Wednesday, March 11, 2026 | | |
Military Appreciation Day 2026
Bring your family and friends!
| | This interactive event is designed to show appreciation to the men and women of our military: Active Duty, National Guard, Reservists, including Retirees, and their families. Military Appreciation Day includes an information fair for new service members coming to our community in 2026. | |
Join the GKC Board of Directors
Applications open through April 8th
| |
Are you interested in increasing your engagement with the Greater Kitsap Chamber and the larger business community? We are currently accepting applications for a variety of volunteer leadership roles at the Chamber, including: Chamber Board of Directors, Greater Kitsap Chamber Foundation Board of Directors, and Committee Members.
If you are interested in being considered for service, please submit an application no later than April 8, 2026.
| |
March Membership Luncheon
Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 11:00am
| |
Chamber: Off the Clock
Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 5:05pm
| |
Social Security 101: Just the Basics
Thursday, March 26, 2026, 11:30am
| |
|
Save-the-Date: Armed Forces Day 2026
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 10:00am
| |
First celebrated in 1948, the festival includes the nation’s largest and longest-running Armed Forces Day parade. This long-standing event is designed to thank the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States of America Armed Forces and recognize their service and commitment to our country and community.
Applications to participate are now open! Apply here
| |
Accessible Healthcare with NICE
Business Health Trust Has You Covered
| | |
Care that fits real life.
Benefit updates can be a blur in the new year. So start with the part that is easiest to use.
Nice Healthcare is one place to begin for primary care, mental health, and everyday needs.
For many common issues like colds, sinus, UTIs, rashes, or a quick checkup, employees can start with Nice instead of heading to urgent care first. Visits are designed to feel like real care, not a rushed stop. There’s also a Care Team chat thread, so follow-ups and questions stay in one place.
🔗 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.
| | |
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!
| |
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! | |
Kitsap History Trivia Night
Wednesday, April 29, 2026, 5:30pm
| | |
Changing Faces, Changing Places
Share your business news today
| | |
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.
| | | |
The Greater Kitsap Chamber is proud to recognize Details Property Management as our March Member of the Month. Locally owned and operated, Details Property Management has become a trusted resource for homeowners, renters, and investors across Kitsap County. Since joining the Chamber, Details Property Management has demonstrated outstanding engagement, strong community advocacy, and a consistent commitment to elevating the voice of local business.
Advocacy in Action
Details Property Management plays an active role in supporting and elevating the voice of small businesses in the region. Earlier this year, owner of Details Property Management, Heidi Hartman, participated in the Association of Washington Business (AWB) Hill Climb, helping represent Kitsap County in conversations with state leaders. Her involvement demonstrates a business-wide commitment to advocacy and to ensuring that the needs of local employers, property owners, and community stakeholders are heard at the state level.
Active Partners in Community Connection
The team at Details Property Management continues to be a friendly and reliable presence at Chamber events, engaging with peers and contributing to the collaborative spirit that defines our business community. Their ongoing participation helps strengthen relationships, foster new partnerships, and support a thriving and connected Kitsap economy.
A Business Built on Trust and Stewardship
With a focus on responsive service, transparent communication, and excellent care for both property owners and tenants, Details Property Management consistently demonstrates what it means to be a dependable community partner. Their dedication to quality, professionalism, and local engagement makes them a valued member of the Chamber and a standout business in Kitsap County.
| Business & Professional Development Committee | | Member Education & Training Resources | | |
SBDC: Profit-Driven Pricing
Mastering the Essentials
Thursday, March 12, 2026, 1:00pm
| |
Join us for a focused session on building smart pricing strategies that drive profitability.
We’ll cover:
- Cost-Volume-Profit (CVP) analysis and break-even points
- Key factors in setting effective prices
- The Four P's of Marketing and how pricing fits in
- A brief look at tariffs and their impact on global pricing
This webinar is ideal for business owners, marketers, and professionals involved in pricing decisions. Gain the tools to price with confidence and strategy.
Registration Fee: FREE
| | |
SCORE: Market Research and Idea Validation
Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 10:00am
| |
This workshop highlights why market research is critical to startup and product success. Participants will explore how understanding real customer needs reduces risk, strengthens investor confidence, and helps teams move from “technology-first” to “problem-first” thinking. The session emphasizes validating market assumptions, including TAM, SAM, and SOM, to ensure that solutions address meaningful, proven problems worth solving.
