In observance of the Memorial Day holiday, the Greater Kitsap Chamber & Visitor Center offices will be closed on Monday, May 25th. | | Vote Now: Board of Directors 2027 Slate | Per the bylaws of the Greater Kitsap Chamber, the following individuals are presented to the greater membership for a vote open for 14 days. If approved, the individuals included in this slate will sit for a three-year term. Please respond to each of the 7 positions with a yes or no vote. Thank you for your participation! | | |
SLATE FOR CONSIDERATION
Brett Clark – BC Fitness
Ashley Oaksmith – Kitsap Regional Library
Alexandra McLaughlin – St. Michael Medical Center
April Onofre – Kitsap Bank
Charlie Thompson – North Kitsap Fishline
Duncan Sinclair – The UPS Store
Heidi Hartman – Details Property Management
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May Membership Luncheon
Wednesday, May 27, 2026, 11:00am
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Please join us for our May Membership Luncheon featuring guest speaker, Captain Alexander Baerg, Commanding Officer of Naval Base Kitsap. We'll also be honoring our Armed Forces Day Ambassadors at this event as we round out our month of celebrating our military community, an integral part to the economic vibrancy of Kitsap County.
Bring your business cards and get ready to network - you won't want to miss!
Paid parking is available on the Green Level underneath the Kitsap Conference Center.
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John L. Scott - Silverdale
Ribbon Cutting & Celebration
Thursday, May 28, 2026, 1:00pm
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Deep Dive Business Series
Service That Sells: Winning More B2B Clients
Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 2:00pm
| | RECAP: Armed Forces Day Parade | | |
What a day for our community! Kitsap came together in full force for the 79th Annual Armed Forces Day Parade on Saturday, May 16th, lining the streets to celebrate and honor the service and sacrifice of our Armed Forces. Parade participants from across the region proudly showcased their support with festive floats, music, and spirited enthusiasm.
This year, the celebration continued in Quincy Square, where the Resource Fair and Heroes BBQ brought people together, highlighted by an incredible performance by the Navy Band.
Thank you to our generous sponsors, volunteers, and partners whose support made this event possible.
Photo credit: Tiffany Diamond Photography
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Accessible Healthcare with NICE
Business Health Trust Has You Covered
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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.
| | New Members - Welcome to the Chamber! | |
Live Well Kitsap: Kitsap Fest Music Video
Sunday, May 31, 2026, 11:00am
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Reliable Storage Garage Sale
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 10:00am
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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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We are proud to recognize The Trails at Silverdale as our May Member of the Month! A cornerstone shopping and gathering destination in Central Kitsap, The Trails offers a vibrant mix of retail, dining, and lifestyle services that make it a true hub for our community.
This recognition comes with sincere gratitude for The Trails at Silverdale’s ongoing support of our military community. This year, they generously sponsored Military Appreciation Day and Armed Forces Day, helping create meaningful, community‑wide celebrations that honored local service members and their families. Their support played a key role in making these events welcoming, impactful, and reflective of the strong and enduring connection between our military and civilian communities.
The Trails at Silverdale is also home to several Chamber member businesses, including Jersey Mike’s, T-Mobile, and The Purpose Boutique, providing both local and national brands a welcoming place to thrive. By creating a space where businesses can grow and customers can connect, The Trails plays an important role in strengthening our local economy.
We are thankful for The Trails at Silverdale’s partnership, generosity, and ongoing investment in our region. Please join us in congratulating them and supporting the businesses that call The Trails home the next time you’re shopping or dining in Silverdale!
| Business & Professional Development Committee | | Member Education & Training Resources | | |
SCORE: AI Tools for Small Business Success
Thursday, May 21, 2026, 12:00pm
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Explore the latest updates and features in today’s top free AI tools from ChatGPT, Google, and Microsoft. Discover best-in-class AI features built into popular business platforms, complete with direct links to official training resources from each manufacturer. Walk away ready to streamline operations, enhance productivity, and make smarter business decisions using AI.
Registration Fee: FREE
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SBDC: Tap Into Online Marketplaces and
Grow Your International Sales
Tuesday, May 26, 2026, 10:00am
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This event is hosted by the Washington State Department of Commerce. The sign-up link takes you to a Washington State Department of Commerce Zoom registration form.
Are you interested in finding new customers and reaching new markets for your retail business, but not sure where to start? Cross-border e-commerce presents a huge opportunity for Washington State companies. E-commerce sales are growing around the world, and in some international markets, e-commerce sales as a percentage of overall retail sales are even greater than in the United States. In South Korea, for example, more than 30% of retail sales are made online.
Registration Fee: FREE
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SBDC: Winning Customers for Life
Thursday, May 28, 2026, 11:00am
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What does it really take to win customers and keep them coming back?
In today’s market, customers have more options and higher expectations than ever before. This session focuses on the practical side of building strong customer relationships that drive repeat business and referrals.
