Wednesday, October 14, 2026 | | Finalists Announced for 2026 Business Awards | | Congratulations to the businesses, nonprofits and events nominated this year for the Greater Kitsap Chamber Business Award! We are excited to announce our finalists across the six award categories this year. Find out who will win on December 11th at the Kitsap Conference Center! | | |
Pioneer Business of the Year Finalists
First Fed Bank
Kitsap Credit Union
Liberty Bank
Miller-Woodlawn Funeral Home
Noo-Kayet Investments
Peaks Financial
Salish Orthodontics
Tessera
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Natalie E. Bryson Business of the Year Finalists
BC Fitness Studio
Help Desk Cavalry
Indigo Plum
Lisa Stirrett Creative Warrior Studio
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Dr. Glen Gordon New Business of the Year Finalists
Aden Chiropractic
Honeybee Horticulture
Milestone Marketing
PNW Adventures & Tours
Shirtify
Spread Supplies
Zen Dragon Martial Arts
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Hospitality Business of the Year Finalists
Ahoy Kitsap Playland
Cloverleaf Sports Bar & Grill
Honeybee Horticulture
Toad House
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Festival/Event of the Year Finalists
Bremerton Fan Zone
Kitsap Great Give/Celebration
Poulsbo Film Festival
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Nonprofit of the Year Finalists
Blue Star Banner
Fairy Tale TruBridge
Habitat for Humanity of Kitsap County
Kitsap Community Foundation
Kitsap Pride Foundation
Peninsula Community Health Services
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October Membership Luncheon
Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 11:00am
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Powering Kitsap’s Future: What the November Ballot Measure Means for Business
Kitsap voters will soon consider a ballot measure that could give Kitsap Public Utility District (KPUD) the authority to explore providing electric service in our community—a decision with potential long-term implications for residents and businesses throughout the county.
Join the Greater Kitsap Chamber for an important and timely conversation featuring representatives from Puget Sound Energy (PSE) and Kitsap Public Utility District (KPUD). Attendees will hear directly from both organizations about the ballot measure, what voter approval would—and would not—mean, and the considerations surrounding the future of electric service in Kitsap County.
For businesses, reliable and affordable energy is more than a utility issue. Energy costs, infrastructure investment, system reliability and resiliency, and the ability to meet future growth all affect the cost of doing business and the strength of our local economy.
The Chamber is bringing both organizations to the table to help our business community better understand the issue, ask informed questions, and consider what it could mean for Kitsap’s economic future.
The community is invited to attend this Chamber event. For the member discount pricing, please use discount code: ELECTRIC at check out.
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Chamber: Off the Clock
Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 5:05pm
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2026 Business Awards Gala
Tickets Available Now!
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GKC Business Awards Gala
Sponsorship Opportunities Available!
| | Help us celebrate the northern lights of our local business community and be a sponsor at the Chamber's 2026 Business Awards Gala! For sponsorship information contact us at (360) 692-6800 or hello@greaterkitsapchamber.com. | |
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.
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2027 Jumpstart Business Success Workshop
Thursday, October 29, 2026, 9:00am
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To succeed in the coming year, you must differentiate. Your product, pricing, and process can all be copied. The one thing that can't? Your culture.
This workshop delivers the simple four-part formula to create a highly engaging culture that attracts your best customers like a magnet. Don't miss out, seating is very limited.
*Registration is free for Greater Kitsap Chamber members.
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Accessible Healthcare with NICE
Business Health Trust Has You Covered
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Need a Health Benefits Quote but Don’t Have a Broker?
Maybe you handle payroll, hiring, and benefits for your business. When the renewal arrives, you need to compare plans while answering every other question on your desk. You don’t need to sort through all the options alone.
Through our chamber’s partnership with Business Health Trust (BHT), members can request quotes for medical plans from major carriers, consider dental and vision, and get help with enrollment and billing. If you have a broker, bring them in. If you don’t, BHT can help connect you with one.
🔗 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.
| | New Members - Welcome to the Chamber! | Join WorkSource Kitsap's Team | |
Great Peninsula Conservancy
Take the Kitsap Peninsula Climate Survey
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22nd Annual PNWT Food Drive
October 26-November 13
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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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2026 Eggs & Issues Candidate Forum
Tuesday, October 20, 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: Strategic Cybersecurity Practices
Thursday, October 15, 2026, 12:00pm
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Learn about strategic cybersecurity governance of your business' operations, integrating risk, cybersecurity insurance, when to consider using a Managed Service Provider, asset management, training your staff members, and working toward a goal of cybersecurity maturity within your organization.
Registration Fee: $10.00
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Non-Apparent Disabilities Panel Event
Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 10:00am
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SBDC: Business Acquisition
A Proven Path to Ownership and Success
Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 1:00pm
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This training provides entrepreneurs with a practical roadmap for purchasing an existing small business. Participants will learn why business acquisition can be a lower-risk alternative to starting a company from scratch, how Main Street businesses are valued, and the key steps involved in the search, evaluation, financing, due diligence, and closing process.