Registration Fee: FREE
| | Business News & Resources | | |
Temporary Merchant Program
in Downtown Bremerton
| |
Published by the Downtown Bremerton Association, February 24, 2026
Photo courtesy of the DBA
What Is the Temporary Merchant Program?
The Temporary Merchant Program was created to ensure our vacant storefronts don’t sit dark during one of the most high-traffic moments our community has seen in years. In short, this program turns empty storefronts into temporary opportunities from June 1, 2026 – July 30, 2026, for entrepreneurs ready to test a concept or for property owners looking to showcase their space. Important! This program is NOT for on-the-street pop-up vendors.
Who Can Apply?
The Temporary Merchant Program is designed for retail-focused businesses looking to pop into a vacant storefront during the summer Fan Zone period (June 1, 2026 – July 30, 2026). Eligible participants include:
- Retail businesses selling goods
- Artists and makers
- Apparel brands
- Gift and specialty retailers
- Vendors selling commercially prepackaged items
- 🚫 Prepared food sales are not permitted under this program.
If you have a product-based business and have been considering testing a physical retail presence, this is an ideal opportunity to step into a storefront during one of downtown’s busiest seasons.
Learn more here
| Workforce Development Grants Now Open | |
Workforce development is not about resumes. It is about infrastructure. It is about retention, certification, expansion, and economic growth. Across the country, funding is available to support nonprofits, employers, community agencies, and small businesses that are strengthening local workforces. These grants help remove employment barriers, subsidize training and licensure, expand workforce programs, and create sustainable job opportunities.
For organizations leading workforce initiatives, this is actionable funding. For small businesses planning growth, this is capital with purpose.
Learn more and apply here
| |
What Business Owners Can Learn
from Social Analytics
| |
Published by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, January 29, 2026
Social media analytics can tell you a lot more than how many people looked at your most recent Instagram post. This information plays a role in other elements of your marketing strategy and your business operations. Learn how social media analytics can help your business develop products, improve your sales strategy, and stand out from your competitors.
Get deeper customer insights
Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok generate an enormous amount of data about their users. Your social media analytics can tell you detailed information about your audience's age, location, interests, and online behavior. Learn about your followers’ hobbies, values, and spending habits to inform your product development and marketing strategies.
You can also see what type of content resonates the most, including trending topics, content type, and popular hashtags. These insights help you allocate marketing resources to the most impactful channels. You can also plan product or service upgrades to suit your audience's needs.
Social media analytics also offer data points that help you optimize your time and effort. Native analytics and third-party tools can tell you when members of your audience are the most active, how they interact with your brand (in comments, direct messages, reposts, or something else), and their format preferences (video, images, contests, polls, etc.). This information helps you design a posting calendar to maximize the impact of your content.
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. | | Workplace Rights: Common Mistakes to Avoid | | |
A big workplace right for employees is the protection provided to them through workers’ compensation coverage (workers’ comp). Workers’ comp is mandatory for all employees and even some contractors. Check out RCW 51.12.020 for the state law explaining which types of employment are excluded from coverage. Here are a few answers to my workers’ comp FAQs:
- How do I set up workers’ comp?
-
Update your WA state business license with the Department of Revenue (DOR) Business Licensing Service and indicate you are going to have employee(s). For help, follow these steps.
- Where do I find my…?
-
Are you looking for a certificate of coverage? Your account manager? Maybe rates and risk classes or your L&I account ID? You can find all of that using the Verify Tool. However, if you’re looking for your Participant Activation Code (PAC), you’ll want to call your account manager or give us a call at: 1-800-987-0145.
- Can my payroll company or other third party file for me?
-
Yes. Be sure you and the service provider review “Filing on Behalf of Clients” to find an option that fits. But, beware! While payroll companies can file workers’ comp quarterly reports on your behalf, it’s not always the case! Be sure to verify directly with the payroll company to confirm if that’s a service they provide. Otherwise, you risk accruing late fees.
-
Is coverage required for business owners?
-
No. Most business owners are exempt from mandatory coverage per RCW 51.12.020, even if you pay yourself as an employee in a S-Corp or other structure. However, owners can opt into elective coverage and receive workers’ comp benefits such as medical care coverage related to a workplace injury and partial wage replacement if your workplace injury results in you missing three or more consecutive work days.
| | Nonprofit News & Resources | |
Principal Gifts Versus Major Gifts:
What's the Real Difference?
| | |
Published in NonprofitPRO, March 3, 2026
Photo: Luis Alvarez/Getty Images
A common area of confusion in fundraising is the difference between principal gifts and major gifts.