You’ll learn how to ask better questions, communicate more effectively, and follow up in a way that builds trust and keeps you top of mind. Whether you’re working with individuals or other businesses, these simple, proven approaches can be applied immediately.
Registration Fee: FREE
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World Cup Ready: Public Safety and Deescalation Training
Thursday, May 28, 2026, 11:00am
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As Seattle prepares to welcome an unprecedented influx of visitors during the World Cup this summer, local businesses will be on the front lines of increased foot traffic, heightened emotions, and high-energy environments. Being prepared is key—not just for security, but for creating safe, welcoming experiences for employees, customers, and fans from around the world.
Join Captain Dan Nelson of the Seattle Police Department for an essential safety and de-escalation training designed specifically for Seattle-area business owners, managers, and front-line staff. Drawing on extensive on-the-ground experience in public safety and crowd dynamics, this session will focus on realistic scenarios businesses may encounter during major international events—and how to handle them effectively.
We'll cover:
- Crowd, staff, and public safety preparedness | crowd awareness, staff communication, emergency readiness, human trafficking awareness
- Risk prevention and security practices | theft and fraud prevention, risk mitigation strategies
- Coordination and incident response | working with local event organizers and city agencies
Whether you operate a restaurant, retail shop, hotel, venue, or service-based business, this training will help you prepare your team to navigate the busy World Cup season with confidence, professionalism, and care.
| Business News & Resources | | |
Nearly 1 in 4 WA Businesses
Now Considering Leaving State
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Published by the Association of WA Business, May 4, 2026
Photo courtesy of AWB
OLYMPIA – Washington employers grew more pessimistic over the last quarter about the direction of the economy, with a growing number looking to exit the state because of the rising tax burden.
A new survey shows the number of employers looking to move their business out of Washington rose to 24%, up from 17% in the prior quarter and nearly triple the number reported in AWB’s winter 2025 survey 16 months earlier. Another 55% said they are considering moving their personal residence to another state, up from 44% the previous quarter. In Spokane County, a short drive from the Idaho border, 67% of respondents said they were considering moving their personal residence to another state.
The largest share (35%) report they are in the beginning stages of exploring a business move while 28% are actively searching for locations and 18% are developing a relocation plan. Six percent have already relocated part of their business, and 3% are in the process of relocating. For those looking to move their personal residence, 59% report looking for real estate in another state, 44% are consulting with a CPA or tax professional, and 18% already own a home or condominium in another state.
Interest in relocation is just one of the ways the survey revealed employers’ lack of confidence in Washington’s economy. Sentiment has worsened across nearly every indicator over the last 16 months since lawmakers passed a record $9.4 billion in new taxes in 2025 and followed up this year by passing an income tax that’s billed as targeting millionaires but will also hit small- and medium-sized businesses that are structured as pass-through entities.
Read the article here
| New Equal Pay Rules Take Effect in May | | |
Published by the WA Retail Association, May 14, 2026
Photo courtesy of the WRA
New rules adopted by Washington State’s Department of Labor and Industries will bring updates to employer hiring and job posting practices under the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act beginning May 22, 2026. The changes are designed to clarify existing law and implement legislation approved in 2025.
One of the most notable updates limits when employers may require a valid driver’s license as a condition of employment. Under the new rule, businesses may only require a driver’s license if driving is an essential duty of the job. Employers are also prohibited from listing a driver’s license as a job requirement in postings unless it is directly tied to core job responsibilities.
The updated rules also provide additional clarity around wage and salary disclosure requirements in job postings. Guidance has been refined on what qualifies as a posting, who is considered an applicant, and how employers should communicate compensation ranges.
In addition, the rules outline procedures for complaints, investigations, appeals, and resolving violations, offering employers clearer direction on compliance expectations.
For WR members, these updates may require a review of job descriptions, hiring criteria, and posting language to ensure policies align with the revised standards before the rules take effect later this spring.
Rulemaking web page
Read the article here
| | 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. | | How L&I Helps Keep Workers Safe on the Job | | |
While many businesses are familiar with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) as the administrator of the state’s workers’ compensation system, the agency is also committed to protecting the safety, health, and security of Washington’s 3.3 million workers. With 19 offices located throughout Washington and approximately 2,800 employees statewide, L&I supports employers in meeting safety and health standards, enforces rules designed to protect workers from hazardous job conditions, and provides medical and limited wage-replacement coverage to workers who experience job-related injuries or illnesses.
L&I carries out this work through several divisions and programs focused on prevention, enforcement, and recovery. One key division is the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), which develops and enforces workplace safety rules. DOSH conducts inspections to ensure businesses comply with safety and health regulations and offers free, on-site safety consultations to help employers identify hazards, improve safety practice, and prevent injuries before they occur.
In addition, L&I claims managers oversee benefits for injured workers and coordinate closely with medical providers, employers, and counselors to support recovery and a safe return to work. L&I also enforces laws that protect workers’ wages, working conditions, and required breaks, helping ensure fair and lawful workplaces across the state. Beyond employee protections, L&I’s technical experts safeguard the public by inspecting electrical systems, elevators, boilers, and manufactured homes.
