High Gas Prices Fuel Talk of Anti-Gouging Measures, Tweaks to Cap-and-Trade Program |
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Photo: Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard
With an average price of around $4.95 for a gallon of regular unleaded – the highest anywhere in the country – gas in Washington is expensive. That’s not in dispute.
But when it comes to the reasons for the spike, what to do about it, and how much the state’s new cap-and-trade program is to blame, there’s growing disagreement.
Democratic state lawmakers and cap-and-trade supporters claim oil companies are excessively jacking up prices to pad profits. They’re looking at a strategy in the 2024 legislative session that would involve anti-price-gouging legislation and new transparency requirements for the oil firms.
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July Luncheon & Education Carnival
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
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One of the most popular parts of the Education Carnival is our silent auction and we are still looking for donated items! If you or your company has an item or basket to donate, please contact Tiffany directly at tiffany@greaterkitsapchamber.com. Thank you for your support!
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New this year: Pie a Pro! Use your game tickets to vote for which Chamber leadership team member you'd like to see pie'd in the face at the luncheon!
All proceeds benefit the Chamber Scholarship fund.
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Silverdale @ Sunset
Secure Your Sponsorship Now!
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Now's the time to secure your spot as a sponsor for
this year's Silverdale @ Sunset concert series.
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Save-the-Date: Heroes Golf Tournament
Friday, September 29, 2023
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It's time to start rounding up your golf foursomes - the Heroes Golf Tournament returns on September 29th! Enjoy a day on the links at Gold Mountain Golf Club, try your luck at winning our "Wheelbarrow of Booze," connect with the Greater Kitsap Business community and more!
Sponsorship information coming soon.
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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!
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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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New Members - Welcome to the Chamber! |
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Columbia has been creating innovative apparel, footwear, accessories and
equipment for outdoor enthusiasts since 1938 with products that keep
people warm, dry, cool and protected year-round.
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9990 Mickleberry Road NW | Silverdale, WA 98383 | (360) 536-9865 |
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Cary Bozeman Honored in Bremerton |
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Former Bremerton Mayor and current Port of Bremerton Commissioner Cary Bozeman was honored on Tuesday with the dedication of Cary Bozeman Place at Marina Square Bremerton.
In addition to serving as Mayor of Bremerton, Bozeman was also Mayor of Bellevue, WA, before moving to Kitsap. Cary also served as an inaugural board member of the Greater Kitsap Chamber for the 2022-23 year. Congratulations, Cary, on this honor and for your dedication to Bremerton and Kitsap County!
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Central Kitsap SD Seeks Event Support |
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The Central Kitsap Performing Arts Center has some exciting news to share: We are working to bring the Vienna Boys Choir to our stage on October 14, 2023!
To make this event possible, we are looking for local sponsorship and advertising support at multiple levels, from businesses or individuals. To learn how you and/or your business can support this concert via a tax-deductible sponsorship, view our Vienna Boys Choir Support Packet.
We are also seeking sponsorships for our first-ever all-ages summer musical, Meredith Willson’s The Music Man. This production features a cast of students, teachers, parents, and community members with a full, live orchestra and all the songs you love! For our summer musical sponsorship and advertising opportunities, view our Music Man Support Packet.
Sponsorship changes lives! Thank you for helping us bring world-class performances to our community!
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Voices of Pacific Island Nations Benefit
Saturday, August 12, 2023
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The Voices of Pacific Island Nations (VOPIN) is committed to inspiring Pasefika (Pacific Islander) students and families by providing high-quality, culturally responsive services and resources to eliminate educational and opportunity inequities. We serve as a bridge to develop stronger relationships between students, families, schools and the community. |
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Growing Greater Businesses Grant Spotlight:
The Roxy Theater
A timeless hub of community and history in Bremerton
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Discover the timeless magic of the Roxy Theater in Bremerton. This picture-perfect centerpiece seamlessly weaves community, history, and cinematic charm. Stepping inside, you're transported to an era of elegance and charm. From a smoking lab turned concessions area to a single bench steeped in memories, every detail tells a story. The theater's unique art deco style, original Curtis mural, and impeccable sound quality set it apart. Revitalization efforts led by Michael Goodnow have breathed new life into the Roxy, preserving its cultural significance.