The course also covers SBA financing requirements, financial analysis, business planning, common pitfalls, and strategies for identifying acquisition opportunities in today's historic wave of small business ownership transitions.
Participants will:
- Understand the advantages and risks of buying an existing business.
- Learn how to evaluate business value using Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE).
- Develop an acquisition strategy and search process.
- Gain insight into SBA financing and lender requirements.
- Identify common deal risks, red flags, and success factors in business acquisitions.
Registration Fee: FREE
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SCORE: Demystifying Financial Foundations Income, Assets & Cash Flow
Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 4:00pm
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Learn how to understand, create and use your financial statements.
· Understanding Financial Statements:
- Introduces the three main financial statements: the Income Statement (Profit and
- Loss), Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statement.
- Explains their purposes: showing profitability, financial position, and available cash
- Importance in decision-making, tracking performance, and securing investments.
· Income:
- Impact on profitability and business health.
- Connection to revenue streams and sales.
· Assets:
- Distinguish between current (liquid) and non-current (fixed) assets.
- Importance for collateral and borrowing power.
· Liabilities and Equity:
- Difference between liabilities (debts & obligations) and equity (owner's interest).
· Cash Flow:
- Importance of cash flow management to successful business operations.
- Differences between operating, investing, and financing cash flows.
- This webinar helps teach you the basics of Financial Statements needed to understand and manage your business well.
Registration Fee: FREE
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Business News & Resources | | |
Applications Open for NextCycle
Washington Circular Accelerator Program
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NextCycle Washington is an innovation platform building a stronger, more resilient circular economy in the state-—and your organization could be part of it!
The circular accelerator provides hands-on business and technical assistance to projects that reuse or repair items, recover organic materials, or utilize recycled content in new products.
Selected participants receive six months of tailored support, including consulting, business planning, pitch development, and investment-readiness assistance. Up to 16 projects will be chosen.
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Operational Mistakes That Keep
Small Businesses From Scaling
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Published by U.S. Chamber of Commerce, October 6, 2026
Photo courtesy of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Putting operations on the back burner
Entrepreneurs naturally spend a lot of time thinking about sales, customers, and growth. They should. None of the rest matters if you don’t have a business.
The mistake is assuming that the operational side will somehow take care of itself. It won’t. Every time you add a customer, launch another product, or enter another sales channel, the business gets more complicated. What worked when you had 50 orders may not work when you have 500. What worked with five employees may completely fall apart when you have 25.
You have to build the operation alongside the business. If you wait until things start breaking, you’re already behind.
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. | | 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 Nonprofit Leaders Can Learn From Failure | |
Published by NonprofitPRO, September 29, 2026
Photo: Pexels/Alex Green
We often work so hard to prevent failure in nonprofit leadership that we forget what failure is actually for.
Most of us can point to a mistake (probably several) that we wish we could erase. Maybe we said the wrong thing, took the wrong job, tried something that didn’t work or lost an opportunity because we weren’t ready for it. But if you look back now, chances are those mistakes taught you something.
You learned to be more careful or more empathetic. You figured out what you actually wanted. You were given grace when you expected anger and changed the way you treated others.
Failure is no fun, but when every decision is carefully managed to eliminate the possibility of getting it wrong, then we lose opportunities to become better. That’s not how resilience is built.
A nonprofit that never makes mistakes is probably not one that’s taking risks. And a nonprofit that isn’t taking calculated risks is probably not discovering new ways to engage donors, raise money or advance its mission. At some point, fear starts making the decisions.
Read the article here
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PSE Project for Kitsap Secures $21M
For Power Infrastructure Upgrades
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Published in the Kitsap Sun, October 13, 2026
Photo courtesy of Kitsap Sun
Puget Sound Energy has been awarded $40.2 million as part of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) SPARK federal grant, which will allow it to kickstart Project PULSE: a plan to modernize, or strengthen the region’s current transmission grid.
PULSE, which stands for Puget Upgrades for Line Capacity, System Flexibility, and Energy Resilience, involves a total investment of approximately $80.4 million for the entirety of the region. Designed to ensure reliable electric service for over 153,000 customers, PSE's project was selected alongside 31 others nationwide for the $1.9 billion grant.
According to PSE, the handy-work itself will involve replacing select poles and installing newer, higher-capacity conductors while keeping the existing operating voltage the same. Critical sites that will undergo operations include commercial and industrial centers throughout western Washington, as well as Naval Base Kitsap and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Read the article here
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Fall Brings Two Kitsap Film Festivals
to Showcase Local Talent
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Published in the Kitsap Sun, October 7, 2026
Fall's longer, darker and hopefully cozier evenings, and the opportunity the season offers for more big-screen time, pairs with the dozens of unique films arriving at a pair of local festivals in October and November.
