Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Important News for You
Armed Forces Parade & Festival
Open for Registration
Amplify your business with an event sponsorship now
The Greater Kitsap Chamber is thrilled to announce that parade registration is now open for the 77th Annual Armed Forces Day Parade & Festival. Parade participants can sign up online at www.greaterkitsapchamber.com.

This is also a great opportunity for you to advertise your business or organization through a sponsorship of this long-time event. Sponsorship information can be found by clicking on the form below or here. We hope you will join us on Saturday, May 18 for a fun-filled day in Bremerton!
Chamber News
Check out and like the
Greater Kitsap Chamber Facebook pages!
Ribbon Cutting @ The Kids' Dentist Silverdale
Wednesday, March 20, 2024, 4:00 pm
Kitsap Women's Summit
Thursday, March 21, 2024
We are excited to share that this event sold out in less than a day! This half day of conversation, community, and personal and professional development, curated for
women by women, is made possible through grants from our generous sponsors

Please note that registration is required for this event and you must have a ticket to attend. If you do not check-in by the event start time of 11:30am, your seat may be released. Please arrive on-time to ensure your spot!

Questions? Contact the Chamber at hello@greaterkitsapchamber.com.
March Luncheon @ KGCC:
Marketing Strategies in the Age of Robots
Wednesday, March 27, 2024, 11:00 am
Join us this month as expert marketer, Maureen Jann, shares her advice on how to market your small business utilizing the technology of today. AI and ChatGPT don't have to be the enemy! Strengthen your business and your business connections at the Greater Kitsap Chamber monthly membership luncheon - you won't want to miss!

Don't forget your donations for our monthly raffle! Proceeds benefit the Greater Kitsap Chamber Foundation's scholarship programs.

This month's luncheon will be held at the Kitsap Golf & Country Club.
GKC Around the Community
The Greater Kitsap Chamber and members have been out in full force this month, representing a variety of businesses and organizations, and celebrating grand openings and St. Patrick's Day! Clockwise from L: (1) GKC President/CEO, David Emmons at Silverdale GreenDrinks with GKC Board directors Ashley Oaksmith, Amy Zinkhon, Jennifer Strong and Mike Columbus. (2) Celebrating the grand opening of BC Fitness - Silverdale and TechFit Studios. (3) David Emmons, Felix Garza and Victor Thompson from Kitsap Pride enjoy the Downtown Bremerton St. Patrick's Day Parade. (4) Long-time GKC members, Miller-Woodlawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park celebrating in the St. Patrick's Day Parade.
Get the Most Out of Your Member Benefits
According to the Harvard Business Review, 54% of job seekers considered better health, dental and vision insurance worthy of “heavy consideration” when evaluating job offers.

If you’re competing to attract and retain top talent, just making benefits available in not enough – employees need to regularly make use of their benefits and understand what is available to them.

Our partner, Business Health Trust has put together six post-enrollment strategies to help your workforce thrive – and help you keep them happy. Click the link to read:

🔗 Article Link: https://businesshealthtrust.com/news-insights/welcome-to-the-post-open-enrollment-playbook-ensuring-your-workforce-thrives/

Not a BHT member? Are you ready to build a better benefits package? Email quote@businesshealthtrust.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 Irene now!
Missed a previous edition of the Chamber's Community Connections?
View all the past issues on our website HERE.
Member News
New Members - Welcome to the Chamber!
BECU Spring Promotion
Celebrating Grocery Outlet - Bremerton
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Member Spotlight
Photonatix Photobooth Rentals & Beyond
"Photography and entertainment is our passion!" When asked how they got in the photo booth business, cofounders and owners Buboi Asuncion and Mark Tuazon shared their love for the work they do. Mark recalled, "Buboi asked me to hire a photo booth for a private event we were doing, but after checking and searching here in Kitsap, I couldn't find anything. Since I have a background in photography and videography, I went ahead and bought a couple machines [without Buboi knowing] and started our own business."
Education Committee
Member Education & Training Resources
WA Hospitality Association Webinar:
IRS Tax Credit for Restaurants & Bars
Wednesday, March 20, 2024, 10:00 am
Gratuities fuel your business and it’s time you took advantage of the unique tax benefits afforded to you. The FICA Gratuity Credit is a federal tax credit for employers with gratuity-driven employees.

