Wednesday, September 16, 2026 | |
Nominations Close Today!
Recognize your favorite business, nonprofit, and
festival or event with a nomination
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Help us recognize the businesses, nonprofits, and events that make Kitsap an incredible place to live, work, and do business!
Each year, more than 300 business and community leaders from across Kitsap County and the region come together for the Greater Kitsap Chamber’s Annual Business Awards Gala — the biggest night of the year for Kitsap’s business community. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the organizations and events that are making an impact, strengthening our communities, and helping Kitsap thrive.
Know a business, nonprofit, or festival/event that deserves to be recognized? Nominate them today and help us celebrate the best of Kitsap!
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September Membership Luncheon
Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 11:00am
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The future of Kitsap’s workforce starts in our classrooms.
Join us for our next Chamber Luncheon, a State of Education in Kitsap, featuring leaders from the Bremerton School District, Central Kitsap School District, and Olympic College. Hear updates on what’s happening across our local education systems, the opportunities and challenges ahead, and how schools are preparing students for their next steps.
For our business community, these conversations matter. The work happening in our schools today directly impacts workforce readiness, our future talent pipeline, and the ability of local employers to find the skilled people they need to grow and succeed.
Come learn what’s happening in education - and what it means for the businesses and workforce that keep Kitsap’s economy strong and resilient.
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Business Essentials & Networking
Accident Prevention Programs
Friday, September 18, 2026, 9:00am
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Start Strong, Finish Smart:
Preparing for Q4 & Year-End
Tuesday, September 22, 2026, 2:00pm
| Gain the tools and insights needed to prepare your business for year-end success. Learn how to evaluate your financial performance, clean up and organize your books, and create a strategic plan to help your business thrive in the coming year. | |
Ribbon Cutting & Grand Unveiling
Lisa Stirrett Creative Warrior Studio
Thursday, September 17, 2026, 4:00pm
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Secure You Spot in the Greater Kitsap
Chamber's Destination Guide
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There's still time to reserve your spot in the 2027 Greater Kitsap Destination Guide!
With 7,500 printed copies distributed throughout Kitsap County and mailed to visitors beyond the region, the Destination Guide is the Greater Kitsap Chamber's premier publication for showcasing local businesses and attractions.
Don't miss this opportunity to put your business in front of residents and visitors alike. Review the rate card and connect with our partners at Lunar Cow Publishing to secure your placement today.
| GKC Giving Away UW Football Tickets | | The GKC is giving away 20 tickets for the UW Football game on Saturday, September 19 at 4:15pm against Eastern Washington. Tickets are awarded on a first come first served based with priority given to GKC members. Email us here for a chance to get a ticket! | | |
Accessible Healthcare with NICE
Business Health Trust Has You Covered
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You don’t have to wait for renewal.
A lot of employers assume benefits can only change at one specific time of year, but that’s not accurate.
If your current plan is causing frustration, summer is a smart time to ask questions. Maybe employees are struggling to find care. Maybe costs are up. Through our chamber’s partnership with Business Health Trust, members can review options, compare plans, and see whether a better fit is available now.
Many BHT medical plans include Nice Healthcare, which gives employees a simple first stop for care at $0. Same-day access for many needs, support for real-life health questions, and guidance on next steps can help employees avoid delays and keep moving.
🔗 Webpage Link: https://businesshealthtrust.com/products/nice-healthcare/
Questions? Contact BHT!
(425) 201-1972
nice@businesshealthtrust.com
Not a BHT member? Are you ready to build a better benefits package?
Visit bhtquote.com to learn more and get a free quote.
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Renew your membership today to ensure your benefits as a member of the Greater Kitsap Chamber! Questions about when to renew or how to upgrade your membership? Need a new membership window cling or digital badge? Contact us 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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Kitsap Credit Union
Clover Mobile Showroom
Friday, September 25, 2026, 10:00am
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BHT Healthcare Horizon for 2027
Monday, October 5, 2026, 11:30am
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Healthcare continues to put new pressure on employers, benefits teams, and employees. Join Business Health Trust for a timely look at what’s happening in healthcare this year, what it could mean for BHT member companies, and practical ways employers can respond.