The upcoming events, which follow summer's West Sound Film Festival in Bremerton, start with Poulsbo's three-day celebration this weekend, Oct. 9 to 11. That's followed by Bainbridge Island's annual showcase in November, hosted by filmmaker Charles Poekel. Each festival will feature independent and locally-made projects, giving regional storytellers and community film lovers alike a place to gather.
“This weekend is about the community and people who inhabit this place, and those who might be willing and interested in accepting a very unique way of storytelling and filmmaking,” Kevin Sheen, a co-founder of Poulsbo's event, said.
Read the article here
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Haunted Heronswood
Friday, October 16, 2026, 5:00pm
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Trick or treat! Join us at Heronswood for our annual festival of fright, with creepy characters wandering the grounds, spooky spectres in the woodland, and a chilling display of lights. We provide a safe place for kids to trick-or-treat along our illuminated pumpkin trail, and a Trail of Terror for the older kids. Food and drink available to buy.
The garden is open 5-9pm. Booking not required, buy tickets at gate ($15 for adults, $10 for children 7-17, free to kids under 7).
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Glow-In-the-Dark Candy Egg Hunt
Olmsted Tree Farms
October 9 - October 24, 2026
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Trick or Tree - Glow-In-The-Dark Egg Hunt is an epic night of family fun! Your kids will scour our Christmas tree field where THOUSANDS of glowing and non-glowing hidden candy-filled eggs are just waiting to be found. The best part? They'll do it in the dark! And 3 lucky golden egg winners will win a special prize each night! After filling their buckets, the Spooky Woods await them - only if they dare! Choose from 6 nights in October!
But hurry - one night is already sold out!!
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Kitsap Halloween Bash
Saturday, October 24, 2026, 1:00pm
| | Bring the whole family to our FREE, all-ages, commissioner sponsored Halloween event! Enjoy Trunk or Treat and live music outside, then head indoors for a DJ and dance party you won’t want to miss. | | |
Clearwater Casino Presents:
Six Gun Rebels - Bad Company Tribute
Friday, October 16, 2026, 8:30pm
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The Beat Goes On - Cher Tribute
Saturday, October 17, 2026, 7:00pm
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Brickhouse - Disco & Funk Hits
Saturday, October 17, 2026, 8:30pm
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Within/Earshot Jazz Festival
Jun lida
Friday, October 16, 2026, 7:00pm
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Music inspired by the roads traveled, the relationships formed, and the cultures carried along the way will move you during Jun Iida’s “Bellflower” program!
Three years ago, trumpeter and composer Jun Iida left Seattle for New York, and this program, built with a band of new friends over the course of a West Coast tour, is the sound of that journey. “Bellflower” is mostly original music, drawn directly from Iida’s own experience moving between places, people, and identities. It’s a program shaped by Japanese heritage, American cities, and the particular restlessness of starting over somewhere new.
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The Admiral Theatre Presents:
UB40: The Unstoppable Tour
Friday, October 16, 2026, 7:30pm
| UB40 is one of the most successful and influential British groups of all time, with more than 100 million albums sold, and more than 50 charting singles in the UK, including their trademark global #1 hits “Red Red Wine” and “(I Can’t Help) Falling in Love With You”; and U.S. Top 10s “Here I Am (Come and Take Me)” and “The Way You Do The Things You Do.” The reggae/pop legends set the stage this fall for their highly anticipated Relentless tour, performing their iconic hit songs, along with new songs and reworked classics from their recently released hit 45th Anniversary album, UB45, which reached #5 on the UK official album chart. The 9-piece ensemble’s 2025 tour includes on select dates, The English Beat, Inner Circle and Big Mountain. | |
The Admiral Theatre Presents:
Ingrid Michaelson's Cozy Fall Trio Tour
Friday, October 23, 2026, 7:30pm
| Grammy and Emmy Nominated singer-songwriter/composer Ingrid Michaelson is a force in the music industry, known for her distinctively soulful folk-pop style. Her music is released on the label she founded, Cabin 24 Records, including her latest studio album For the Dreamers, as well as her gold and platinum hits, "The Way I Am," "Girls Chase Boys," and "You and I." She's scored songs for television, including “Little Fires Everywhere” (Emmy nomination, Hulu) and “Tiny Beautiful Things” (Hulu), and was executive music producer for Apple TV+’s “Slumberkins,” creating original songs for the series. She made her Broadway on stage debut in Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812 and made her Broadway debut as a composer in 2024 writing the music and lyrics for the musical, The Notebook. She co-produced The Grammy nominated Notebook Original Broadway Cast Album. | |
Candlelight Concerts @ The Roxy Theatre
Saturday, October 24, 2026, 5:30pm & 8:15pm
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5:30pm - A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics
8:15pm - The Best of Hans Zimmer
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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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