Wednesday, August 9, 2023 |
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Beginning August 21st, due to staffing shortages, our Bremerton office hours may be shortened. Please visit us in our Silverdale location inside the Kitsap Mall. |
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Special Member Showcase & Networking @ August Chamber Luncheon
Wednesday, August 23, 2023, 11:00 am
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Members new to the Chamber since July 2022 will be provided with half of a 6-foot table to display information about their business. There are a limited number of tables available, so contact hello@greaterkitsapchamber.com to reserve your space now. Tables will be opened up to other members as space allows. Participants must still register for the luncheon separately.
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Bremerton GreenDrinks @ USS Turner Joy
Thursday, August 10, 2023, 5:00 pm
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Ribbon Cutting: CKFR Station 52
Saturday, August 19, 2023, 11:00 am
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Ribbon Cutting: Daisy Mae Consignment
Thursday, August 31, 2023, 4:00 pm
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Save-the-Date: Heroes Golf Tournament
Friday, September 29, 2023
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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! |
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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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Missed a previous edition of the Chamber's Community Connections?
View all the past issues on our website HERE.
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New Members - Welcome to the Chamber! |
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(from L-R) Kitsap County Outreach Manager, Maria Dozeman, and Local Gov't Affairs and Public Policy Manager, Christine Nahn. |
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PSE Launches Incentives to Bring EV Charging to Fleets, Workplaces & Multifamily Properties
As Washington state moves to being phasing out gas-powered vehicles in 2030, PSE is committed to closing gaps, reducing barriers and ensuring equitable access to the benefits of electric mobility. To help accomplish that goal, we’ve launched three new programs this year: Up & Go Up & Go Electric for Fleet, Up & Go Electric for Workplace and Up & Go Electric for Multifamily. These programs are part of PSE’s pledge to be a Beyond Net Zero Carbon company by 2045.
Up & Go Electric for Fleet
Up & Go Electric for Fleet assists public and private fleets – municipalities, school districts, government agencies, transit agencies, and other businesses and organizations – in their transition to electric vehicles by offering savings on capital expenses, reducing operation and maintenance costs, and supporting sustainability goals. This program includes incentives for both Level 2 and DC fast charging ports. These incentives cover up to 100% of installation and maintenance costs up to $250,000 per site.
Up & Go Electric for Workplace
It’s time to electrify our commutes. Workplaces that provide charging for employees making coming to work a more positive experience, increase employee retention and competitiveness to attract new talent, and make progress on sustainability goals.
Up & Go Electric for Workplace includes incentives for up to 10 Level 2 charging ports per property. These incentives cover up to 100% of installation and maintenance costs up to $12,000 per port.
Up & Go Electric for Multifamily
With Up & Go Electric for Multifamily, property managers and owners can prepare for the future of transportation while attracting new residents and keeping the ones they have by installing electric vehicle charging at low or no cost. This program includes incentives for up to four Level 2 charging ports per property. These incentives cover up to 100% of installation and maintenance costs up to $10,000 per charging port.
Empower Mobility
Equity is a centerpiece of PSE’s efforts to advance cleaner mobility. Each of these new Up & Go Electric programs includes enhanced Empower Mobility incentives for charger installations – and in some cases even electric vehicles – for customers that serve, benefit, house or employ historically underrepresented communities. The Up & Go Electric for Fleet program also includes technical advisory services for qualifying Empower Mobility customers.
Learn more about what PSE is doing to drive the expansion of electric mobility here.
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Kitsap Bank Job Fair
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
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Growing Greater Businesses Grant Spotlight:
Barnacles & Bees
Outdoor adventures for young explorers
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Step into the enchanting world of Barnacles & Bees, an outdoor nature program in Bremerton, WA, where children aged three to ten immerse themselves in the beauty of nature. Founded by five families who shared a deep love for nature and children, Barnacles & Bees has blossomed into a thriving initiative that offers various programs designed to connect children with the great outdoors. Through their engaging experiences and community building, Barnacles & Bees creates a nurturing environment for children to grow, learn, and foster resilience. Discover the heartwarming journey of this program that is transforming lives and inspiring a love for nature in young hearts.
