South Kitsap Community Chamber

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Please Take Note

The Chamber Office will be closed

April 6th & 7th

We apologize for any inconvenience

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.

GreenDrinks

Are you interested in hosting a GreenDrinks event?

Find more information on our website

News You Can Use

News you can use April 5, 2023

WHAT LUCK? 5 SECRETS TO SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH CHANCE US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

HOW TO BUILD AND GROW YOUR EMAIL LIST: 16 HIGHLY EFFECTIVE WAYS MONSTERINSHIGHTS.COM

20 BEST CONTENT MARKETING TOOLS SEARCH ENGINE JOURNAL

12 ELEVATOR PITCH EXAMPLES TO INSPIRE YOUR OWN [+TEMPLATES] HUBSPOT.COM

SIX KEY REQUIREMENTS FOR MAKING YOUR PERSONAL BUSINESS GOALS A REALITY INC.COM

Chamber Events Planning Meeting

Want to help plan our events?

We are heading into the Events season fast and hard. If you are interested in participating in the planning and implementation of the Chamber events Calendar for 2023 we are having a meeting on April 11th at 2:00 pm. You can participate in person at the Chamber office or via Zoom.

If you are interested, give the Chamber a call or send us a note.

360-876-3505

admin@portorchard.com

Membership Promo Package

Chamber Members!

Make the Change to a Leading Provider in VOIP Business Services!!

From voice service to internet back-up and wi-fi management Ooma will help improve all of your communication services. Ooma can help route your calls to the appropriate person, prevent pesky robo-calls and ensure callers never get a busy signal.

When you’re running a business, having reliable and easy to use phone system is paramount. Ooma’s cloud-based phone system has been rated #1 in reliability by the readers of PC Magazine for 9 years running.

Customers love Ooma because they help them service their customers better.

Ooma is used in the Chamber office and is a Chamber Member!

Call James today at 253-240-4535 to discover how Ooma can help improve your business.

SHOWCASE YOUR BUSINESS

At our April 13th luncheon we will be offering an opportunity for members to showcase their businesses with networking tables and a chance to demonstrate their business.

Networking tables are $50 plus lunch. Space is limited so if you are interested sign-up today.

Business News

Retail Sales Dip after Strong January

March 17, 2023 Retail sales fell 0.4% in February, but this was after an incredible 3.2% gain in January. Retail sales are a subsection of total spending. It includes spending at retail stores (including online) and at bars and restaurants, but...

Read more
www.uschamber.com

Comprehensive Plan Delayed/Comments Extended

The Washington State Department of Commerce this month released housing needs projections over the next 20 years and guidance on how counties and cities should address them. This may affect Kitsap County Comprehensive Plan draft alternatives currently under consideration and could require additional zoning revisions, assumptions of growth or other changes to one or more of these alternatives.

To allow additional time to assess the impacts of this guidance and provide necessary clarity to the public on what is proposed, the March 13 Board of County Commissioners' public hearing on Comprehensive Plan draft alternatives is delayed until April 10.

Commissioners will take verbal testimony at the April 10 hearing. Until then, written testimony on the draft alternative maps and descriptions will continue to be accepted at compplan@kitsap.gov.

More information on the process, purpose and content of the preliminary draft alternatives can be found at kcowa.us/compplan. Videos of past presentations, public meetings and other information are also available on the site.

Send questions and comments to compplan@kitsap.gov or call Kitsap1 at (360) 337-5777 and ask for Planning and Environmental Programs.

Small Business Weekly Forecast

Partly cloudy, but the weather is a lot nicer than it looks. What it means: The latest data from the MetLife & U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index shows how small business owners' confidence in their own operations is remaining steady...

Read more
www.uschamber.com

2 FREE Marketing Webinars

How to Win at Social Media (even with no budget!) - Wednesday, 4/12, 11am-12pm

Are you marketing a business on social media? Do you have a tight budget? Learn how to build a powerful online presence and community for your business. We'll cover organic methods of growing your audience and your brand that are critical for social media marketing success whether you have an advertising budget or not.

Smart Principles of Marketing Messaging - Wednesday, 4/19, 11am-12pm

In this session, we will cover the smart principles of marketing messaging and psychological tactics to help you get and keep your audience's attention. Learn tricks you can use with your brand to make an impact on your target market. This is an example-heavy event, analyzing marketing techniques that different companies use and distilling them into lessons that small businesses can apply.

Community News

Kitsap Great Give

April 11th

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

Are You Interested in Running for Office?

The City of Port Orchard is hosting a Candidate's Forum to help answer questions and learn lessons from the trenches from former and current councilmembers, Kitsap County Auditor's office, and Port Commissioners.

2023 Discover Kitsap Visitor's Guide

It’s time to reserve your ad space in the award-winning Discover Kitsap Visitor's Guide 2023.

This premier tourism publication is primarily distributed on the ferries and tourist hot spots, and it will be inserted into 4 of our Kitsap newspapers on May 26th.

Your ad will reach locals, visitors and people who are new to Kitsap.

Distributions begins on Memorial Day weekend and continues through most of the year. It’s also available year-round online.

The deadline to book an ad is April 5th. Ad content is due by Friday, 4/14

Contact Harmony for more information

Kitsap County Job Fair

Tuesday, April 11 9 AM – 1 PM

Kitsap County Administration Building 619 Division Street in Port Orchard

Come discover why we love working at Kitsap County! Mark your calendar and join us at the Kitsap County Job Fair April 11. You’ll learn about the diverse job opportunities that are available at Kitsap County. With over 200 job types, we have jobs in every field! Learn about current openings, apply onsite, and sign up for alerts when new jobs are posted.

Come and meet employees from different County departments and learn why they love where they work. Ask questions and find out why they choose to work for Kitsap County. They can show you current openings and talk about careers in their line of work.

Looking for a good summer job? Get hired on the spot! If you’re looking for summer work, come prepared for an interview! We are interviewing, and in some cases hiring, on-site for our Summer Employment Program! Get your foot in the door and gain great work experience this summer with our Public Works Department!

Learn more about the program at kcowa.us/summer.

Learn about working at Kitsap County: KCOWA.US/LWYW

Open jobs: KCOWA.US/JOBS

Chamber Scholarship Opportunities

The South Kitsap Chamber of Commerce is proud to offer three scholarships available to graduating seniors from the South Kitsap School District.

We will be offering two $500 Scholarships for students pursuing additional education in business and one scholarship for a student who has demonstrated a commitment to the South Kitsap Community through service and volunteering.

You can download the applications on our website.

Applications are due back to the Chamber office by May 16th at 5:00 pm.