Celebrate new business, catch a pop-up ferry to Bremerton and all things blackberry

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Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Important News for You

Kitsap Fair & Rodeo Celebrates 100 Years

August 23-27, 2023

Get ready for a week full of funnel cakes, cover bands and cowboys -- it's time for the Kitsap Fair and Rodeo. Events open on Wednesday, August 23, and run through Sunday, August 27, at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds.

The Kitsap Fair and Rodeo is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The first Kitsap Fair was held in Port Orchard in 1923 before it moved to the current fairgrounds site in East Bremerton in 1958.

This weekend, fair-goers can expect the usual exciting array of family friendly activities including carnival rides, food and games, livestock exhibitions, competitions, rodeo events, live music and more. But this time, everything is bigger and better, said executive director Rich Nestor.

For the landmark anniversary, there will be even more vendors and carnival rides, the return of last year's Vuelta la Luna circus and an overflow of rodeo contestants that will open up extra viewing times for fairgoers, Nestor said.

Click here for more info from the Kitsap Sun.

Map of parking available here.

Chamber News

Check out and like the

Greater Kitsap Chamber Facebook pages!

Ribbon Cutting: Daisy Mae Consignment

Thursday, August 31, 2023, 4:00 pm

Chamber Seeking Volunteers

Blackberry Festival Info Booth

Special Event Coming Soon

Blackberry Festival Weekend

Join the Chamber for this unique opportunity to travel from Silverdale to Bremerton via the Carlisle II, the last of Kitsap County's mosquito fleet ferries. We will be hosting free ferry rides between the Port of Silverdale and the Port of Bremerton over Labor Day Weekend for those wanting an alternative route to the Bremerton Blackberry Festival, or those who just want to see a new view from the water. You won't want to miss this event!

Save-the-Date: Heroes Golf Tournament

Friday, September 29, 2023

It's time to start rounding up your golf foursomes - the Heroes Golf Tournament returns on September 29th! Enjoy a day on the links at Gold Mountain Golf Club, try your luck at winning our "Wheelbarrow of Booze," connect with the Greater Kitsap Business community and more!

SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION

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!

Missed a previous edition of the Chamber's Community Connections?

View all the past issues on our website HERE.

Member News

New Members - Welcome to the Chamber!

Puget Sound Energy

Business Lighting Incentive Program - A Case Study

Member Spotlight

Growing Greater Businesses Grant Spotlight:

Suitcases on Standby Travel

Redefining the Way We Vacation

In this week's blog post, we introduce Amy Zinkhon, the extraordinary travel agent and community advocate who is reshaping the way we vacation. With her modern approach to travel planning, Amy turns ordinary trips into extraordinary adventures. Her deep involvement in the community and commitment to creating magical experiences make her a trusted name in the travel industry.

Learn about Amy's personal journey, her resilience, and her unwavering optimism. Discover how she transforms vacations into unforgettable memories and find out how you can connect with Amy to embark on your own extraordinary journey.

Get inspired by Amy Zinkhon and unlock a world of unforgettable travel experiences. Full blog post here.

Book a trip with Suitcases on Standby Travel here: https://www.suitcasesonstandby.com/

Education Committee

Member Education & Training Resources

Top Automation Tools for Small Businesses

Friday, August 25, 2023, 9:00 am

The objective of this workshop is to provide you, the small business owner, with a comparison of the top technologies and automation tools available and help you determine which of these is best for your business. The workshop focuses on the following tools and systems:

Accounting
Payroll Processing
Employee Timesheet
Point of Sale
Customer Invoicing
Accounts Payable
eCommerce
Project Management
Email Communication
Web Hosting

By the end of this workshop, you’ll have a short-list of the technologies and systems that you’ll want to implement for your business. Don’t miss this opportunity!

Workshop Fee: $40

Business Structure & Operations

Wednesday, August 30, 2023, 6:00 pm

New I-9 Form Compliance Tips for Employers

Businesses must begin using by November 1st

Federal officials updated and modernized the I-9 Form for employment verification. Be sure to check out these eight compliance tips for employers from Fisher Phillips. The new form is available now and employers must begin using the new form by Nov. 1.