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Member Education & Training Resources |
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2 Weeks Left to Apply for WTIA Cohort-10 |
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Founders in the program will learn:
- How to fundraise (running a fundraising process, term sheets, cap tables, etc.)
- How to manage a board of directors
- Corporate governance (accounting, legal, etc.)
- Customer development and go-to-market strategies
Our goal is to help invest in our ecosystem and use our connections, sponsors, and partners to support the next generation of companies via mentorship, education, coaching, and connections. We also want to connect early-stage entrepreneurs with similarly staged peers to build cohorts of connected founders that grow together.
The program is completely virtual and kicks off with a bootcamp spread out over 3 days focused on all things fundraising. From there we’ll have workshops each month on stage-appropriate topics that you can implement in your company right away.
This program is free to apply for, free to participate in, and there will be no equity exchanged.
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Business News & Resources |
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Small Business Grants to Apply for in August |
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$10,000 DoorDash disaster relief grants
Restaurants across the country hit hard by a natural disaster can apply for $10,000 grants, courtesy of DoorDash.
The Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund, a partnership between DoorDash, financing platform Hello Alice and the Global Entrepreneurship network, will provide a total of 100 grants across 2023 to restaurants in state or federally declared natural disasters.
To be eligible, restaurants must also have a brick and mortar location, fewer than 50 employees per location, be open at least six months and have less than $3 million in revenue per location.
$20,000 grants for small businesses looking to grow
The Antares REACH Grant Program, in partnership with the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), will provide $20,000 grants to small businesses.
The focus is on companies that have an established product or market fit, have clearly identified needs for growth and are owned by historically underrepresented entrepreneurs.
A subset of grant recipients will also be considered for participation in Antares’ Growth Track program, a digital community space which will be home to monthly business coaching workshops, mentorship and networking.
Companies need to have generated at least $25,000 in revenue in 2022 and must complete a business health score through Hello Alice prior to finalizing an application. Click here to apply.
Up to $5,000 for dog-friendly workplaces
Pet food brand Cesar, part of Mars Inc., launched a grant program to help small-business owners make their workplaces more dog-friendly. The grants, for either $2,500 or $5,000, can be used for new dog programs or expanding existing ones.
Winners will also receive free Cesar products and up to three hours in consultative work. The deadline to apply is August 11 (a previous July 28 deadline was since extended). Interested business owners can apply here.
Federal grant and loan options for small businesses
In addition to those options, there are several federal grants and loans from the federal government targeting small businesses.
The America's Seed Fund program from the National Science Foundation, open to early-stage companies that need to prove their technology and find their market potential, has made about 3,400 awards to startups and small businesses since 2012, with 153 exits by those companies and $9.1 billion in private investment.
For those looking for government-backed loans, the USDA Business and Industry Loan Guarantee Program, part of an umbrella loan program offered by the USDA under its OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative, offers loan guarantees of up to 80% on everything from purchasing a building, modernizing equipment, working capital or acquiring a company.
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Quick and interesting reads for employers, employees,
local leaders, and everyone in between!
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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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Direct Mail Innovations to Test
in Your Next Nonprofit Campaign
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Photo: Amanda Cole
Large-scale direct mail campaigns are often based around postal discounts to lower rising postal costs, but there are so many other innovations that may be worth your consideration to improve your organization’s direct mail campaigns’ revenue. The mailbox has become a less busy place than donors’ email inboxes or social media feeds, but it’s still vital to stand out and get donors’ attention with direct mail.
“We have to try to play in this world,” Craig DePole, president of Newport ONE, said. “This is our game too. We don’t get the pass for just being a nonprofit organization. In the old days, there was this sense that direct mail could look homespun, like you put it together in your office, and donors appreciated that. I think there’s still an element to that, but that element is now through technology, through handwriting on outer envelopes and things that look like they’re touched.”
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Longtime Kitsap Bank Board Chair,
Helen Langer Smith, Dies at 93
Remembered for her leadership in banking, philanthropy
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Photo: Kitsap Bank
A Kitsap business leader, philanthropist and member of a Port Orchard family that has influenced the county for decades has died.
