Wednesday, September 2, 2026 | | The Greater Kitsap Chamber & Visitor Center will be closed on Monday, September 7th to honor the hard work of our team and yours. | |
Rise & Thrive:
Business Essentials & Networking
Friday, September 18, 2026, 9:00am
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Start Strong, Finish Smart:
Preparing for Q4 & Year-End
Tuesday, September 22, 2026, 2:00pm
| | Gain the tools and insights needed to prepare your business for year-end success. Learn how to evaluate your financial performance, clean up and organize your books, and create a strategic plan to help your business thrive in the coming year. | |
Chamber: Off the Clock
Tuesday, September 15, 2026, 5:05pm
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September Membership Luncheon
Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 11:00am
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2026 Business Awards Gala
Friday, December 11, 2026, 5:30pm
| | Nominations for the 2026 Business Awards Gala are now open! Help us celebrate the stars of our local business community and nominate a standout business, nonprofit, or festival. | |
Secure You Spot in the Greater Kitsap
Chamber's Destination Guide
| The Greater Kitsap Chamber & Visitor Center Destination Guide is our premier promotional piece. The guide is the first resource visitors will use when looking for attractions and planning trips to the area. Participation in the Destination Guide has terrific advantages. Distribution includes 7,500 printed copies placed in prime locations to assist in driving traffic to our advertisers. Our digital GoGuide® allows your business exposure potential to reach thousands more customers. Your advertisement in the digital GoGuide® will be linked to your website, giving readers one-click access to your business. | RECAP: August Membership Luncheon | Our August Membership Luncheon was all about making connections! As part of the Greater Kitsap Chamber's annual New Member Showcase, new members were invited to display their businesses and introduce themselves to fellow Chamber members. Attendees also enjoyed a panel discussion featuring experienced networkers who shared how Chamber involvement has helped them create meaningful relationships and opportunities for business growth. | | RECAP: Hwy 420 Ribbon Cutting | |
On Saturday, August 29, Hwy 420 celebrated the grand reopening of its new building. The event brought together community members for an afternoon of live entertainment, food, and celebration.
Since joining the Chamber in 2017, Hwy 420 has grown from a small trailer building to its new and much larger facility today.
The Chamber is happy to recognize this exciting milestone and celebrate their continued growth as a longtime member of our business community.
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Accessible Healthcare with NICE
Business Health Trust Has You Covered
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Less downtime is a benefits strategy.
When care is slow, employees wait. They miss work. They delay treatment. They head to urgent care because it feels like the only available option.
Business Health Trust helps chamber members offer benefits that are built for real life. Members can access broad plan choice and the buying power of a statewide association health plan, helping small and mid-sized employers compete with stronger benefits.
Many BHT medical plans also include Nice Healthcare at $0, with no copays or deductibles for Nice visits. Employees can use Nice for common illnesses, minor injuries, stress, physical therapy needs, and ongoing concerns. Faster access means people can get help sooner, ask questions earlier, and spend less time navigating the system.
🔗 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! | |
New & Renewing Members for August
Thank you for your continued investment and support!
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Habitat for Humanity of Kitsap County
Hearts for Housing Fundraising Breakfast
Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 8:00am
| This event is free to attend and open to all who want to learn more about our work. Guests will have an opportunity to make a donation during the program to help us build safe, affordable housing for local families. | Support the Bremerton Backpack Bridgade! | |
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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The Greater Kitsap Chamber is honored to announce our Member of the Quarter: Honeybee Horticulture! Since 2023, Mariah Mendez and her team have created unique, elegant, and creative floral and charcuterie designs for occasions ranging from weddings and corporate events to Chamber: Off the Clock gatherings. We are excited to recognize Mariah and Honeybee Horticulture for their creativity, community involvement, and dedication to helping people connect through memorable experiences across Kitsap and beyond.
Fostering Business Connections Through Charcuterie
The Chamber regularly uses Honeybee Horticulture’s services at our Chamber: Off the Clock after-hours networking events. Mariah not only provides a selection of delicious, fresh food, but intentionally designs a spread for each Off the Clock location. These spreads serve as much more than refreshments. They become natural gathering points where attendees connect, start conversations, and build new business relationships.
Elevating Events Across Kitsap and Beyond
Honeybee Horticulture strives to create celebrations that feel effortless, intentional, and fully experienced. Through planning and coordination services, floral design & installations, and luxury charcuterie catering, they remove the stress of hiring multiple vendors and ensure there are no gaps in an event’s vision. They proudly serve clients throughout Kitsap County and across the Puget Sound region.
Celebrations Designed with Intention
Intentionality is at the heart of Honeybee Horticulture’s philosophy, whether that be crafting a charcuterie spread or a flower arrangement that reflects a specific individual, event, or venue. Mariah and her team excel at creating meaningful experiences that reflect an event’s unique identity.
Whether you're planning a wedding, corporate event, or community celebration, Honeybee Horticulture brings creativity, intentionality, and professionalism to every detail. We are proud to recognize Mariah and her team as our Member of the Quarter and encourage you to check out their services!
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Eggs & Issues
September 15 - October 27, 2026, 8:00am
| Join us for the Chamber’s Eggs & Issues Candidate Forums at Cloverleaf Bar and Grill, a long-standing tradition started by the Bremerton Chamber over 25 years ago. | Business & Professional Development Committee | | Member Education & Training Resources | | |
SCORE: Hosting Successful Events
Thursday, September 3, 2026, 11:00am
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Successfully hosting public events that will help boost your business's image, sales, and overall growth.
