Although the Bremerton Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 100th birthday in 2007, most people would be surprised to know that chambers of commerce existed in this country before we even became a country! The first chambers of commerce were formed in the colonies in the 1760's. And they've been growing stronger ever since.

The Bremerton Area Chamber of Commerce was initially formed as the Bremerton Board of Trade in 1904. The name was changed to the Bremerton Chamber of Commerce in 1907 and became incorporated in 1938. It's interesting to note that the Treasurer of the Board of Directors was William Gates, grandfather of Microsoft founder Bill Gates. The Gates family owned a furniture store in downtown Bremerton and William Gates signed the Chamber's Articles of Incorporation.

Like most chambers of commerce, the Bremerton Area Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit membership organization. Our mission is to promote and support our member businesses and provide leadership to enhance a positive business environment. This mission has helped the Bremerton Chamber become one of the largest chambers on the Olympic Peninsula as well as one of the most effective chambers in delivering benefits to our members and the community.

Businesses and individuals join the Bremerton Chamber for a number of reasons. Many join for networking and advertising opportunities. Some members want to take advantage of our member discounts. And most understand that supporting the Bremerton Area Chamber of Commerce is a terrific way to support the community, businesses and our local economy.

The Chamber offers many in-house services including extensive visitor and relocation assistance, business assistance provided by the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), and for our contractor members, the only plan center in the western Puget Sound area, the Olympic Peninsula Plan Center.

The Chamber is also involved in many behind-the-scenes activities to help the business and citizens of Bremerton and Kitsap County. The Chamber works on economic development and international trade, tourism, tax and regulatory issues as well as community planning and redevelopment.

Social Media

The Chamber is very active on the Social Media front. Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn are proving to be an amazing new way to network and market businesses and events. We offer a "Members Only" group on Facebook, where our members can offer insight, special deals for members, and give each other tips on successful practices.

We also feature a video "Spotlight on a Member" which is featured on YouTube, shared on Facebook, and highlighted on our webpage. We are YOUR home town multimedia company! Our links to Social Media are as follows:

Facebook: Facebook
Twitter: Twitter
YouTube: YouTube

The Chamber has a number of active committees that enhance Bremerton and Kitsap County's business community and overall quality of life such as:

Armed Forces
"Support Our Troops" is not a slogan in Kitsap County; it's a way of life!

A "can-do" attitude certainly helps this committee accomplish the enormous task of planning the nation's longest-running Armed Forces Day Celebration. Included in the festivities, a spectacular parade, golf tournament at one of the state's top golf courses, military culinary arts competition and a scholarship program. The committee is also tasked with creating and implementing even more ways to show our community's support for the military.

Installation & Auction
In an organization with a reputation for high-energy events, the annual Installation & Auction is the grand daddy of them all! Volunteers help create exciting events to welcome the new Chamber Board and Officers while raising funds for the Chamber. Past themes for this event include: Ringing in the New Year, Our Chamber Rocks!, M*A*S*H B*A*S*H, Oktoberfest and Moonlight Serenade. Have energy to spare? Please join us!

Legislative
People who can't get enough of politics have a great time by helping to identify business issues, drafting position papers, conducting "Eggs & Issues" candidate forums and meeting with officials on the local, state and federal levels. Committee members work hard on enhancing the business climate through legislative channels and keeping our members informed on issues important to their businesses.

Membership & Marketing
This committee is specially designed for creative and outgoing people. Projects include "Operation Thank You" (where members are personally visited by committee members), coordinating membership drives, organizing networking activities such as After-Hours, working on the Westsound Business Expo, coordinating grand opening celebrations and making new members feel welcome through the business mentor program.

The Chamber
The Chamber works with the Kitsap Regional Economic Development Alliance (EDA)and other chambers of commerce to encourage appropriate businesses to locate in our area.

The Chamber works with the City of Bremerton and the Kitsap Peninsula Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB) to encourage tourism.

The Chamber operates the Olympic Peninsula Plan Center for local contractors and sub-contractors, at 286 Fourth Street.

The Chamber works with the Small Business Administration and Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) to offer free counseling, on the 2nd Fridays of every month, to individuals who want to start their own business.

The Chamber operates a Visitor Information Center (VIC) in it's main office throughout the year.

The Chamber assembles and mails out Relocation and Newcomer's Packets.

The Chamber offers "members only" benefits such as group discounts for health care, Internet links and various marketing opportunities to other Chamber members.

The Chamber coordinates The Annual Armed Forces Festival Parade, that includes an Ambassador scholarship program, Golf Tournament, and other fun events.

Chamber Staff

Executive Director - Michael Strube mike@bremertonchamber.org

Operations Manager - Frank Gentile chamber@bremertonchamber.org

Accounting & Olympic Peninsula Plans Center - Cec Kolb cec@bremertonchamber.org

Armed Forces Committee Chair - Cris Larsen cris@bremertonchamber.org