This IRS credit allows employers to claim a portion of the FICA taxes paid on employees' gratuities as a credit against their tax liability. On average, restaurants are seeing an IRS credit of $40,000.

Adesso Capital believes that small businesses are the foundation of every great community. They are critical to the strength of the economy, which is why making them successful is critical to Adesso.

Join us at 10 a.m., March 20 for an educational session on this credit and how it can benefit your business.
SCORE: Paid, Earned and Owned Media - Three Essential Elements to Marketing Success
Wednesday, March 20, 2024, 9:00 am
Your marketing plan is not just building a website and doing a few social media posts. Most businesses can benefit from a multi disciplined approach that includes website, SEO, social media, email marketing, PR and online advertising. This webinar will show you how these elements (What we call "Push, Pull and Amplify") work together to guide your business on a road to marketing success.

We will discuss:

PULL
  • Why a properly built website is important for optimal search engine rankings
  • What is SEO. How to organically improve search engine rankings.
  • Google Ads vs Facebook Ads. Why, when and where you should advertise your business.

PUSH
  • Public Relations and how it is different than Advertising
  • Why hire a seasoned publicist
  • The PR Toolbox- Press releases and media lists
  • Free PR tools vs Paid tools to get publicity

AMPLIFY
  • Where, when and what you should do with social media for your business
  • Content calendar to help you organize your marketing campaigns
  • Digital tools to help you tell your story easier
  • Importance of E-Mail marketing

We tie it all together at the end to show you how we determine which marketing elements are right for your business!

Workshop Fee: FREE
SCORE: Increase Sales and Profits with
Pricing and Distribution Strategies
Tuesday, March 26, 2024, 1:00 pm
You’ve developed a wonderful new product or service and understand the costs but how should you price it? This workshop is part of SCORE’s Small Business Essentials series. We start by reviewing different distribution and channel strategies and help you choose the method that best gets your product or service in front of your satisfied customers. The rest of the workshop is focused on pricing, and we start by covering some pricing basics. Then we review a detailed process to determine how you can determine the price of your product. Since pricing, a service is very different than a product, we have a special section the covers the separate process for pricing your services.

Workshop Fee: FREE
Three Basic Financial Reports
Every Business Should Have
Tuesday, April 2, 2024, 1:00 pm
In this SBDC webinar, you will discuss the three basic financial reports that every business should have whether it is a start-up or a well-established business. This session will delve into who the typical users will be, what questions they may ask, and how you can use these reports to operate your business.

The instructor, Ann Zimmerman, is a Washington SBDC Certified Business Advisor and has over thirty years of experience in business and has worked in various industries including retail, construction services, manufacturing, healthcare, and not-for-profit.
KCDEM Cyber Security Conference
Tuesday, May 14, 2024, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Business News & Resources
KEDA Annual Meeting & Economic Forecast
Wednesday, March 27, 2024, 11:00 am
Featuring economists Hart Hodges and James McCafferty, co-directors of the Western Washington University Center for Economic & Business Research who will provide valuable insights into the economic forecast for the upcoming year.
Small Business Grants You Can
Apply for in March 2024

The FedEx Small Business Grants Program
Every year, FedEx offers one small business a $50,000 grant and nine others a $20,000 grant to help grow their businesses. So far, the company has given away about $1.9 million in grants since 2012. Applicants must be existing FedEx customers with a valid shipping account that has been open at least six months.

The application window opens at noon on March 1, 2024, and closes at noon on April 1, 2024. Grants will be announced on May 16, 2024.

$10,000 grants from the NAACP and L'Oreal
The NAACP, the Hispanic Federation and L'Oreal USA will provide 40 one-time grants of $10,000 to small business and entrepreneurs in the beauty industry. Business can use the money to grow their inventory, refine marketing strategies and open new retail locations. This is the second round, and the deadline to apply is March 29, 2024, at 6 p.m.

Barclays offers up to $60,000 for small-business stories
London-based multinational bank Barclays PLC has rolled out its Small Business, Big Wins grant contest, in which small businesses from across the United States can provide a 500 word or less story about their business, alongside a photo, for the chance to win cash prizes.

Businesses need to demonstrate energy, enthusiasm and passion for their business and articulate their positive impact on their community. To be eligible businesses must have fewer than 100 employees and have less than $10 million in annual revenue — and nonprofits are not eligible to participate. 