Presenter's Bio: Ke'Ira Lewis is an experienced independent business owner with a strong background in the events industry. She has experience in event planning and musical performances, and is a skilled entrepreneur with a focus on social media marketing for small businesses and organizations. In addition to providing logo and graphic design services, Ke'Ira is the founder of the We Rise by Design: Women Entrepreneurs Organization, and the manager of Cafe Biz 618 Shared Workspace. With her passion for helping others, Ke'Ira is dedicated to supporting and empowering small businesses and organizations to succeed.
Registration Fee: $10
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SCORE: A Road Map to Digital Marketing
Wednesday, September 9, 2026, 12:00pm
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If you are new to Digital Marketing this fast-paced introductory workshop will help you get started to promote your business on the Internet.
Topics:
- Basic Digital Marketing concepts
- How to develop your Digital Marketing plan
- Important Digital Marketing techniques, their pros & cons, and when to use them.
Including:
- Social Media
- Google & Facebook Ads
- Content Marketing
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Blogging
- Video Marketing
- Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)
- Email & Text Message Marketing
- Remarketing
- Local Marketing
- Data Analytics
Attendee Takeaways:
- Understand the basic concepts of Digital Marketing
- How to get started with Digital Marketing
- Become familiar with a broad range of Digital Marketing techniques –
- One action item you can do this afternoon to improve your business
Registration Fee: $10
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Business News & Resources | | |
The K-Shaped Consumer
Looks Different This Time
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Published by the WA Retail Association, August 20, 2026
Photo courtesy of the WA Retail Association
Consumer spending patterns in 2026 continue to show a K-shaped economy, but the divide between higher- and lower-spending households has narrowed. According to analysis from the Consumer Insights Studio, all consumer spending groups increased their spending during the first six months of 2026 compared with the same period last year. Higher-spending consumers continue to account for the largest share of growth, but lower-spending groups are also contributing. DD
The analysis also found stronger growth in discretionary purchases than in essential goods. Discretionary spending increased 3.9% year over year, compared with 2% growth in staples. Discretionary spending outpaced staples among six of the bottom eight spending groups, suggesting consumers across income levels continued to allocate money toward non-essential purchases despite generally weak economic sentiment.
Read the article here
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WA State Department of Commerce
STEP Export Voucher Program
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The Washington State Department of Commerce State Trade Expansion Program (STEP), also called the export voucher program, awards cash reimbursements for small businesses as an incentive to help offset expenses of expanding into international markets. Eligible reimbursement grants include expenses for trade show and trade mission fees, airfare, interpreter and translation services, export training and more.
Commerce administers these grants through a partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration and in accordance with Section 632 of Public Law 117-328. As part of this program, a review committee considers a number of factors when assessing applications.
| | 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 | |
KCF: Grant Cycle Now Open
Open Until Monday, September 14, 2026
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The 2026 Community Grant Cycle is open for nonprofits across Kitsap and North Mason County, with five funding opportunities available:
This cycle includes funding opportunities through:
- KCF Community Impact Grants
- Kitsap County Association of Realtors Foundation (KCAR)
- Kitsap Racial Equity & Empowerment Fund (KREEF)
- Women’s Giving Circle of the Kitsap Peninsula (WGCKP)
- Youth Mentoring
Applications close Monday, September 14 at 11:59pm. Whether you're a donor, a longtime friend of KCF, or a nonprofit ready to apply, thank you for being part of what makes this work possible.
| | How Busy Could Bremerton Be Over Next Decade of Navy's Dry Dock Construction | |
Published in the Kitsap Sun, August 31, 2026
Photo courtesy of the Kitsap Sun/Google Earth Pro Satellite Image
As the Navy plans to build a new dry dock at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, the surrounding area of PSNS is going to get busier at some point during the next 12-year construction period. More data and images that could describe the scope of this once-in-a-century project are being released to industrial partners and the public.
A 3D rendering model that shows the design of the new multi-mission dry dock and its surrounding supporting facilities was publicly shown at the fourth annual Kitsap Industrial Readiness Summit on Aug. 20. On the model, the historic shipfitter-welder shop, Building 460, which has the blue and yellow "Puget Sound Naval Shipyard – Building on a Proud Tradition" signage displayed and facing the Bremerton Ferry Terminal, is no longer there.
And that is just part of the Navy's many demolition plans on base to create space for its shipyard modernization construction in Bremerton. Overall, six major and 67 other facilities will be demolished to clear the site for the new dry dock, according to the Navy's military construction budget estimates documents submitted to Congress in April.
Read the article here
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Silverdale Greendrinks
Wednesday, September 2, 2026, 5:24pm
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Bremerton First Friday Art Walk
Friday, September 4, 2026, 5:00pm
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Kingston Sunset Market
Saturday, September 5, 2026, 4:00pm
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Square Roots Harvest Market
Sunday, September 6, 2026, 4:00pm
| Join the DBA and the Bremerton Farmer's Market in the square for this vibrant celebration of local farms, artists, makers, and small businesses! | | |
Clearwater Casino Presents:
Storm Rider - Doors Tribute
Friday, September 4, 2026, 8:30pm
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Ted Vigil - John Denver Tribute
Saturday, September 5, 2026, 8:30pm
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2026 Blackberry Festival
September 5 - September 7, 2026
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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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