Wednesday, January 7, 2025 | | New Laws and Taxes Taking Effect on Jan. 1 | | |
Tax hikes on big business and rental cars. Unemployment benefits for workers on strike.
Those are just a few of the changes to state law taking effect in Washington on New Year’s Day.
Some bills passed in 2025 became law earlier in the year, while others will take years to go into effect. The next legislative session, lasting 60 days, begins Jan. 12.
Here’s a look at some of the new laws on the books starting Thursday:
- Unemployment for striking workers
- Big business surcharge
- Tax preferences
- Transportation fees
- Nicotine tax
- Plastic bags
- Right to repair
- Blood type
- Movie captions
Read the article for more details
| | |
Tickets Available Now - Reserve Your Seat
Thursday, January 15, 2026
| | The Greater Kitsap Chamber invites you to join community and industry leaders for Ready Kitsap: 2026 Business & Tourism Summit, a one-day readiness and strategy event designed to help local businesses and nonprofits prepare for the influx of visitors to our region in Summer 2026. As the world’s largest sporting event brings global attention to our region, this summit will ensure Kitsap County is ready to meet the moment. | |
January Membership Luncheon
Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 11:00am
| |
Anytime Fitness Silverdale
Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening
Saturday, January 10, 2026, 10:00am
| | |
Join us for the Grand Opening of Anytime Fitness in Silverdale!
The official ribbon cutting will take place at 11:00am.
| | |
Reserve Your Ad Space
in the Greater Kitsap Area Map!
| Greater Kitsap Chamber & Leadership Kitsap: 2026 Kitsap Women's Summit | | |
The Kitsap Women's Summit planning committee is proud to present Kitsap Women's Summit 2026: Breakthrough. Join us for our 3rd annual summit where we're diving into topics meant to create and sustain momentum - breaking through limits, beliefs, transitions and noise. This day-long gathering is curated for women, by women, and was brought to life by the need for real space for conversation, community, connection, and personal and professional development, amplifying women's voices and experiences across Kitsap County.
Business Health Trust is proud to serve as our 2026 Visionary Sponsor. For more information on how you can join them in sponsoring this event, please visit our website at www.greaterkitsapchamber.com/kitsap-womens-summit.
| |
|
The 2025 Business Awards Gala
Photo Gallery is Available!
| |
Our 2025 gala was an amazing night for businesses and we’re excited to share our gallery of photos with you, courtesy of Iklil Gregg Photography. Please feel free to share
(and credit) with your networks and we challenge all of you to invite a new potential member to join you at a Chamber event in 2026 – your business, or theirs, might be our next Business of the Year!
| | |
Accessible Healthcare with NICE
Business Health Trust Has You Covered
| | |
Benefits: Not sure what changed? Start with one first stop.
After benefits updates, hesitation is normal. People are not sure what’s covered or what it will cost. With BHT, Nice is your first stop for care.
Nice Healthcare removes that pause. $0 care makes it easier to get help sooner, often same-day or within a day. For many common needs, starting with Nice can replace an urgent care visit. Nice also includes 550+ common medications at $0 when prescribed by Nice, with pick-up at most major pharmacies.
🔗 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.
| | |
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!
| |
Missed a previous edition of the Chamber's Community Connections?
View all the past issues on our website HERE.
| | New Members - Welcome to the Chamber! | |
New & Renewing Members for December
Thank you for your continued investment & support!
| Kitsap Credit Union (1987) | Puget Sound Energy (1973) | Employee-Owned SAFE Boats Transitions to Cooperative Leadership Model | |
Published in South Sound Business, December 22, 2025
Photo courtesy of SAFE Boats International
Bremerton-based boat manufacturer SAFE Boats International, which also has a significant manufacturing operation in Tacoma, announced a change in leadership and organizational structure earlier this month at the 100% employee-owned company.
Richard Schwarz has transitioned from his daily duties as CEO into a consulting and advisory role, with the company now led by a group of four longtime employees. While technically effective Jan. 1, the four effectively assumed their new roles earlier this month, with Schwarz serving a guiding role in the transition.
