Tuesday, July 26, 2022
Important News for You
Heat Wave Headed to Western Washington
While not the heat dome of 2021, temperatures in Kitsap could exceed 90 degrees this week. Read more from the Kitsap Sun's Zachary Fletcher on what to expect in the coming days.

Chamber News
Check out and like the
Silverdale & Bremerton Facebook pages!
July Membership Luncheon: Education Carnival
TOMORROW! July 27, 2022, 11:30 am
Join us as we celebrate summer with our annual Education Carnival. Enjoy carnival games, a silent auction and delicious food at McCloud's Grill House in East Bremerton. Proceeds from this special luncheon directly fund scholarships to qualifying students in Central Kitsap and the Greater Kitsap area.

Register in advance to reserve your seat; tickets will also be available at the door. And don't forget those business cards to network with your fellow Chamber members, local business leaders and more. We'll see you tomorrow!
Heroes Golf Tournament @ Gold Mountain
Friday, August 12, 2022
Sponsorships now available! Contact David for more 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!
Member News
New Members - Welcome to the Chamber!
Live Well Kitsap Live Event
Sponsorship & Vending Opportunities Available Now
Port of Bremerton Seeks Airport Director
The Port of Bremerton is the number one job creator in Kitsap County for 2021 - many of those jobs have come from development around our airport. We value the collegial team effort that earned us this designation. As the largest national airport on the Kitsap Peninsula, continued expansion is our goal and you can make a significant contribution to our success. We need your airport experience and strategic thinking to keep us at the top of our game and help us pursue grant funding, airport improvements, and continued staff development. You will also be responsible for bringing the airport perspective to the leadership team, planning and budgeting for the airport and its future, leading a group of highly trained maintenance professionals, developing and maintaining tenant relationships, advocating for the airport in a variety of community and government groups and staying abreast of safety, requirements and all matters necessary to run a top-notch airport.
Kitsap Regional Library Offers Summer Programs
The School of Taiko
July 27th @ Waterfront Park
Sunshine from Polynesia
July 30th @ Silverdale Library
August 3rd @ Waterfront Park
CKSD Presents Summer Musical
Business Advertising Opportunities Available
Support Central Kitsap students and promote your business to
hundreds of local families at our first ever summer musical production, Roald Dahl's WILLY WONKA! The printed summer musical program
will be in the hands of hundreds of attendees at five summer musical performances August 11-14, 2022.

The deadline to reserve space is July 25, 2022. Questions? Contact JaneCa@ckschools.org or call 360-662-1621

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!

Member Spotlight
Best Western Plus Silverdale Beach Hotel
Enjoy this newly renovated hotel, located on the beautiful Kitsap Peninsula, offering guests spacious, well-appointed rooms, friendly service and great value.

Whether you're on a getaway to relax, looking to explore the area, or a local enjoying a staycation, there is something for everyone at this centrally located hotel. Three of the largest golf courses in Washington are all just a few minutes away.

The Silverdale Beach Hotel is also located between two of the largest Navy bases in the world: Bangor and Keyport. In addition, the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard is right next to the Bremerton Ferry just 15 minutes away. We understand that a great location doesn't have to come at the expense of beautiful accommodations.

We are an award-winning hotel with honors from BW with our Director's Award, TripAdvisor® Green Leader, as well as Fido's Favorite.
3073 NW Bucklin Hill Rd
Silverdale, WA 98383
(360) 698-1000
Education Committee
Member Education & Training Resources
Kitsap Digital Hour:
Business Credibility & Credit
Wednesday, August 10, 2022, 11:00 am
Creating a Quick Business Plan in Three Hours
Wednesday, July 27, 2022, 9:00 am
You have a great business idea, but what’s the next step in starting the business? Join other entrepreneurs in this hands-on workshop in which you will first write your “Unique Value Statement” that concisely describes your product or service and its value. Using the “Lean Canvas,” you will write a draft one-page business plan – all in three hours!