Barclays will award one $60,000 cash prize, one $40,000 cash prize, one $20,000 cash prize and seven $5,000 cash prizes along with 50 prizes of $2,000 each. Applications are due 5p.m. on March 4, 2024.

LegalZoom expands $3 million small-business grant program with NBA, WNBA
LegalZoom’s Fast Break for Small Business grant program, in partnership with the NBA and WNBA, will be awarding $1.5 million in grants to 150 small business owners and $1.5 million in products and services to 3,000 entrepreneurs looking to start their own business. 

Small businesses that have been in operation for at least three months are eligible to apply for the individual $10,000 grants or up to $500 in LegalZoom products and services. Entrepreneurs are eligible to apply for up to $500 in LegalZoom products and services. 

Winners will first be announced on social media and Action Opportunity Fund will administer the grant awards. Grant applications close on September 13, 2024 at 8 p.m.

Additional small-business grant opportunities in March:

Business owners looking for more grants, resources, technical assistance or loans to grow their business can check out our more extensive resource page too.

That includes grants with "rolling" admissions in which there is no application date, as well as additional SBA and government resources.
Business Quick-Reads
Quick and interesting reads for employers, employees,
local leaders, and everyone in between!
Nonprofit News & Resources
4 Tactics to Strengthen Your Nonprofit
Email Calls to Action
Published on NonProfitPro.com, March 15, 2024
Photo: Getty Images by Nipitphon Na Chiangmai/EyeEm

A lot of elements go into creating a successful email campaign — from great storytelling to all of the technical elements.

Kristy McCarley, founder of Pure Firefly, and Alex Gallagher, email marketing specialist at Pure Firefly, led the virtual session, “Push the Right Buttons: Elevate Your Email Game With Compelling Calls to Action” at the Nonprofit Technology Conference on Wednesday.

When it comes to an email call to action, it’s important to determine what action you want the recipient to take next, McCarley said. A donation ask might include a call to action to “Donate now,” while an educational email might encourage the recipient to “Read more.” If you’re looking for someone to become more involved with your cause, you might prompt the reader to “Get involved,” “Become an ambassador” or “Volunteer.”

She also emphasized that every email should include at least one call to action.

“It still surprises me when I see emails that have no call to action because that leaves the subscriber not knowing what to do next or where to go next,” she said. “If they have a question, or if they just wanna learn more about the organization or the event or whatever the subject matter is, always have a call to action. Even if it's just ‘Contact us’ or ‘Learn more’ or ‘Go to our website,’ it could be something that simple.”
Greater Kitsap News
Suquamish Tribe Elects
Two New Council Members
Published in the Kitsap Sun, March 15, 2024
Photo: Suquamish Tribe

The Suquamish Tribe elected three tribal council members — two new and one returning — at the tribe’s annual General Council meeting on Sunday.

Tribal members Azure Boure and Lorilee Morsette were elected to the council member positions vacated following Rich Purser and Sammy Mabe's decisions not to seek re-election this year, according to a statement released by the tribe on Monday.
Central Kitsap Prepares to Run April Levy
Central Kitsap School District’s current school support levy will expire soon, and the replacement measure on the February ballot did not pass. Our school board voted to run another replacement measure on April 23.

The school support levy bridges the gap between state funding for basic education and the actual costs of the programs and services we provide for our students in four areas: student supports, safety, special education, and sports & activities.

Learn more about what the levy currently funds and the anticipated impact of a failure at one of three in-person meetings:

  • Thursday, March 21, 6:00 p.m. at Olympic High School (Agora)
  • Tuesday, March 26, 6:00 p.m. at Central Kitsap High School (Commons)
  • Thursday, March 28, 6:00 p.m. at Klahowya Secondary School (Commons)
Meet with Your Kitsap Delegation:
State Legislators from the 23rd
Saturday, April 13, 2024, 1:00 pm
Community Information
Nominations Open for Earth Day Awards
Nominations will be accepted until March 24th
Each year, Kitsap County Public Works and the Board of County Commissioners celebrate environmental stewards with Earth Day awards. We need your help in nominating dedicated community members who protect and preserve Kitsap’s environment.

Submit an award nomination at kcowa.us/earthday by March 24, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. PST.

Who’s eligible?

The nominee does not have to live in Kitsap County, but the efforts identified in the nomination must occur in Kitsap County.

Nominate:

Individuals
Schools or teachers
Groups or organizations
Businesses
Youth
And more
Need inspiration? Meet previous Earth Day Award recipients!