Entering its 30th year in business in 2026, SAFE Boats’ has adopted a new cooperative leadership model that it says reflects the collaborative spirit at the heart of the organization, whose move to an employee-owned company was featured last year in South Sound Business. The 327-person company — which includes 58 employees in Tacoma and 269 in Bremerton — designs and makes high-performance aluminum boats for military, law enforcement, fire and rescue, and other first-responder and commercial applications. SAFE, which is named for its wrap-around collar design — Secure Around Flotation Equipped — has more than 2,600 boats in service globally.
The leadership transition allows Schwarz to pursue his personal passion of traveling while continuing to contribute his experience and insight to key strategic initiatives and long-term planning, according to a news release from SAFE Boats. His continued involvement ensures that SAFE Boats will benefit from his leadership and institutional knowledge well into the future, the company added.
Read the article here
| Shape Kitsap's Participation in WA Reuses | |
WA Reuses is a materials exchange platform designed to keep hard-to-recycle materials out of the landfill and put them toward productive use. This statewide online platform connects businesses, nonprofits, schools, and communities to exchange materials for reuse, supported by comprehensive programming including matchmaking, facilitation, outreach, and education. Learn more here.
Please take the survey below to help Kitsap County Public Works determine if they’d like to participate in this platform.
| |
NEW OFFER: Free Jacket for New Members
Courtesy of Unique Experience Custom Embroidery
| | |
Changing Faces, Changing Places
Share your business news today
| | |
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.
| | | |
The Greater Kitsap Chamber is proud to recognize Ward Media as our January Member of the Month. Serving Kitsap County with creativity and expertise, Ward Media has become a trusted partner for businesses looking to grow, connect, and thrive. Their team specializes in marketing solutions that make an impact - from website design and SEO to social media strategy, branding, and advertising.
Where Marketing Meets Community
Ward Media’s influence extends beyond individual businesses. Through their flagship publication, Kitsap Business magazine, they shine a spotlight on the innovators and leaders shaping our local economy. Each issue delivers stories that celebrate entrepreneurship and strengthen the bonds within our community.
But Ward Media is more than a marketing agency—they’re a connector. For nearly a year, the Chamber has partnered with Ward Media to feature our newsletter content in Kitsap Business. This collaboration ensures Chamber news and resources reach a wider audience, helping members stay informed while supporting Ward Media’s mission to amplify local voices.
Local Expertise, Lasting Impact
Ward Media’s approach is simple: combine technical excellence with a deep commitment to Kitsap County. Whether it’s helping a small business build its online presence or sharing stories that inspire, their work reflects a passion for community and economic vitality.
Visit their website or pick up the latest issue of Kitsap Business to see how they’re driving growth across Kitsap County.
| | Legislative Day & Hill Climb 2026 | | Business & Professional Development Committee | | Member Education & Training Resources | | |
SCORE: AI Masterclass for Entrepreneurs
Wednesday, January 7, 2026, 4:00pm
| |
Unlock the practical power of AI to accelerate your business idea, even if you're a solo founder or just starting out. In this hands-on AI masterclass, you'll learn which tools to use (and when), how to collaborate with AI as a co-founder, and walk away with a customized prompt library, demoed website, and an energized growth plan. Ideal for side hustlers, early-stage founders, and small business owners looking to save time, money, and mental energy.
Registration Fee: $10
| |
SBDC: Accounting Basics and the
Importance of Accounting to Your Business
Thursday, January 8, 2026, 1:00pm
| |
Do you know the difference between bookkeeping and accounting? Are you having trouble understanding what financial statements are? Then you have come to the right place. Sign up for our Accounting Basics class and learn the important information that you need to know about your small business accounting.
The instructor, Ann Zimmerman, is a Washington SBDC Certified Business Advisor. She earned her BA in Accounting from Western Washington University and received her Master’s degree in Accounting and Tax from Washington State University. Ann has over thirty years of experience in business and has worked in various industries including retail, construction services, manufacturing, healthcare, and not-for-profit.