Support this community hub, attend diverse events, and experience the captivating living history. Visit https://RoxyBremerton.org for screenings and more.
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270 Fourth Street | Bremerton, WA 98337 | (360) 780-7699 |
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26th Legislative District's Sen. Emily Randall Offers Summer Community Hours |
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Please join Sen. Emily Randall to share your thoughts, ask questions, or simply listen to other neighbors during these summer coffee hours.
3-5 p.m. Tuesday, July 25 – Kimball Coffeehouse, 6659 Kimball Dr. in Gig Harbor
4-6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22 – Carter’s and Company, 707 Bay St. in Port Orchard
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Member Education & Training Resources |
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SCORE: QuickBooks Online Basics
Monday, July 24, 2023, 9:00 am
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Are you an aspiring or established business owner looking to get started with QuickBooks? Are you trying to figure out what you’re doing but keep getting lost? Do you like bagels? Well, then this is the workshop for you!
In this SCORE workshop, you will learn how to use QuickBooks Online to record your daily business transactions. (No QuickBooks signup required!) Subjects covered include:
- Customer sales and payments
- Supplier purchases and payments
- Banking and Chart of Accounts
- Reporting from QuickBooks Online
- Best practices and common mistakes
Please note that this workshop is only training on QuickBooks Online and not QuickBooks Desktop.
Workshop Fee: $55
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Small Business Liaison Team:
Starting a Business in Washington
Tuesday, August 8, 2023, 2:00 pm
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The Small Business Liaison Team (SBLT) is a partnership between 29 state agencies working together with local economic development partners to support and connect with business owners.
The Small Business Requirements & Resources (SBRR) are free, one-hour workshops providing you with essential information and resources to help start and grow your business.
Outreach events are sponsored by the Small Business Liaison Team and hosted by local partners.
This workshop is free and offered live via Zoom.
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2023 Washington Regional Contracting Forum
Wednesday, September 20, 2023, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
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Connecting Small Businesses to Contracting Opportunities
This free, in-person event is an opportunity to connect small, diverse, and veteran-owned businesses with public agencies that buy goods and services, including architecture and engineering services.
Attendees can look forward to:
- Engaging classes to enhance understanding of how to do business with the state.
- Informative panels with contracting experts from state agencies.
- One-on-one sessions to connect vendors with purchasers.
Celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Washington Regional Contracting Forum:
- When: Wednesday, September 20, 2023, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
- Where: Muckleshoot Tribal Event Center, 2402 Auburn Way S, Auburn, WA 98002
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Business News & Resources |
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Consumer Sentiment Rebounds
More Than Expected in June
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Over the past few years, there's been a noteworthy paradox wherein public sentiment about the broader economy was largely negative, despite individuals generally feeling positive about their personal finances and a robust job market. However, this trend may now be changing.
The Conference Board, a nonprofit research organization, reported that its consumer confidence index jumped to 109.7 in June from 102.5 in May, the highest level since January 2022. This surge aligns with a similar boost detected by the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index earlier in June.
Several factors could be driving this shift. Gas prices have stabilized recently and remain below last year's peaks, the stock market has experienced gains this year, the unemployment rate is low, and inflation has been decreasing. Furthermore, wage growth has outpaced rising prices, leading to an increase in real wages on average.
According to Dana Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board, the gap between consumers who feel jobs are abundant versus those who think they're scarce has expanded. This implies a positive sentiment about the strong labor market. Expectations for future business conditions and job opportunities over the next six months have also notably improved.
June might have marked a shift in Americans' predominantly negative outlook on the economy. This change is supported by new data which elucidates the reasons behind it. The University of Michigan's final consumer sentiment survey for June reported a 9% increase in overall sentiment and an even more substantial boost in future expectations.
