Last Call to Lend Your Voice
to Kitsap Ferry Request
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The Greater Kitsap Chamber has previously shared information on an ask to Governor Inslee made by local leaders for expanded passenger-only ferry service on the Bremerton-Seattle route. Click here to read the letter endorsed by all Kitsap County mayors, County Commissioners, and legislators from the 23rd District. Bremerton Mayor Greg Wheeler has asked the Chamber and local businesses for their support - please let us know if we can add your business or personal name to our Chamber letter supporting this important ask for our region.
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GKC Inaugural Business Awards Gala
Thursday, November 17, 2022 6:00 pm
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There's still time - nominate a deserving business now!
Nominations are still being accepted for the
Inaugural Business Awards Gala for the Greater Kitsap Chamber
through October 7th. Click the button below to nominate now.
Tickets go on sale Monday, October 17, 2022
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Bremerton GreenDrinks
@ Kitsap Bank, 6th and Warren
Thursday, October 13, 2022, 5:00 pm
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Your hosts for October are the Downtown Bremerton Association, the Greater Kitsap Chamber and Kitsap Bank.
Join us on Thursday October 13th at the relocated Downtown Bremerton Kitsap Bank Branch. Many changes occurred in our lives throughout the pandemic. One of those changes was a slight relocation of this Kitsap Bank branch. It moved from the corner of 6th & Pacific to the corner of 6th & Warren. The Kitsap Bank team is excited to show off the great new space to all the GreenDrinkers. With community space as part of the design, and with Starbucks sharing the building, it's a wonderful improvement to the area. Hope to see you there!
Catering by Lora's Le Garmarche.
So get ready to MIX, ENGAGE, REPEAT. But don't forget to bring those business cards as well as a glass (we want to be green).
As always, this is a 21-and-over event, where we welcome everyone to meet new people and make new connections in Bremerton. This event is for adults only (age 21 and older). $10 helps to offset the costs of food and drink. Tickets at the door are $20.
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RECAP: September Luncheon
@ Kitsap Golf & Country Club
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Kitsap Golf & Country Club's ballroom was filled on Wednesday for the Chamber's September luncheon, this month focused on providing information and resources to businesses as they are impacted by the homeless crisis in Kitsap County. Moderated by Beth Wolfe, the guest panel made up of Kirsten Jewel and Jarrod Moran from the County, Drayton Jackson from the Foundation for Homeless & Poverty Management, and Kitsap County Sheriff John Gese and Patrol Chief Jeff Menge, offered answers on what the County is doing to manage homeless in our area as well as resources should businesses need a place to turn. September's luncheon was sponsored by Kitsap Golf & Country Club.
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Renew your membership today to ensure your place as a Charter Member of the Greater Kitsap Chamber! Questions about when to renew or how to upgrade your membership? Contact Irene now!
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New Members - Welcome to the Chamber! |
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New Members & Renewals for September
Thank you for your support of the Chamber!
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Main Street
Business Member
Randy Biegenwald CPA PS
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Sound Publishing Seeks Hires |
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Do you have news you'd like to share about your business or organization?
We'd love to share! Please send information to Irene at the Chamber!
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Virginia Mason Franciscan Health
St. Michael Medical Center
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St. Michael Medical Center proudly builds on the rich legacy of care that began with the Harrison family more than 100 years ago. The premier medical center in Silverdale puts patients and families first, offering everything you need for your best health and wellness, without a trip across the water. As part of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health's system of 10 hospitals and 230 specialty clinics, St. Michael Medical Center will welcome, heal and care for our Kitsap and Olympic Peninsula communities for generations to come. Our campus services conveniently include:
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Medical Pavilion for expanded on-campus specialty care
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Emergency services, with a Level III Trauma Center, 24-hour care and rooftop helipad
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Family Birth Center with a Level II Special Care Nursery
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Advanced imaging and radiology services, including 256-slice CT
- All-private patient rooms with guest accommodations and views of the Olympics or Dyes Inlet
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Comprehensive cancer care with leading Puget Sound cancer specialists
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Heart care program nationally recognized for excellence in cardiac surgery
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Designated a Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission for stroke care
- Exceptional orthopedics and sports medicine, including a renowned joint replacement program
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Eggs & Issues: WA State Rep - Position 1
Tuesday, October 11, 2022, 8:00 am
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Community Relations Committee |
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RECAP: Heroes Golf Tournament
@ Gold Mountain Golf Club, Bremerton
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The weather was perfect for the Chamber's annual Heroes Golf Tournament on Friday out at the Gold Mountain Golf Club. Players, sponsors, Chamber staff and volunteers spent the day out in Bremerton celebrating local military heroes and the close of summer in Kitsap. |
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Title sponsor Kitsap Credit Union was joined by nearly 100 golfers for this annual event, with prizes given out for the top team and the longest drive (both male and female). The Chamber also gave away a literal wheelbarrow of booze as part of the day's fundraising raffle. Mark your calendar for next year's event on Friday, September 29, 2023.