Helen Langer Smith, who served as Kitsap Bank's board chair for 25 years (1986-2011) and as part the bank's board for more than 70 years, passed away July 28, the bank announced in a statement. She was 93.
“Helen was a remarkable leader, business person, banker and human being," Kitsap Bank's CEO Steve Politakis said. "She genuinely cared about Kitsap Bank’s employees and their families and got to know as many as she could through the years. She also cared about her community and set the tone in Kitsap Bank’s ongoing commitment to giving back, both in donations and through active volunteerism."
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County Seeks Lodging Tax
Advisory Committee Member
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Help distribute funding to local organizations as a member of the Kitsap County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
Kitsap County has an immediate need for a representative from a local non-profit organization to serve on the Kitsap County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee. This is an opportunity to learn about the distribution of funding that supports Kitsap groups producing events attracting visitors.
Committee members work together to review applications, conduct applicant interviews and make recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners on the distribution of lodging tax funds. The time commitment is just two days of interviews and deliberations. (Representatives of organizations applying for funding in 2023 are not eligible to serve on the committee.)
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Summer Fundraiser for Kitsap Humane Society
August & September, 2023
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Sip wine and save animals this summer during Wine & Whiskers! Enjoy delicious local wines while supporting Kitsap Humane Society this summer during Wine & Whiskers presented by MUDBAY: a self-guided two-month-long wine tour benefiting animals in need. With the purchase of a ticket, participants will receive a Wine & Whiskers passport allowing them to redeem one free tasting experience at each of our participating wineries during the months of August and September All ticket sales go towards Kitsap Humane Society’s mission to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome thousands of animals in our community. Thanks to you, we can provide comfort, care, and critical services to pets who need our help. Featured Wineries:
- d'Vine Wines
- Details Wine Bar
- Eagle Harbor Wine Co.
- Eleven Winery
- Hard Hat Winery
- Holy Water A heavenly Lounge
- Hoodsport Winery
- Marrowstone Vineyards
- Sinclairs Twenty – Two
- Spin Cider
- State 42 Wines
- Wind Rose Cellars
Don't forget to be sure to get your paws on some limited-edition “Drinking Wine, Feline Fine” apparel to sport while you sip this summer! Browse t-shirts, tank tops, and more featuring our adorable Wine & Whiskers mascot. Purchase your apparel here! With your registration you get a promo Code for 10% off your Wine & Whiskers 2023 merchandise.
Must be 21+ to participate.
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Masks & COVID Testing Kits Available
Free at the Greater Kitsap Chamber & Visitor Center
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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.
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Silverdale @ Sunset Presents:
Skinny Blue
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
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Rock the Dock 2023
Saturdays in August @ Bremerton Waterfront, 5:00 pm
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Port Gamble Maritime Music Festival
Saturday, August 12, 2023
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Come enjoy a day of maritime music set in a natural amphitheater overlooking picturesque Gamble Bay.
We present the cream of the Northwest maritime music community, plus some more far-flung guests, in the historic town of Port Gamble, Washington. The festival promotes the living legacy of maritime music from all corners of the globe, as played by the many local and national artists who live here in the Puget Sound area and across the country. (Read about the performers from this year and past years.)
Food, drinks, & snacks are available at the top of the amphitheater (which is also the back of the audience) in the Port Gamble General Store. More details on this website's Location page.
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Port Gamble Summer Faire
Sunday, August 13, 2023
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Kitsap Farm Tour
Sunday, August 13, 2023
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Admiral Theatre Presents: Liz Longley
Friday, August 18, 2023, 8:00 pm
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Best known for her stop-you-in-your-tracks voice, Liz Longley is an accomplished singer-songwriter based out of Nashville, TN. With her deeply emotional music, Longley has earned accolades from some of the most prestigious songwriting competitions in the country, including the BMI John Lennon Songwriting Scholarship Competition. |
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Wings Over Washington
August 18 & 19, 2023
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Trace Adkins @ Kitsap County Fair & Stampede
Sunday, August 27, 2023, 5:00 pm
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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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Tiffany Diamond
Events Coordinator
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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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