To help businesses understand and comply with workplace safety rules, L&I provides a wide range of free resources, including online tools, workshops, and formal training opportunities. These offerings make it easier for employers to build effective safety programs, reduce the risk of injuries, and stay in compliance with state regulations. Employers can explore upcoming workshops and training opportunities by visiting Lni.wa.gov/workshops-training.
| | Nonprofit News & Resources | | Say What? The Tax Laws Changed? | | |
Published by the Kitsap Community Foundation, May 7, 2026
Photo courtesy of Kitsap Community Foundation
If it feels like donor behavior has been a bit unpredictable lately, you are not imagining it. For many nonprofits in Kitsap County, the past year has brought a mix of signals: continued generosity in some areas, hesitation in others, and a growing sense that something is shifting. Part of that shift is economic. But part of it is something more subtle: many donors are just now waking up to changes in the tax landscape that have been developing for some time.
At Kitsap Community Foundation, we have observed these trends closely. Indeed, tax law changes have altered the incentives that once played a larger role in charitable giving. While attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors have been tracking these developments closely, many donors are only now beginning to connect the dots. This realization often happens after going through the recent tax season and seeing the impact firsthand.
For nonprofits, this creates both a challenge and an opportunity. We want to help you navigate this transition so that your mission remains well-funded and your donors feel empowered in their giving.
The challenge is that some donors may pause. When people feel uncertain about their financial situation, the economy, or how tax rules affect their giving, they tend to slow down and reassess. This can show up as smaller gifts, delayed decisions, or shifts away from larger commitments. In some cases, donors who previously relied on tax incentives may reconsider how much or how often they give.
Read the article here
| | The Catalyst of a Bremerton Neighborhood That's Bought in On Re-Use | |
Published in the Kitsap Sun, May 15, 2026
Photo: Meegan M. Reid/Kitsap Sun
About midway between Sixth and 11th Streets on Callow Avenue, in Bremerton's Charleston neighborhood, sits A. Carpenter Shop, Kitsap County's only store that refurbishes old furniture. Just down the block is Typewriter Fever, which breaths new life into old typewriters (one of two stores in Bremerton to do so, notably), and in the other direction KC Help is opening a storefront for its program that lends out medical supplies. Just across the street is the People's Exchange, a self-described "micro community" that fosters the sharing of resources, swapping items of use, sharing meals and more, including a regular Friday night "community distro," where clothes, food, plants, toys and more are available on a "take what you need" basis.
So while it says "Reama Schuldt" on the Washington State Recycling Association's 2026 award for the state's top recycler, the Bremerton resident who was honored admits that the neighborhood she joined when launching a business three years ago has been pretty key. Schuldt's business, Spread Supplies, a 700-square-foot store packed with art supplies at 641 Callow Ave., just blends into the crowd as far as it goes with finding new uses for perfectly good materials.
Read the article here
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Kitsap League of Women Voters
Candidate Primary Interviews
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Comedy Showcase @ The Kitsap Mall
Thursday, May 21, 2026, 7:00pm
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Kitsap Humane Society's Pets Walk
Saturday, June 6, 2026, 9:00am
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Trident Refit Facility Bangor Job Fair
June 12 - June 13, 2026, 10:00am
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Masks Still 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. Pick up your supply at both GKC locations today. Available while supplies last.
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Clearwater Casino Presents:
Moondance - Van Morrison Tribute
Friday, May 22, 2026, 8:30pm
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Storm Rider - The Doors Tribute
Saturday, May 23, 2026, 8:30pm
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2026 Mosquito Fleet Fest
May 23 - May 24, 2026
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Duende Libre @ The Roxy Theatre
Thursday, May 28, 2026, 7:00pm
| DUENDE LIBRE celebrates the connections between jazz and music from Cuba, Brazil, and the Mediterranean. Their stewardship is a natural continuation of decades of dedicated apprenticeship with master musicians from around the world. DUENDE LIBRE's empathic on-stage chemistry, formed through years of performing, touring, and recording together, sets the band apart along with their eclectic sonic palette. | |
Classic Albums Live @ The Admiral Theatre
Friday, May 29, 2026, 7:30pm
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Classic Albums Live performs Pink Floyd's immortal Dark Side of the Moon, in its entirety, followed by greatest hits.
Classic Albums Live takes classic albums and recreates them live, on stage, note for note – cut for cut. “All of our focus is on the music,” says Classic Albums Live Founder Craig Martin. “We are the go-to show for live album recitals.”
With 200+ shows a year, CAL has become the first call for professional musicians who are looking for perfection. The shows have received serious critical acclaim in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.
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2026 Liberty Bay Festival
May 29 - May 31, 2026
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Bremerton Air Show 2026
July 11 - July 12, 2026
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in Central Kitsap by checking out and liking the
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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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