Registration Fee: FREE
| |
SCORE: Pitch for Bank Funding - Like a Pro!
Monday, January 12, 2026, 6:00pm
| |
Are you ready to elevate your business and secure the funding you need to grow? Join us for a high-impact, hands-on workshop designed to help you master the art of pitching for bank loans and other debt financing opportunities.
In this workshop, you’ll learn how to:
- Craft a compelling business pitch that captures lenders’ attention
- Understand what banks and financial institutions look for in a loan presentation
- Tailor your message to meet the needs of lenders
- Receive expert feedback from experienced SCORE mentors
Registration Fee: FREE
| |
WSHRMA Lunch & Learn:
Disability Inclusion That Works
Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 11:45am
| |
Join us for a practical session on disability inclusion in the workplace—focused on the supports available to HR teams and what actually makes inclusion successful. We’ll cover straightforward strategies that reduce risk, ease HR workload, strengthen team culture, and create meaningful opportunities for people with developmental disabilities to contribute to your organization. You’ll see how agencies like Trillium partner with employers to streamline recruiting and onboarding, provide ongoing support, and step in when challenges arise. Expect clear, usable takeaways—and maybe one or two long-standing myths quietly retired.
Presenter(s) Description: Karen is the Executive Director of Trillium Employment Services, a Washington nonprofit that has supported inclusive hiring for more than 40 years. Trillium partners with over 450 employers across five counties (including Kitsap), strengthening workplaces by creating opportunities for people with developmental disabilities to contribute their skills to the company’s success. Karen champions value-add staffing solutions—not charity hires—and helps employers build teams where every person has the support they need to contribute and thrive.
| |
WA State Commerce Now Accepting Applications for Circular Economy Projects
Applications due Tuesday, January 20, 2026
| |
The Washington State Department of Commerce is seeking applications for collaborative projects that strengthen the circular economy—transforming waste materials from one industry into valuable resources for another. These industrial symbiosis investments aim to build more resilient local supply chains, create new economic opportunities, and reduce environmental impacts in communities across the state.
A total of $2.425 million in funding is available, with individual awards ranging from $40,000 to $500,000. The Q&A period for this funding opportunity closes December 12.
| |
Business Education Support & Training
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
| |
SBDC: Building a Business Plan That Works
Thursday, January 22, 2026, 11:00am
| |
Build a practical business plan you can actually run your company with, not one that just sits on a shelf. This session walks you through the core pieces step by step so you leave with a plan that’s clear, usable, and ready to put into action.
Presented by:
Steve McCaslin is a Washington SBDC Certified Business Advisor and is located in Coupeville, WA. Steve is a retired Naval Flight Officer and has spent 20+ years in the corporate world in sales, strategy and business development, business consulting, corporate training, and leadership development training, mentoring, and coaching. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a BS in Agriculture, where he majored in Poultry Science.
Registration Fee: FREE
| | Business News & Resources | | |
Upcoming Inflation Adjustment to
Workers' Compensation Penalties
| |
Published in the Washington Retail Association, December 18, 2025
Photo courtesy of WRA
Washington state law requires periodic inflation adjustments to certain workers’ compensation penalties. A statute adopted in 2020 increased penalty amounts and established automatic updates every three years using inflation data. Many of these penalties had not changed since the 1980s.
The first inflation adjustment took effect July 1, 2023. The next adjustment is scheduled for July 1, 2026. The Department of Labor and Industries anticipates a 12 percent increase based on changes in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers in the Seattle area. For example, a penalty currently set at $1,161 would increase to approximately $1,300.
The adjustment applies to several areas of compliance under Title 51 RCW. These include failure to register for workers’ compensation coverage before operating with covered workers, violating a stop work order, failing to keep or allow inspection of required records, delaying or refusing benefit payments by self-insurers, noncompliance with workers’ compensation rules, and willfully obtaining erroneous payments. Certain penalties affecting medical providers for reporting and assisting injured workers are also included.