Workshop Fee: $50
Increase Sales and Profits with
Pricing and Distribution Strategies
Thursday, July 28, 2022, 1:00 pm
Nothing hurts the profitability of your business more than choosing the wrong price for your products or services. In this workshop we show you a process for pricing your products. Since pricing a service is very different than a product, we cover the separate process for pricing your services. We also show you how to distribute your product or service efficiently.

Workshop Fee: $40
Advocacy Committee
Primary Election: August 2, 2022
Drop Boxes, Vote Centers & Accessible Voting Locations
Vote Centers open the Saturday and Monday before the Primary and General Election Day and on Election Day for Special Elections.

The centers are designed primarily for new voters needing to register, voters who lost or did not receive their ballots in the mail, voters needing to change their addresses, and voters wishing to vote using the Accessible Voting Unit.

Voters who want to vote in a voting location are also welcome. A ballot from the vote center is the same as the one you receive in the mail. If you receive a ballot in the mail but want to vote in the vote center, bring that ballot and step into one of the voting partition spaces. This will help keep the line short for voters who need to register or receive a replacement ballot.

Vote Centers
Saturday and Monday before the Primary or General Election
8:30 am - 4:30 pm (July 30th & August 1st)
Election Day, Tuesday, August 2nd: Tuesday, 7 am - 8 pm
Ballot Drop Locations

Beginning 18 days before each election (July 15th), ballot drop boxes remain open 24 hours a day until 8 pm on Election Day.

There are 25 ballot drop boxes located throughout Kitsap. Ballot drops provide a safe, secure way for voters to deposit their ballots. No postage is required. Our ballot drop boxes also meet accessibility requirements for voters with disabilities.
Business News & Resources
SBA Seeks Public Comment on Certification Programs for Veterans
The SBA is seeking public comments on a proposed rule to establish a certification program for Veteran-Owned and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses. Comments must be received on or before August 5, 2022.

Working WA Grants: Round 5
Application Portal Opens August 17, 2022
The Washington State Legislature has allocated a new round of grant funding for small businesses affected by the pandemic. $70 million was appropriated by the legislature for the next round of Working Washington Grants: Round 5. In this round of Working Washington grants, available funds are set aside for specific targeted groups or sectors:

  • 60% is identified for the arts, heritage, and science sectors, including those that operate live entertainment venues
  • 40% is identified for most other sectors, including hospitality, fitness and personal services
 
General Timeline:
  • August 17 – 31: Application portal will remain open for 15 days
  • Early – Mid September: Review of applications
  • Late September: Commerce will notify grantees and disburse funding

Make sure to register for a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number by August 1st, which is required to receive grants from this federally-funded program.
Washington Ranked #2 for Business
From the Washington Retail Association

Washington state ranked second in the nation as overall best for business, behind North Carolina. CNBC recently scored all 50 states on 88 metrics in 10 broad categories drawing from a variety of data sources. The top three weighted categories included workforce, infrastructure, and the cost of doing business. The other seven categories include economy, life, health & inclusion, technology & innovation, business friendliness, education, access to capital and cost of living. Of the ten categories, Washington’s worst ranking metric was its high ‘cost of living.

As opposed to an opinion survey, this was a report based on empirical data. States’ performance in each metric was calculated using the most recent figures available.

Long-Term Care Program Insolvent
From the Association of Washington Business (AWB)

The state's new long-term care tax is paused for now -- but it's not a lasting solution.

The Washington Research Council recently highlighted the fiscal challenges facing the new program. The current payroll tax of 0.58% is not enough to keep it solvent.

Opinions are divided on the new program, with some calling it a national model, and others calling it a failure. 

Additionally, learn more here from the Washington Retail Association.
Understanding America's Labor Shortage:
The Most Impacted Industries
From the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
*Photo by Ian Wagreich

The pandemic caused a major disruption in America’s labor force—something many have referred to as The Great Resignation. In 2021, more than 47 million workers quit their jobs, many of whom were in search of an improved work-life balance and flexibility, increased compensation, and a strong company culture.