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Heroes Tournament Results
Winning Teams
First
JD Tax & Accounting
Cameron Dubos
Shaun Hall
Tanner Seaton
Justin Wells
Second
The Blockheads
Gordon Barton
Charlie Brown
Don McKnight
Tony Pinto
Third
The Home Team @ Evergreen Home Loans
Frank Ellerbroek
Derek Mills
Rick Slate
Brian Soete
Closest to the Pin
Port Madison Enterprises
Jeff Brennan
Shawn Carper
Mike Miller
Patrick O'Brien
Longest Drive - Male
Justin Wells (JD Tax & Accounting)
Longest Drive - Female
Lisa Ames (Mulligans R Us)
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Thank you to our
2022 Heroes Golf Tournament Sponsors!
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October Luncheon at Kitsap Conference Center
Wednesday, October 19, 2022, 11:30 am
(please note this is one week early!)
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Member Education & Training Resources |
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How Brick-and-Mortar Must Evolve |
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Brick-and-mortar retail is not going away anytime soon. As the economy rebounds from the pandemic, retailers will need to consider ways to evolve their physical locations to integrate with a seamless omnichannel experience for their customers. Adopting new technologies can be costly but are necessary if retailers want to compete in emerging e-commerce markets.
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Business News & Resources |
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Washington Minimum Wage Increase in 2023 |
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The Washington State minimum wage for 2023 will increase to $15.74 an hour in January. That’s up $1.25 from what it is now.
The 8.66 percent rise is directly tied to the cost of common goods such as housing, food, and medical care, as reflected in the Consumer Price Index.
The state minimum wage applies to workers age 16 and older. Under state law, employers can pay 85 percent of the minimum wage to workers ages 14-15. For 2023, the wage for that younger group will be $13.38 per hour.
Cities can set minimum wages higher than the state. Seattle and SeaTac both have higher wages.
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KEDA 2022 Fall Forum
Thursday, October 20, 2022, 1:00 pm
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KEDA's Fall Forum is back! Live & in person at the
Kitsap Conference Center on Oct. 20th, 1-5pm
We will cover top of mind issues facing Kitsap's economy, including: inflation, workforce and inclusive hiring, and Kitsap's startup economy. Attendees will also be introduced to KEDA's newest initiative, WAV-C, Washington Autonomous Vehicle Cluster.
Social hour follows with hors d'oeuvre and hosted bar.
Chamber members receive a $25 discount when using the code: 22chamber
The Greater Kitsap Chamber is a sponsor for this year's Fall Forum.
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Nonprofit News & Resources |
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The Greater Kitsap Chamber is proud to be one of only five Chambers statewide selected to partner with the Nonprofit Association of Washington (NAWA) to bring education and resources to nonprofits in Western Washington. Stay tuned to this section of our weekly newsletter for education, resources and more for our nonprofit community. To learn more about NAWA, please visit their website here.
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Grantwriting 101: The Three-Hour Tour
Thursday, October 13, 2022, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
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Are you thinking about trying your hand at seeking grants, whether for professional or volunteer purposes? Or, perhaps you recently got your feet wet writing your first couple of grants and need further guidance? Then join PSGA for a valuable intensive training captained by veteran grantwriter Alison Pride, an avid sailor and former PSGA Board President.
Alison has designed her interactive “three-hour tour” for those with limited or no grantwriting experience. Your voyage will include prospect research, writing techniques, and budget preparation. Special bonus: Time for additional Q&A after the main presentation.
Workshop is Online
Cost: $35 PSGA members/ $60 all others
Scholarship Cost: $10 for qualifying individuals
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Kitsap Public Health Board Meeting
Tuesday, October 4, 2022, 10:30 am
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Central Kitsap Community Council
Wednesday, October 5, 2022, 5:00 pm
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Everyone is invited to join the Central Kitsap Community Council at its next meeting to learn about traffic improvements on NW Greaves Way, a proposed sewer utility rate increase, and the county's 2023 annual budget. The meeting takes place at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5 in person in the Central Kitsap School District's Silverdale Center at the new Silverdale Library Rainier Room, 3650 NW Anderson Hill Road.