L&I is required to calculate the anticipated adjustment and solicit stakeholder comments in advance. While comments may be submitted, the agency does not have discretion to alter the inflation-based adjustment. Final penalty amounts will be announced and posted by L&I in June 2026.
Read the article here
| | |
Quick and interesting reads for employers, employees,
local leaders, and everyone in between!
| | 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. | | |
Changes Affecting WA Workers' Pay
& Improving Workplace Safety
| | |
State law requires the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) to calculate several wage standards, including the minimum wage, each year. The department makes the calculations using the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).
State minimum wage going up
Washington’s minimum wage will rise to $17.13 an hour on Jan.1, 2026. That’s 2.8 percent higher than the $16.66 an hour minimum wage in 2025.
Employers may pay 85 percent of the minimum wage, or $14.56 an hour, to 14- and 15-year-old workers.
Local governments are allowed to set minimum wages that are higher than those of the state minimum. Areas with higher minimum wages include Seattle, SeaTac, Tukwila, Renton, Bellingham, Everett, Burien, and unincorporated King County.
The L&I website includes information about the minimum wage along with details about overtime, rest breaks, meal periods, and how to file a wage complaint. The minimum wage information is available in 15 languages online.
New tower crane safety requirements
Starting Jan. 1, prime contractors must obtain a permit and follow manufacturers’ instructions for the operation, assembly, disassembly, or reconfiguration of a tower crane. L&I will consider a prime contractor’s history of safety and health violations as part of the application process for a permit.
Information about the new crane tower requirements is on L&I’s website.
Overtime-exempt workers
Certain types of employees are considered exempt from rules requiring they be paid overtime if they are paid on a salary basis, perform work consistent with Executive, Administrative or Professional duties, and are paid at, or above, a certain salary that L&I calculates.
For 2026, all employers must pay overtime-exempt workers at least 2.25 times the minimum wage. That means to be exempt an employee must be paid at least $1,541.70 a week ($80,168.40 a year). The rate for exempt computer professionals who are paid by the hour will be 3.5 times the minimum wage, or $59.96 an hour.
Pay for rideshare drivers
The minimum pay rideshare drivers will earn goes up on Jan. 1:
- For trips within Seattle, it’s rising to 70 cents per passenger platform minute and $1.63 per passenger platform mile, or $6.12, whichever is greater.
- For trips outside of Seattle, it goes up to 40 cents per passenger platform minute and $1.38 per passenger platform mile, or $3.55, whichever is greater.
Non-compete clauses
L&I is also responsible for calculating the minimum annual salary required for a non-compete clause or employee contract to be enforceable. In 2026, the threshold for employees will be $126,858.83. For independent contractors, the minimum will be $317,147.09. A non-compete clause or employee contract for a worker earning less than these amounts is not enforceable.
Wage complaints
L&I enforces the state’s wage-and-hour laws and investigates all wage-payment complaints. A worker rights complaint can be filed online, downloaded and mailed to the agency, or at a local L&I office.
| | Nonprofit News & Resources | |
3 Trends That Will Shape and Shake
Nonprofits in 2026
| | |
Published in techsoup, December 24, 2025
Photo courtesy of tech soup
For many of us, 2025 was an eventful year, with significant ongoing shifts across the technological, economic, and societal spheres. It was a year in which AI developments continued apace, changes in government and funding forced nonprofits to adapt, and ongoing shifts in the technological and media landscape continued to reshape how we relate to one another.
While none of us know how 2026 will play out, we can expect to see these sorts of trends continue into the new year and beyond. Here are three that we're watching closely.
- Generative AI Continues to Evolve
- Polarization Threatens the Public's Trust in the Sector
- Data-Driven Impact Reporting Can Counter False Narratives (and Aid in Fundraising)
Read the article here
| |
Blood Donors Needed in WA Amid
Dangerously Low Supply for Hospitals
| | |
Published in The Kitsap Sun, January 6, 2026
Image courtesy of the Kitsap Sun
Nonprofit Bloodworks Northwest issued a “Code Red Alert” Monday, signaling a dangerously low amount of blood supplies available for Western Washington hospitals.
