs.
Registration will close April 11th at 8:00am
Any registration not received by April 11, will not be served lunch.
Thank you for your understanding.
Register for your Networking Space Today!
All Current Members are allowed to participate in this event!
For $50 you will receive 3-4 feet of table space for your display needs. Regular registration to the luncheon is still required for $20 per member.

We have limited space, therefore we are instituting a cutoff date of April 3rd to sign up for a networking space. Please let us know as soon as possible if you are interested in participating.


New Members and Sponsors, please contact the chamber office directly to reserve your networking space.
GreenDrinks
Are you interested in hosting a GreenDrinks event?
Find more information on our website
News You Can Use
Business News
Hospitality and Lodging Grant
The Washington State Department of Commerce announced a new grant opportunity for businesses in the hospitality and lodging industry that suffered business losses due to the pandemic.

Who can apply?
The grants are open only to:
  • Restaurants; food stands, trucks and carts
  • Caterers, bars, saloons, lounges, and taverns
  • Snack and non-alcoholic beverage bars
  • Licensed alcohol producers where the public may taste, sample or purchase products
  • Hotels and motels (except casinos), and inns and bed and breakfast establishments that have a least five private lodging rooms or onsite sales of food and beverage that account for at least 25% of gross receipts or sales
  • Bakeries, brewpubs, tasting rooms, taprooms, breweries, microbreweries, wineries and distilleries are also eligible to apply if onsite sales to the public comprise at least 25% of gross receipts or sales.
  • Bowling alleys and convention and visitors bureaus will also be considered for a grant, depending on the availability of funds.

The application portal opened on March 14. For more information and updates about the program, visit wahospitalitygrants.com.
Business Resiliency Grants - Minority/Women Owned Businesses
The Washington Minority Business Development Agency has allocated $200,000 to provide direct business resiliency grants that help minority and/or woman-owned businesses “achieve more.” 

Recipients of the Achieve More Grant (AMG) can use the funds for infrastructure improvements, employee training, and business equipment.

Eligibility
  • Business must be minority-owned (minimum 51% ownership) OR be woman-owned minimum 51% ownership.
  • Have an active registration with the Department of Revenue and be headquartered in the state of Washington.
  • The business must have an active UBI.
  • The business must have a primary NAICS code.
  • The business must have a minimum of $100K in annual sales or gross receipts.
  • Owner must have been in business for at least 3-years.
  • Applicant is strongly encouraged to attend at least one of our MBDA or partner led workshops.
  • Business must be for-profit. Non-profits entities are not eligible.

Deadline for businesses to apply for the Achieve More Grant is March 19, 2023 11:59 PM PST.

KEDA 2023 Annual Meeting & Economic Forecast

Keda's Board of Directors invites you to join them March 30th from 11:30am- 1:00pm for their Annual Meeting and Economic Forecast Luncheon at the Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort & Conference Center.

Featuring economists Hart Hodges and James McCafferty, co-directors of the Western Washington University Center for Economic & Business Research who will present an economic forecast.
 
Other highlights include:
KEDA's 2022 Annual Report & 2023 Economic Strategy
Matchstick Lab Microbusiness Accelerator Spotlight
Economic Champion Awards
Community News
Washington state will need more than 1 million homes in...

More than half of the homes are needed for residents at the lowest income levels OLYMPIA, WA - The Washington State Department of Commerce today released its final housing needs projections, which show the state needs to add 1.1 million homes...

Read more
www.commerce.wa.gov
Affordable Connectivity Program
Kitsap County is working to help build awareness about the Affordable Connectivity Program, a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program. ACP helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more.

The Affordable Connectivity Program provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for qualifying households on qualifying Tribal lands. The benefit also provides a discount of up to a $100 per household toward a one-time purchase of a computer, laptop, or tablet if the household contributes more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase through a participating broadband provider.

Eligible households can enroll by going to AffordableConnectivity.gov to submit an online application or print a mail-in application, or by contacting their preferred participating broadband provider and selecting a plan.
Kitsap County Job Fair

Tuesday, April 11 9 AM – 1 PM
Kitsap County Administration Building 619 Division Street in Port Orchard




Come discover why we love working at Kitsap County! Mark your calendar and join us at the Kitsap County Job Fair April 11. You’ll learn about the diverse job opportunities that are available at Kitsap County. With over 200 job types, we have jobs in every field! Learn about current openings, apply onsite, and sign up for alerts when new jobs are posted.

Come and meet employees from different County departments and learn why they love where they work. Ask questions and find out why they choose to work for Kitsap County. They can show you current openings and talk about careers in their line of work.

Looking for a good summer job? Get hired on the spot! If you’re looking for summer work, come prepared for an interview! We are interviewing, and in some cases hiring, on-site for our Summer Employment Program! Get your foot in the door and gain great work experience this summer with our Public Works Department!

Learn more about the program at kcowa.us/summer.
Learn about working at Kitsap County: KCOWA.US/LWYW
Open jobs: KCOWA.US/JOBS

SKSD Bond Community Event
The South Kitsap School District will host another opportunity for the community to learn about the Bond to rebuild South Kitsap schools. This session will be focused on financing public school construction and will feature Trevor Carlson from Piper Sandler who is an expert on Pacific Northwest public finance.
Kathy Garcia Earns National Award
Marina Manager Kathy Garcia was presented an award for the national 2022 Women Making Waves honor from Boating Industry by Port CEO Jim Rothlin and Commissioners Cary Bozeman, Axel Strakeljahn, and Gary Anderson.
The presentation of this award also came at a fitting time, as March is Women's History Month.


Kathy is a wonderful example of the impact women in any industry have. CONGRATULATIONS KATHY!
Chamber Scholarship Opportunities
The South Kitsap Chamber of Commerce is proud to offer three scholarships available to graduating seniors from the South Kitsap School District.

We will be offering two $500 Scholarships for students pursuing additional education in business and one scholarship for a student who has demonstrated a commitment to the South Kitsap Community through service and volunteering. 

You can download the applications on our website

Applications are due back to the Chamber office by May 16th at 5:00 pm.
Port Orchard Events
SHARE YOUR EVENTS WITH US!!

Everyone!
Members, non-members, your club, your business... Everything!

Visit www.portorchardevents.com and share upcoming summer events

Share this link so everyone knows where to go to find or promote an upcoming event.
Upcoming Events
South Kitsap Chamber Of Commerce
360.876.3505
1014 Bay St. #3 Port Orchard, WA 98366