The meeting will feature these presentations, with opportunities for public comments and questions:
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Greaves Way roundabout project Gary Kaczynski, capital improvements project manager, Kitsap County Public Works
- Sewer utility proposed rate increase Lisa Edge, education and outreach coordinator, Kitsap County Public Works
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Kitsap County 2023 Annual Budget Amber Dunwiddie, director, and Kristofer Carlson, financial manager, of Kitsap County Administrative Services
For more information, contact Alex Jarrett in the Kitsap County Commissioners' Office at ajarrett@kitsap.gov.
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Accessibility Stickers Available at the Chamber |
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A new project of Kitsap County’s Accessible Communities Advisory Committee provides businesses, schools, places of worship, and other public spaces with an easy way to assist people with severe mobility impairments in gaining access to buildings. These organizations are offered a cling film sticker where they can write their phone number then affix to front doors and other points of entry. People with disabilities can call the number to reach someone inside the establishment to request the door be opened for them.
As Kitsap County strives towards making communities more inclusive, everyone who has buildings accessed by the public is asked to participate in this project and be part of making Kitsap more welcoming. Stickers are available at both the Bremerton and Silverdale offices for the Greater Kitsap Chamber.
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COVID-19 Updates & Resources |
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Shelf-Life of COVID At-Home Tests Expanded |
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On July 8th, the FDA granted another shelf-life extension for the iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test which extended the shelf-life of all iHealth tests to 12 months. To determine the new expiration date for your test kit, add 6 months to the expiration date listed on the back of the box. iHealth kits are available for free at the Silverdale office for the Greater Kitsap Chamber. |
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Masks & COVID Testing Kits Available
Free at the Greater Kitsap Chamber & Visitor Center
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The Kitsap County Department of Emergency Management is providing free KN95 masks and COVID testing kits to local businesses. Pick up your supply at the Greater Kitsap Chamber's Silverdale office today. |
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COVID-19 Vaccine & Testing Resources |
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Kitsap County Health District is now posting a regularly updated list of COVID-19 vaccine providers in Kitsap County. This list can be found here.
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Kitsap County Medical Society Foundation
Hosts Community Rummage Sale
Saturday, October 8, 2022, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
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Kitsap Employers Veterans Day Job Fair
Wednesday, November 9, 2022, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
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WorkSource Kitsap is inviting the community to join them for a job fair on November 9th at their location on Randall Way in Silverdale. The event will exclusively exhibit Kitsap County's small and medium-sized businesses, with the first hour reserved for veterans, active-duty military job seekers and their families. |
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3120 NW Randall Way
Silverdale, WA 98383
(360) 516-1001
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Tacoma Glassblowing Studio @ Valley Nursery
Northwest Glass Pumpkin Patches
Saturday, October 8, 2022, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
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The Northwest Glass Pumpkin Patches are sponsored by Tacoma Glassblowing Studio. Featuring over 2,000 hand blown glass pumpkins crafted by local glass artisans. Wander through a dazzling array of one-of-a kind glass pumpkins in a variety of colors, shapes, sizes and price ranges. These glass art pumpkins are perfect for the autumn season, yet beautiful enough to display year-round. Come pick the perfect pumpkin for yourself or as a gift. All Northwest Glass Pumpkins Patches are Rain or Shine and Admission is FREE! Each patch is totally different. We guarantee that after you see one of our glass pumpkin patches, glass art will never seem the same. Our pumpkin patches are truly a unique sight! Pumpkins are always available in our gallery and in our online store.
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Valley Nursery | 20882 Bond Road NE | Poulsbo WA 98370 |
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Poulsbo Film Festival
October 14-16, 2022
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Bremerton WestSound Symphony Presents:
Gilded Age Americana
Saturday, October 22, 2022, 7:30 pm
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Day Trip to Poulsbo:
SEA Discovery Center
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Western Washington's SEA Discovery Center, located at the Poulsbo Waterfront, is dedicated to inspiring stewardship of and learning about the Salish Sea. With special programs throughout the year, including exhibitions, lectures, film screenings, book discussions and much more, the SEA Discovery Center is a hidden treasure in North Kitsap for all ages. |
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SEA Discovery Center
18743 Front Street NE
Poulsbo, WA 98370
(360) 650-4905
Open Fridays & Saturdays
11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Suggested Donation:
$2 per person
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Stay in the know with what's happening for events
in Central Kitsap by checking out and liking the
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Have something to share? CLICK HERE to submit stories and
events for Tuesday's Community Connections!
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David Emmons
President/CEO
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Irene Moyer
VP, Membership & Strategic Communications
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Joe Barboza
Operations Manager
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Brenda Kelley
Tourism Coordinator
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Bremerton Office (360) 479-3579 | 4th & Pacific Downtown Bremerton
Silverdale Office (360) 692-6800 | Kitsap Mall next to Macy's
PO Box 1218 Silverdale WA 98383
If you need assistance, please contact us directly.
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