Bloodworks said in a statement the alert is raised when it has a one to two day supply of critical blood types and palatelets used by medical providers for emergencies and life saving treatments. To meet demand, the agency has been bringing in blood from other parts of the country, a temporary solution it says is unsustainable.
Residents — especially those with Type O Blood critical for trauma care — are being asked to immediately schedule donation appointments to restore supplies. Through the end of January, Bloodworks says it has 29,700 open donation slots and without immediate action the situation could become dire.
“[This] single act can save multiple lives,” Bloodworks President and CEO Curt Bailey said. “Right now, those lives depend on all of us giving together.”
Where to donate blood
Bloodworks Northwest runs a donation center in Silverdale, at 3230 NW Randall Way, just north of the Target business plaza. Several mobile blood drives are also scheduled on the Kitsap Peninsula over the next month, they include:
- Peninsula Baptist Church (6127 38th Ave in Gig Harbor) on Monday, Jan. 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Bainbridge Island Fire Department (8895 N. Madison Ave NE) on Thursday, Jan. 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Poulsbo Town & Country Market (20148 10th Ave NE) on Thursday, Jan. 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribal Health Services (31912 Little Boston Road, Kingston) on Friday, Jan. 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- The medical building at 4700 Point Fosdick Drive NW in Gig Harbor on Tuesday, Feb. 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Read the article here
| | |
Joel Gibson @ Tracyton Public House
Thursday, January 8, 2026, 6:00pm
| | |
Mochi Tsuki 2026
Saturday, January 10, 2026, 11:00am
| |
Last Winter Farmers Market Day
Saturday, January 10, 2026, 11:00am
| | What do you need? Honey? Soaps, Unique Gifts, plant Starts? Check out our Winter Farmers Market inside at Silverdale Antique Store 9490 Silverdale Way. | |
|
Artist Talk: Aisha Harrison
Bainbridge Island Museum of Art
Saturday, January 10, 2025, 3:00pm
| |
Artist Aisha Harrison, currently featured at BIMA, invites you to explore the rich evolution of their creative practice—from the early influences that shaped their path to the powerful ideas fueling their latest exhibition. Through their presentation, Aisha will reveal how the intertwined cycles of grief, growth, and joy are reflected in their work, bringing deeply personal and universal stories to life.
Following the talk, Aisha will sit down with Jenna d’Anna, BIMA’s Senior Manager of Museum Education & Community Engagement, for an insightful conversation. The event wraps up with a lively Q&A and a casual reception—offering a unique chance to connect with the artist, ask your questions, and gain a deeper understanding of the passion and process behind their work.
| | |
Masks Still Available
Free at the Greater Kitsap Chamber & Visitor Center
| | |
The Greater Kitsap Chamber still has some supplies available if your local business is in need of KN95 masks. Pick up your supply at both GKC locations today. Available while supplies last.
| | |
Clearwater Casino Presents:
Spike and the Impalers - Rock
Friday, January 9, 2026, 8:30pm
| | |
Uptown Funk
Saturday, January 10, 2026, 7:00pm
| |
Brickhouse - Disco Hits
Saturday, January 10, 2026, 8:30pm
| |
|
Port Gamble Ghost Walk
Saturday, January 10, 2026, 7:00pm
| |
The Music of Van Morrison @ The Admiral
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 6:30pm
| Backstreet Jellyroll is a celebration of the powerful music from one of the most revered and significant songwriters of the rock era. Covering more than five decades of hits, this 11-piece band delivers music that ranges from a whisper to a roar, with a voice that is simultaneously gruff and ethereal. | | |
The Roxy Theatre Presents:
Dan Rosenberg and His Funny Friends
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 7:30pm
| |
Catch Dan Rosenberg and friends live for a night packed with good vibes
and even better jokes!
| |
Stay in the know with what's happening for events
in Central Kitsap by checking out and liking the
| | |
Have something to share? CLICK HERE to submit stories and
events for our weekly Community Connections!
| | |
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.
| | | | |