HEALTHCARE HORIZON FOR 2027
OPTION 1: In-Person Employer Lunch Event
Monday, October 5, 2026 | 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Seattle Metro Chamber
1301 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1500
Seattle, WA 98101
Lunch is included, and we’ll be giving away Seahawks tickets along with additional prizes!
Register for the in-person event
OPTION 2: Virtual Employer Event
Can’t join us in Seattle? We’d love to have you attend virtually!
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 | 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Zoom
Register for the virtual event
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Chamber Night Out @ Ocean5
Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 5:00pm
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Join the Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce for Chamber Night Out at Ocean 5 for a fun night of bowling and brunch bites from Table 47's new brunch menu! Chamber members from across the region will be in attendance, making this a great opportunity to expand your network and build new connections.
Tickets are $10 for Chamber members and $20 for non-members. Space is limited, so register today!
*For GKC Members, use the promo code "GKCmember" when registering to get the member rate.
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Leadership Kitsap Premier Institute Presents:
Who's Running You?
Grow Your Leadership from the Inside Out
Thursday, October 15, 2026
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We all have default habits that shape how we think, respond, and lead, but what if you had more choice in how you show up?
Join Doug Nathan on October 15 for Who’s Running You?, a four-hour interactive LKPI workshop that takes a deeper look at the Inner Team Dialogue framework. Through the Inner Team Assessment and guided exercises, you’ll explore the patterns influencing your leadership and learn practical ways to lead with greater intention, adaptability, and effectiveness.
Whether you’re leading a team, an organization, or simply looking to grow in how you show up as a leader, this workshop is an opportunity to better understand what’s driving you and how to take the lead.
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Changing Faces, Changing Places
Share your business news today
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Has your team recently welcomed a new hire, celebrated a promotion, or marked a retirement? Kitsap Business magazine's Changing Faces, Changing Places section highlights the people powering our local business community. Chamber members are invited to share their staff updates for inclusion in an upcoming issue.
Send your announcements to news@kitsapbusiness.com and let us help you recognize the faces behind your success.
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The Greater Kitsap Chamber is honored to announce our Member of the Quarter: Honeybee Horticulture! Since 2023, Mariah Mendez and her team have created unique, elegant, and creative floral and charcuterie designs for occasions ranging from weddings and corporate events to Chamber: Off the Clock gatherings. We are excited to recognize Mariah and Honeybee Horticulture for their creativity, community involvement, and dedication to helping people connect through memorable experiences across Kitsap and beyond.
Fostering Business Connections Through Charcuterie
The Chamber regularly uses Honeybee Horticulture’s services at our Chamber: Off the Clock after-hours networking events. Mariah not only provides a selection of delicious, fresh food, but intentionally designs a spread for each Off the Clock location. These spreads serve as much more than refreshments. They become natural gathering points where attendees connect, start conversations, and build new business relationships.
Elevating Events Across Kitsap and Beyond
Honeybee Horticulture strives to create celebrations that feel effortless, intentional, and fully experienced. Through planning and coordination services, floral design & installations, and luxury charcuterie catering, they remove the stress of hiring multiple vendors and ensure there are no gaps in an event’s vision. They proudly serve clients throughout Kitsap County and across the Puget Sound region.
Celebrations Designed with Intention
Intentionality is at the heart of Honeybee Horticulture’s philosophy, whether that be crafting a charcuterie spread or a flower arrangement that reflects a specific individual, event, or venue. Mariah and her team excel at creating meaningful experiences that reflect an event’s unique identity.
Whether you're planning a wedding, corporate event, or community celebration, Honeybee Horticulture brings creativity, intentionality, and professionalism to every detail. We are proud to recognize Mariah and her team as our Member of the Quarter and encourage you to check out their services!