But a closer look at what has happened to the labor force can be better described as ‘The Great Reshuffle’ because hiring rates have outpaced quit rates since November of 2020. So, many workers are quitting their jobs—but many are getting re-hired elsewhere. 

Kitsap County News
Photo credit: Meegan M. Reid/Kitsap Sun
Kitsap Pride Returns for 2022
Published in the Kitsap Sun, July 24, 2022

Rainbow flags, balloons and people in rainbow-colored outfits celebrated Kitsap Pride as the annual event continued its growth at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds on Saturday. 

Kitsap County's initial Pride celebrations began more than 25 years ago, with West Sound Family and Gay County organizing events at Scenic Beach, according to the Kitsap Pride nonprofit, often consisting of potlucks and a volleyball game for a few dozen people. 

Since then, it’s grown to a day-long that brought hundreds to Evergreen Rotary Park in Bremerton and now to thousands to the Kitsap County Fairgrounds. Around 3,000 participated showed up in 2021, according to organizers, and Saturday's estimate was 5,000. The Kitsap Pride Network was formed in 2007 as a network of local organizations collaborating to celebrate community in Kitsap County and host the event.

Green-Painted Bike Lanes Appear in Bremerton
Published in the Kitsap Sun, July 23, 2022

The green streets of Bremerton are growing. 

New stretches of green-coated bike lanes are popping up all over the city this year. The largest effort, a $2 million safety project on Kitsap Way from Highway 3 to Callow Avenue, will wrap up construction in August. Other such lanes were added to Austin Drive and to downtown streets around the ferry terminal earlier this year. 

And there's more to come, says Mayor Greg Wheeler, whose goal is to ensure the bike lanes connect to each other, rather than remain isolated islands.  

"We're working to tie all of them together," he said.

Silverdale Whaling Days returns July 29-31, 2022, and with it comes various road closures and restrictions in and around Silverdale. Click here for a detailed traffic advisory.
COVID-19 Updates & Resources
COVID-19 Vaccine & Testing Resources
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.

Community Information
6 Places to Cool Off Near Kitsap County
Published on The Submerged Life Blog

Here in Washington state, it finally feels like summer, but some days you might be feeling too hot. And if you’re like me and surviving with minimal fans or portable AC units, most days you need to get out.

USPS Hiring Event
Wednesday, August 3, 2022, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Tourism Information
Silverdale @ Sunset Concert Series
Wednesday, July 27, 2022, 6:30 pm
Whaling Days @ Silverdale Waterfront Park
July 29 - 31, 2022
CKSD Summer Musical: Willy Wonka
August 11-14, 2022
Join Charlie Bucket on his fantastical tour of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory! Complete with all of the enchanting songs you know and love
from the 1971 film starring Gene Wilder including "Pure Imagination,"
"The Candyman," and "I've Got a Golden Ticket!", this production
features a live orchestra, creative costumes, state of the art lighting,
staging, amazing visual effects, and a cast of over 120!

ROALD DAHL'S WILLY WONKA Is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
Kitsap Wine Festival
Saturday, August 13, 2022, 2:00 pm
13th Annual Kitsap Wine Festival benefiting the
Downtown Bremerton Association
Taste wines from over 14 wineries and sample NW Cuisine.

Since it began 13 years ago, the Kitsap Wine Festival has featured live music, delicious foods, craft beer and of course, great wines. You'll have the opportunity to explore and discover a wide variety of wines by sampling bottles featured by our ever-expanding slate of participating wineries. Find a new favorite and take it home. Our retail wine shop provides an expanded selection of wines and an assortment of fun wine-related treasures. You'll want to compliment all of your delightful sippings by noshing delectables offered by our amazing food vendors. Round out your day of summer fun with games like cornhole and ladder golf on the gorgeous waterfront at the Kitsap Wine Festival!
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Contact Us
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events for Tuesday's Community Connections!
360-692-6800
David Emmons
President/CEO
Irene Moyer
Director of Member Relations
Joe Barboza
Operations Manager
Kate Cofer
Membership Coordinator
Brenda Kelley
Tourism Coordinator