Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Advocacy Committee News

Help Shape a Better

Business Environment in Kitsap

Wednesday, September 9, 2026, 11:30am

What would make it easier to start, operate, and grow a business in Kitsap?

Matchstick Lab and the Greater Kitsap Chamber's Advocacy Committee are teaming up to bring local business owners and entrepreneurs together for a small-group listening session to hear directly about the challenges you're facing.

We'll be talking about two areas in particular:

1. Your advocacy needs as a local business owner or leader
2. And access to the capital you need to grow your business successfully

We want to better understand the barriers businesses like yours are experiencing, what resources are missing, and what changes could make a meaningful difference.

This isn't a presentation—we’re gathering around the table to hear from you and your peers!

Your experiences and ideas will help shape Matchstick Lab’s work to improve access to funding for Kitsap entrepreneurs and help the Chamber better advocate for businesses across our community.

Your Business, Your Voice:

A Roundtable Discussion for Business Owners

📅 Date: Wednesday, September 9

⌚ Time: 11:30am - 1:00pm

📍 Location: Vibe Coworks - The Rebel Room

🥗 Lunch will be provided

Space will be limited to keep the conversation intimate and interactive.

We hope you'll join us and share your perspective.

Best,

Whitney Tatum, Community Programs Lead, Matchstick Lab

Alysa Grimes, Advocacy Chair, Greater Kitsap Chamber

September Eggs & Issues:

Meet the Candidates

Join the GKC Advocacy Committee this September for the first part of our Eggs & Issues series! Eggs & Issues features candidate forums with a moderated discussion on commerce issues affecting Kitsap businesses. All events run from 8:00 a.m. at the Cloverleaf Sports Bar & Grill, with breakfast available for purchase.

• September 15 — U.S. Congress, District 6 candidates
• September 22 — State House candidates, 23rd Legislative District
• September 29 — State House candidates, 26th Legislative District

These forums are a great opportunity to hear directly from candidates on the issues that matter most to our business community and to make your voice heard. We hope to see you there.

U.S. Small Business Administration:

 Report Burdensome Federal Regulations

If a federal regulation is unfair, outdated, or unnecessarily burdensome, you can speak up and make a difference.

The Red Tape Hotline gives small business owners a direct way to report federal regulations that hurt their ability to grow, compete, or innovate. Your feedback informs our work with Congress, federal agencies, and policymakers to shape smarter, more responsive regulation.

Why the Red Tape Hotline Matters

Every day, small business owners deal with federal rules that are outdated, duplicative, or unclear. Some add unnecessary costs or delays that make it harder to stay competitive.

The U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy uses your feedback to push for smarter, more effective regulation, so your input can directly influence federal policymaking.

The Types of Issues You Can Report

You can use this hotline to tell us about:

• Regulations that are costly, confusing, or outdated
• Permitting or licensing delays
• Duplicative or conflicting rules
• Excessive paperwork or unclear guidance

Whether it’s one regulation or a broader issue, your experience can help shape the change.

Local Government Updates

The following are scheduled meetings for local government bodies across Kitsap County in September 2026. Attending these meetings is one of the most direct ways to engage with local decision-makers and advocate on behalf of Kitsap businesses.

Kitsap County

Kitsap County Board of Commissioners

County Administration Building

619 Division Street

Port Orchard, WA 98366

Zoom Link via Meeting

Agenda: https://agendasuite.org/iip/kitsap

Regular Business Meetings (Commissioner Chambers)

September 14, 2026 @ 5:30 p.m.

September 28, 2026 @ 10:00 a.m.

AM Work Session (Port Blakely Conference Room)

September 2, 2026 @ 9:00 a.m.

September 9, 2026 @ 9:00 a.m.

September 14, 2026 @ 9:00 a.m.

September 16, 2026 @ 9:00 a.m.

September 21, 2026 @ 9:00 a.m.

September 23, 2026 @ 9:00 a.m.

September 28, 2026 @ 9:00 a.m.

September 30, 2026 @ 9:00 a.m.

PM Work Session (Port Blakely Conference Room)

September 14, 2026 @ 2:00 p.m.

September 21, 2026 @ 2:00 p.m.

September 23, 2026 @ 2:00 p.m.

September 28, 2026 @ 2:00 p.m.

More information about Kitsap County Board of Commissioners:

https://www.kitsap.gov/BOC_p/Pages/default.aspx

Office (360) 479-3579 | 705 Pacific Avenue in Downtown Bremerton

Silverdale Office (360) 692-6800 | Kitsap Mall

PO Box 1218 Silverdale WA 98383

If you need assistance, please contact us directly.