A significant catalyst appears to be easing concerns about inflation. Expectations for inflation over the next year dropped sharply from 4.2% in May to 3.3% in June. In comparison, last year, the expected inflation was 5.3%.
Democrats and political independents saw the most significant improvement in sentiment, with indices rising from 76.9 to 84.3 and 55.5 to 61.5, respectively. In contrast, Republicans' economic sentiment remained relatively low, with a slight increase from 45.6 to 46.4.
Joanne Hsu, director of the survey, suggested that this marked increase in optimism might stem from the resolution of the early-month debt ceiling crisis and easing inflation concerns.
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Key SMS Acquisition Strategies for a Strong Q4 |
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Courtesy of Listrak, published June 16, 2023
While it might seem early to start talking about Q4 and the holiday season – it will be here before we know it! Spring and Summer are critical seasons for growing your Text Message Marketing subscriber list and building awareness of your program. Now’s the time to implement new strategies, run tests, optimize, and repeat so everything is in your most favorable conditions for a solid end to the year. Let’s unpack the top acquisition strategies to put in place now, and things to consider as you plan for Q4.
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Quick and interesting reads for employers, employees,
local leaders, and everyone in between!
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Nonprofit News & Resources |
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The Greater Kitsap Chamber is proud to be one of only five Chambers statewide selected to partner with the Nonprofit Association of Washington (NAWA) to bring education and resources to nonprofits in Western Washington. Stay tuned to this section of our weekly newsletter for education, resources and more for our nonprofit community.
To learn more about NAWA, please visit their website here.
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How Nonprofits Are Using AI |
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Courtesy of Tech Soup, published July 13, 2023
Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force across numerous industries, including the nonprofit sector. AI encompasses various technologies designed to perform tasks that traditionally require human intelligence, such as understanding language, analyzing data, and making recommendations.
By understanding the capabilities of AI and how it can be harnessed within the nonprofit sector, organizations can unlock new possibilities for growth, efficiency, and innovation. AI technologies can enable nonprofits to streamline operations, optimize resource allocation, and gain valuable insights to inform strategic decision-making.
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KPHD Declares High Healthcare Costs and Insufficient Access a Public Health Crisis |
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The Kitsap Public Health Board discussed and unanimously approved resolution on July 11 declaring high healthcare costs and insufficient access to healthcare services in Kitsap County public health crises.
Resolution 2023-04 cites the many barriers that Kitsap residents can face when seeking healthcare, including high and unpredictable costs, inadequate insurance coverage, and shortages of healthcare providers and services. These barriers contribute to poor health outcomes and disproportionately affect people in different racial and ethnic groups, people with limited economic means, people with disabilities, and additional populations that have historically been excluded from the healthcare system.
Data show Kitsap County trails state and national averages for access to emergency care, urgent care, primary care, and some specialty services, including obstetrical, maternal, and mental health care. Gaps in services have been widened by strains on the local healthcare workforce and lingering impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The resolution commits the Health Board and Kitsap Public Health District to advancing a public health approach to address healthcare costs and barriers accessing care. Last winter, the Health District contracted with the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security to conduct a comprehensive review of Kitsap's healthcare system and recommend strategies for improving access for all Kitsap residents. Health Board members said they expect the crisis resolution will help guide actions taken in response to findings from that study, which will be completed in December.
"We do have a health care crisis. We all know it," said Poulsbo Mayor Becky Erickson who chairs the Health Board. "We need to push those resources toward this as deliberately, as accurately, and as thoroughly as we possibly can in order to improve the conditions in this county, period."
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Former United Way Director to Lead
County's Homelessness Division
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On Monday Carl Borg visited an encampment on Clear Creek Trail in Silverdale with Jarrod Moran, coordinator of Kitsap County’s HEART team, or Homeless Encampment Action Response and Transition. Borg looked at the tents scattered throughout the clearing and expressed concern the site would be filled with mud during the rainy season.