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2026 Eggs & Issues Candidate Forum
September 22, 2026, 8:00am
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Join us for the Chamber’s Eggs & Issues Candidate Forums at the Cloverleaf Bar and Grill, a long-standing tradition started by the Bremerton Chamber over 25 years ago. Open to the public; breakfast available for purchase.
Questions? Contact the Chamber at (360) 692-6800.
Forums are every Tuesday morning beginning September 22nd and running through October 27th.
| Business & Professional Development Committee | | Member Education & Training Resources | | |
SCORE: Social Media & Marketing for Business
Thursday, September 17, 2026, 12:00pm
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Find out how to use social media and marketing strategies to grow your business, connect with customers, and build a strong brand presence. This workshop covers the basics of content creation, audience engagement, branding, and the effective use of popular platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. We also explore simple marketing tools and practical tips to increase visibility, attract new customers, and strengthen presence.
Registration Fee: FREE
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SCORE: Your Website is Costing You Customers
Friday, September 18, 2026, 2:00pm
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Your website’s job isn't to look nice—it's to make someone call, book, or buy. Led by Christina Harrison, a web designer and developer with over 9 years of experience, a Big Tech background (Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft), and a track record of building 170+ websites for real businesses, this hands-on SCORE workshop delivers actionable strategies to fix common site errors and immediately boost conversions.
Whether you are struggling with low mobile engagement, unclear messaging, or getting found on search engines, this session cuts through the noise with immediate, practical solutions.
Key Learning Takeaways
- Pass the 5-Second Test: Learn how to clearly communicate what you do, who it's for, and the exact next step a visitor should take within 5 seconds of arriving on your homepage.
- Eliminate Conversion Friction: Streamline call-to-action (CTA) buttons to guide visitors seamlessly without choice paralysis.
- Master UX/UI & Web Development Fundamentals: Understand clean visual layout, site navigation, database structure, and the core roles of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in page speed and user experience.
- Optimize for Mobile Reality: Perform live checks to ensure phone numbers are tappable, menus are thumb-friendly, and text is readable on mobile devices.
- Small Business SEO Essentials: Set up your Google Business Profile, optimize on-page title tags and meta descriptions, and build long-term local search visibility.
Who Should Attend? Small business owners, entrepreneurs, and marketers who want to convert site traffic into paying customers and improve their local search rankings
Registration Fee: FREE
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SBDC: How to Launch Your
Business Successfully
Thursday, September 24, 2026, 12:00pm
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This no-cost webinar is hosted by the Washington SBDC at Green River College (GRC).
In this class, the presenter will outline steps on how to successfully launch a new business. It can be confusing to know which steps to take or what agencies to contact.
This class will address those issues in order to provide you with a clear direction. Having this information will save you time in moving forward with your business opening.
Peppered with practical stories and examples, this interactive class will give you concrete ideas on how to make your business start as successful as possible.
Participants will also learn more about the resources provided by the Small Business Center at Green River College. You can schedule a future appointment with an SBDC (Small Business Development Center) counselor for one-on-one business advising. This is available at no cost to the small business owner.
Registration Fee: FREE
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SHRM West Sound: October Lunch & Learn Inclusionary Leadership in Action
Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 11:45am
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Business News & Resources | | |
Washington Biz Fair
Saturday, September 19, 2026
| This free event connects small business owners, entrepreneurs, lenders, agencies, and support organizations through workshops, one-on-one help, and networking. Hear from Lewis Rudd, Co-Founder of Ezell's Famous Chicken, on his entrepreneurial journey. Starting, growing, or just dreaming of a business? Don't miss it! | | The Greater Kitsap Chamber is proud to serve as a resource partner with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. Stay tuned to this section quarterly for education, resources and more from L&I. | | Check Equal Pay Compliance for Free | | |
L&I offers free, customized consultations to help employers understand the impact the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act might have on their organization and employment practices, and provide an evaluation of possible risks.
The Equal Pay and Opportunities Act includes things like:
- Equal pay and career advancement opportunities
- Open wage discussions
- Wage and salary history privacy
- Disclosing salary range
- And more!