We’ll celebrate award recipients at the Board of County Commissioners' Meeting on April 22, 2024. Information on how to attend the event virtually and in-person will be provided in April!
LeadHERship Event:
Fireside Chat with Monica Guzman
Thursday, March 28, 2024, 5:30 pm
Join Bainbridge Community Foundation for a fireside chat with Mónica Guzmán, journalist and author of the book I Never Thought of it That Way. Mónica is the Senior Fellow for Public Practice at the national cross-partisan depolarization organization Braver Angels, and in this fireside chat, she’ll share her experiences and help the audience gain tools for better understanding or even learning from people with a different or opposed worldview.
Masks & COVID Testing Kits 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 or COVID testing kits. Pick up your supply at both GKC locations today. Available while supplies last.
Tourism Information
The Admiral Theatre Presents:
Third World
Friday, March 22, 2024, 7:30 pm
Celebrating 50 years, ‘Reggae Ambassadors’, THIRD WORLD is one of the longest-lived Reggae bands of all time, and one of Jamaica's most consistently popular crossover acts among international audiences. Mixing in elements of R&B, funk, pop, and rock and, later on, dancehall and rap, Third World’s style has been described as "reggae-fusion."

With 9 Grammy nominations and catalogue of charted smash hits (including “Now That We Found Love”, ”96 Degrees in the Shade” and “Try Jah Love”) spanning over four decades, sold-out tours, a vibrant and loyal fan base and inspirational messages, one may wonder, "Where did it all begin? What gives Third World the staying power so rare in the music industry?" Third World is more than just one of the top Reggae bands of all time, it is an institution that stands for producing and performing music that, while holding firm to the cultural and ancestral roots of its members, still pushes forward the cutting edge of music worldwide. It is an institution whose themes are positive, progressive and internationally relevant: an asset to any size festival / event.

Third World has performed to thousands of music fans on 6 of the 7 continents: TW toured & recorded with the late great Bob Marley, including opening for Marley’s first world tour in 1978, TW recorded and toured with master blaster Stevie Wonder, who produced 2 of their albums in the 80’s released with CBS, they toured America with legendary guitarist Santana, opened for the Jackson 5’s first concert in Jamaica, shared stages throughout the world with the U2, Sting, The Police, Whitney Houston, Wyclef Jean, Lauryn Hill, Jimmy Buffet, Eric Clapton, Marc Anthony, Gladys Knight, the Marley Brothers and more.
Clearwater Casino Resort:
Al Jardine Family & Friends Tour
Saturday, March 23, 2024, 8:00 pm
Al Jardine, an original and co-founding member of The Beach Boys, is bringing his very special Family & Friends Tour to Clearwater Casino.

The Beach Boys legend will be joined on stage by Carnie & Wendy Wilson of Wilson Phillips, the daughters of Brian Wilson, co-founder of The Beach Boys with Al Jardine and writer of many of the group’s iconic hits. Family & Friends will also feature Al’s son, Matt Jardine, who has toured for many years with both The Beach Boys and Brian Wilson. Matt has received rave reviews from both fans and critics for his stunning lead vocals on songs like God Only Knows, Don’t Worry Baby, and Surf’s Up.

Get ready to enjoy legendary hits of The Beach Boys, including Help Me, Rhonda, California Girls, I Get Around, God Only Knows, and Good Vibrations to name a few. The show will also feature the Wilson Phillips catalogue, including Hold On, The Dream is Still Alive, You’re In Love, Impulsive, and Release Me.

For more information, visit his website at http://www.aljardine.com/

Check out the Al Jardine hotel package!

Purchase tickets online at Ticketmaster.com or in the Casino Gift Shop.
Bremerton Community Theatre: Titanic
April 5, 2024 - May 5, 2024
Epic and majestic, with moments of heartbreaking intimacy, Titanic captures the triumph and tragedy of the hopeful passengers on the ill-fated Ship of Dreams, including workers in the boiler room, first-class attendants, the poorest passengers who scraped together their life savings to purchase third-class tickets to America, to some of the wealthiest men of the Victorian age, including John Jacob Astor and Benjamin Guggenheim. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical, Best Book and Best Score in 1997.
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David Emmons
President/CEO
Irene Moyer
VP, Membership & Strategic Communications
Tiffany Diamond
Events Coordinator
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.