Often, the conversation begins and ends with the dollar amount. Yes, the number matters, but if that’s where the conversation stops, you’re missing the whole point.
Because the real difference isn’t just about how many zeros are on the check. It’s about complexity, alignment, leadership, risk, opportunity, and ultimately, transformation.
Principal Gifts Are Structurally Different
At a basic level, major gifts are significant investments. Depending on your organization, they could be five, six, or maybe even low seven figures. These gifts fuel growth. They fund programs. They help your organization move forward.
Principal gifts? Those are the ones that change the trajectory. They are typically about $1 million or higher — but again, the number isn’t the point. These gifts can launch a new center, anchor a campaign, endow a chair, or permanently alter what your organization is capable of doing.
Major gifts help you advance. Principal gifts can redefine you. That’s a big difference.
Read the article here
| | USS Nimitz Departs Bremerton for Last Time | |
Published in the Kitsap Sun, March 9, 2026
Photo: David Nelson/Kitsap Sun
BREMERTON — Time to say goodbye to the USS Nimitz.
The USS Nimitz aircraft carrier departed Bremerton for the last time in the morning of March 7.
Around 6:40 a.m., the carrier was seen leaving the shore of Sinclair Inlet. The Navy’s oldest active aircraft carrier is scheduled to head to Norfolk, Virginia, for its decommissioning later this year.
“History in the making,” one of the onlookers at Bachmann Park in Bremerton, where a small crowd had gathered, was overheard saying.
The carrier has called Bremerton home for about 25 years, on and off throughout its over 50 years of service since it was commissioned on May, 3 1975.
“This ship and her crew could not be more thankful to the people of Washington State for their decades of hospitality, friendship and trust,” Capt. Joseph Furco, commanding officer of Nimitz, said in a statement sent on Saturday. “It is in no small part due to the support of our local community that Nimitz Sailors have been able to successfully train, fight and win, exemplifying the ship’s motto; Teamwork, a Tradition.”
Read the article here
| | |
Port Gamble Theater: Something's Afoot
March 13 - 29, 2026
| A zany, entertaining musical that takes a satirical poke at Agatha Christie mysteries and musical styles of the English music hall of the 1930s. Ten people are stranded in an isolated English country house during a raging thunderstorm. One by one, they’re picked off by cleverly fiendish devices. As the bodies pile up in the library, the survivors frantically race to uncover the identity and motivation of the cunning culprit. | |
Easter Bunny Photos @ The Kitsap Mall
March 13 - April 4, 2026, 12:00pm - 8:00pm
| Easter Bunny photos available at the Winco Court in the Kitsap Mall. Click here to reserve your spot. | |
Poulsbo Beer Run 2026
Saturday, March 14, 2026, 9:00am
| | |
St. Patrick's Day Parade
Saturday, March 14, 2026, 2:00pm
| | |
Masks Still 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. Pick up your supply at both GKC locations today. Available while supplies last.
| | |
Clearwater Casino Presents:
Hell's Belles - AC/DC Tribute
Friday, March 13, 2026, 8:30pm
| |
|
Quincy Birthday Celebration @ The Roxy
Saturday, March 14, 2026, 7:00pm
| |
St. Patrick's Bash @ The Admiral Theatre
Saturday, March 14, 2026, 8:00pm
| | |
This is a ST. PATRICK’S themed 80s tribute concert with dancing, a balloon drop, confetti cannons, black light, a costume contest (dress for prom, St. Patrick’s, 80s, or something else entirely), drink specials, and free party favors at the door. There will be two sets between 8 - 11 p.m., with a 20-minute break for the band.
IYKYK this is Kitsap's biggest party! PDM has an action-packed night of TOTALLY RAD 80s HITS by Duran Duran, Billy Idol, INXS, Pat Benatar, Tears For Fears, The Go-Gos, A Flock Of Seagulls, The Fixx, Simple Minds, Eurythmics, Depeche Mode & MUCH MORE!
| | |
Six Gun Rebels @ The Roxy Theatre
Saturday, March 21, 2026, 8:00pm
| |
Stay in the know with what's happening for events
in Central Kitsap by checking out and liking the
| | |
Have something to share? CLICK HERE to submit stories and
events for our weekly Community Connections!
| | |
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.
| | | | |
