South Kitsap Community Chamber

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St. Patrick's Day

March 17th, 2023

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.

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.

March GreenDrinks

Are you interested in hosting a GreenDrinks event?

Find more information on our website

News You Can Use

WASHINGTON STATE WILL NEED MORE THAN 1 MILLION HOMES IN NEXT 20 YEARS WA ST DEPT OF COMMERCE

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES SMALL BUSINESS ARE FACING RIGHT NOW US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

WHY DO GOOD WORKERS LEAVE? BECAUSE OF THESE 4 MAJOR REASONS INC.COM

10 TIMELY TIPS FOR BETTER LOCAL SEARCH MARKETING LOCALIQ

WHICH SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS AER GAINING AND LOSING STEAM? HUBSPOT

Business News

Understanding the Labor Shortage

There are nearly 3 million FEWER Americans working today compared to February of 2020, leaving workforce participation below pre-pandemic numbers.

Several factors are the cause of this ongoing shortage.

The U.S Chamber surveyed unemployed workers who have not returned to the workforce after losing their jobs during the pandemic, about what is keeping them from returning to work.

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.

Employers Urge Inslee to Fix or Pause WA Cares Program

A coalition of over 230 employers and unions sent a letter this month to Gov. Inslee urging action on the state’s long-term care insurance program.

The letter presses the governor to work with legislative leaders to fix the troubled program or pause a controversial payroll tax starting on July 1.

The Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Commission released recommendations to the Legislature in January, but those issues have not been addressed. Key issues include:

Portability of benefits
A pilot program for benefits
Lack of a rolling opt-in or opt-out process for the program
Lack of a wage cap for premium payments

“This unfortunately feels like a case of déjà vu,” AWB President Kris Johnson said. “If this is allowed to take effect as-is, we expect a large number of Washingtonians will be unpleasantly surprised when a new withholding is added to their paychecks beginning in July.”

Contact AWB’s Amy Anderson or Bob Battles to learn more about the long-term care program.

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.

More Information...

Are You Ready to Export?

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR WAYS TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS?

The Washington Small Business Development Center, International Trade Team will help you assess if your business is ready to export and show how the SBDC and other resources can assist in the growth of your business through exporting.

Date: 3/22/2023

Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (PDT)

Registration Deadline: 3/22/2023 1:00 PM (PDT)

Fee: No Fee

Community News

Kitsap Great Give

Early Giving Opens Saturday, April 1st!

Founded in 2014, the Kitsap Great Give is a 24-hour "give-day" event that unites our community through this special online donation platform to support the many nonprofit organizations that make Kitsap a great place to live - for us all.

Search for a Cause

Apply for Leadership Kitsap Class of 2024

APPLY TODAY!

Applications Due April 3, 2023

Leadership Kitsap class participants are selected through a competitive screening/interview process conducted by the Leadership Kitsap Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Individuals will be chosen based on the following criteria: (1) commitment to civic involvement in Kitsap County, (2) potential for community leadership, and (3) professional and personal achievement.