Encountering homelessness isn't new for Borg, who's been president and CEO of United Way of Kitsap County for the past seven years. There he and the United Way staff and board have prioritized projects that address the homelessness crisis, as partners on the funding side for the Pendleton Place facility in Bremerton or Coffee Oasis plans to address youth homelessness.
But now, it's Borg's full-time job. On June 7 Kitsap County announced that Borg would be the new Housing and Homelessness Division program manager, replacing Kirsten Jewell, who left in April.
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DAYTIME ROAD CLOSURE NOTICE
Daytime road closure coming to Illahee Road NE in Central Kitsap beginning July 17, 2023 through August 18, 2023 for a North Perry Avenue Water District water main replacement project. This will be a rolling closure with a few hundred feet closed each day moving from the south to the north. Daytime closure hours will be from 7am to 6pm. Local access and emergency vehicles will be guided through the work zone as needed. Through traffic use detour or alternate route.
Please Note: This notification is a courtesy for the North Perry Avenue Water District's utility project. For questions or for more information regarding this project, please contact the North Perry Avenue Water District office at 360-373-9508.
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Haselwood Family YMCA Summer Concert: Color Me Paisley
Friday, July 21, 2023, 6:00 pm
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By popular demand, the Haselwood Family YMCA summer concert series is back!
Come join us for the first of two evenings of music, food and community. We’re excited to be kicking off our two-part summer concert series with Color Me Paisley on July 21. The evening will include the band, a Taqueria food truck, bounce house, youth activities and more!
Bring your blanket, chair and enjoy a great evening. Everyone is welcome.
The always-popular Navy Band NW will be performing on August 25th at 6:00 pm.
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Ride the Clear Creek Trail
Saturday, July 22, 2023, 2:00 - 4:00 pm
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Meals on Wheels: 41st Annual Whale of a Run
Saturday, July 29, 2023, 8:15 am
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Meals on Wheels Kitsap is looking for volunteers to help on race day from 7:00 am to noon. There are many opportunities for individuals, families and groups. Interested? Please contact Deborah or Jennifer at (360) 377-8511. |
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Bridging Bremerton 2023
Saturday, July 29, 2023
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Masks & COVID Testing Kits Available
Free at the Greater Kitsap Chamber & Visitor Center
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The Greater Kitsap Chamber still has some supplies available if your local business is in need of KN95 masks or COVID testing kits. Pick up your supply at both GKC locations today. Available while supplies last.
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Port Gamble Theater: Romeo & Juliet
July 14 - 30, 2023
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Join the Port Gamble Theater as they present Shakespeare's tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. Two star-crossed young people, separated by an ancient family hatred must navigate the obstacles against them for true love.
Friday and Saturday evening performances at 7:00 pm, Sunday performances at 2:00 pm.
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Admiral Theatre Presents: The FABBA Show
Thursday, July 20, 2023, 8:00 pm
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Direct from the U.K., The FABBA Show is the sensational, authentic and truly magical tribute to Abba. The legend lives on, with hit after hit of dance floor classics like Dancing Queen, Super Trouper, Mamma Mia, and over 40 other hit singles that will have on your feet disco-dancing all night. The costumes are spectacular, and the energy and showmanship brought by the nationally-acclaimed cast, keeps fans coming back again and again. |
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Kitsap Pride
Saturday, July 22, 2023
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Entertainment, vendors, food and drink, community, support - join us for the family-friendly Kitsap Pride Festival at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds in Bremerton. |
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Save-the-Date: Whaling Days
July 28-30, 2023
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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 Tuesday's Community Connections!
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David Emmons
President/CEO
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Irene Moyer
VP, Membership & Strategic Communications
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Tiffany Diamond
Events Coordinator
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Brenda Kelley
Tourism Coordinator
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Bremerton Office (360) 479-3579 | 4th & Pacific Downtown Bremerton
Silverdale Office (360) 692-6800 | Kitsap Mall next to Macy's
PO Box 1218 Silverdale WA 98383
If you need assistance, please contact us directly.
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