To request a consultation, complete this request form. You can also call the Employment Standards Program at 360-902-6625.
| | Nonprofit News & Resources | |
How Nonprofits Can Post Less and
Reach More on Social Media
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Published on NonprofitPRO.com
Photo Credit: Teera Konakan/Getty Images
Social media can be exhaustingly difficult for nonprofit teams to manage. It seems impossible to keep up with, unless your organization is big enough to allocate a few team members purely to posting content. Not to mention the constant advice thatʼs thrown around, like:
- You need to post 3x per day and repurpose your posts to optimize every platform!
- Respond to every comment instantly to get a boost in engagement!
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Stop posting x in 2026! Post a, b and c instead!
Such advice is not sustainable long-term. In fact, it discourages many nonprofits from posting entirely. Thankfully, none of it is necessary.
Read the article here
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New Centers, Zoning and Tools
Target Kitsap's Need to Expand Childcare
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Published in the Kitsap Sun, Sept. 11, 2026
Photo credit: Olympic College
Discovery Montessori School in Port Orchard teaches independence and empathy in a comfortable, calming environment that includes daycare for toddlers through pre-K. In June, Kitsap County announced it would sell the Givens Community Center -- the building in which the school resides -- putting director and owner Sabrina Gardner, and her employees, at risk of losing the business entirely if they’re unable to find a new location.
So far a new location for the organization, which was founded in 1982 to provide services to families with young children, has yet to be found.
“In the Port Orchard area, it’s actually really hard to find buildings that support the size and what’s needed to have a childcare facility,” Gardner said. “You would basically have to start from scratch… There’s a shortage for buildings in the Port Orchard area to support childcare.”
The issue goes beyond just Port Orchard, with childcare service shortage has been identified as a county-wide issue, especially for providers trying to kickstart a new business.But expansion is needed, as childcare services remain limited across Kitsap County. As of 2026, only 145 licensed childcare providers operate in the area with a total capacity of 5,643 slots for a county with a population of 280,000. The crisis impacts both families in need of care -- Gardner said families have told her that escalating childcare costs at times keep some from making a rent payment -- and childcare providers facing low-paying job options.
Read the article here
| | YMCA: Start Where You Are | |
Bridging Bremerton Returns!
Saturday, September 19, 2026
| Bridging Bremerton is an annual festival celebrating the pulse of our city and the bonds that unite us. By traversing Bremerton's iconic bridges, we promote physical activity and foster deep neighborhood connections against the stunning backdrop of Puget Sound. This tradition is a tribute to our local history and a commitment to our shared future—one footstep at a time. Join thousands of participants as we bridge the gap between wellness, community, and the vibrant spirit of our Pacific Northwest home. | | |
Clearwater Casino Presents:
Randy Linder - Creedence Revelation
Friday, September 18, 2026, 8:30pm
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Moodance - Van Morrison Tribute
Saturday, September 19, 2026, 8:30pm
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The Ultimate Doors: Tribute to The Doors
Admiral Theatre Bremerton
Friday, October 2, 2026
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The Ultimate Doors has long been celebrated as one of the most authentic and powerful Doors tribute bands in the country. Described by fans and critics as “uncannily true to the original” and “the closest you’ll get to seeing The Doors live today,” the band has built its reputation on delivering a raw, electrifying, and immersive experience that captures the spirit of Jim Morrison and The Doors with uncanny accuracy.
What sets The Ultimate Doors apart is their obsessive attention to authenticity. From the period-correct instruments and vintage gear that recreate The Doors’ unmistakable tones, to the styling, stage presence, and energy that mirror the original band, every detail is crafted to transport audiences back to 1968. The four musicians of The Ultimate Doors combine to create a sound so faithful that fans often remark they feel as though they’re at a real Doors concert. It’s not just a tribute….it’s a time machine.
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Port Gamble Ghost Conference
November 6 - November 8, 2026
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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 our weekly Community Connections!
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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.
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