LEARN MORE

Save-the-Date: WA Biz Fair 2023

Saturday, September 23, 2023, 8:30 am - 1:00 pm

Biz Fair is a free, annual event for current and aspiring small business owners to learn about the programs, resources, and technical assistance available to help start and grow a small business. Biz Fair is the longest running all government and non-profit-run small business fair in Washington State.

Saturday, September 23, 2023
Location: Pierce College Puyallup campus (8:30 AM - 1:00 PM)

LEARN MORE

Business News & Resources

KEDA Releases Top Employer Survey Results

KEDA has again partnered with the Center for Economic and Business Research at Western Washington University to produce the annual Kitsap Top Employers List. This primary research data is utilized by public and private partners, potential real estate investors and companies considering expansion or relocation for inclusion in market analysis, industry cluster analysis, competitive analysis, and workforce analysis.

Employment counts reflect total employee headcounts as of December 31, 2022.

Business Quick-Reads

Quick and interesting reads for employers, employees,

local leaders, and everyone in between!

Courtesy of FastCompany.com

Courtesy of Entrepreneur.com

Nonprofit News & Resources

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.

Maximizing Online Fundraising: 7 Tips for Engaging Donors in the Digital Age

Published on NonProfitPro.com, August 22, 2023

Photo: Getty Images by Alessandro Biascioli

In the ever-evolving digital landscape, online fundraising has become a powerful tool for nonprofits and charitable organizations to raise funds, connect with donors, and make a significant impact. The convenience, reach and accessibility of the internet have revolutionized how fundraising campaigns are conducted. Let’s explore some of the best tips and strategies for engaging donors in the digital age, and how to maximize online fundraising success.

Read on for 7 tips for engaging donors.

Greater Kitsap News

Comprehensive Plan Virtual Workshops

August 30th & September 14th

Kitsap County staff has been working diligently over the past few months to assess potential updates to the 2024 Comprehensive Plan goals, polices, and strategies. This has included determining any gaps in the current Plan created by recent changes to Puget Sound Regional Council’s VISION 2050 and Countywide Planning Policies, and the significant shifts in housing requirements under the Growth Management Act.

With draft documents expected to be released this Fall, Kitsap County is holding two virtual workshops to act as a refresher on the Plan’s update process and challenges, and to discuss key additions or revisions being proposed to close any gaps identified. Each meeting will focus on various elements within the Plan, including Housing, Economic Development, Land Use, Environment, Climate Change, and Transportation.

Meetings will be held virtually via Zoom at 6 p.m. on the following dates:

Wednesday, August 30^th – Housing / Economic Development / Land Use
Thursday, September 14^th – Environment / Climate Change / Transportation

Please visit the project website at kcowa.us/compplan (links on right hand side of project page) for more information about how to join these meetings.

Each meeting will include a presentation, after which attendees may choose to participate in interactive “break-out” groups to share thoughts and partake in a discussion related to the meeting topics. Participation may be verbal through facilitated discussion or written using the chat function available in Zoom.

To learn more about the update you can visit our project website at kcowa.us/compplan, where you will find information about upcoming public meetings, story maps describing different comprehensive plan elements, draft documents and other related materials.

Any specific questions may be sent to compplan@kitsap.gov, or you can call Kitsap1 at (360) 337-5777 and ask for Planning and Environmental Programs.

CENTRAL KITSAP ROAD REPORT

CITY OF BREMERTON ROAD REPORT

Community Information

YMCA Summer Concert: Navy Band NW

Friday, August 25, 2023, 6:00 pm

The Haselwood Family YMCA Advisory Council & staff are pleased to welcome Navy Band NW back to our popular and FREE community concert series.

The Navy Band NW performs hits from the 60,70, 80's and up to today.

This event will include the band, food and dessert truck, bounce house for the kiddos and more.

Invite your friends, bring your own blanket or chairs and enjoy the evening with great music and entertainment.

Visit www.ymcapkc.org for other great YMCA offerings.

Masks & COVID Testing Kits Available

Free at the Greater Kitsap Chamber & Visitor Center

The Greater Kitsap Chamber still has some supplies available if your local business is in need of KN95 masks or COVID testing kits. Pick up your supply at both GKC locations today. Available while supplies last.