By RACHEL BRANT
Staff writer
More than 140 businesses from across the Kitsap Peninsula will show off their goods at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds Pavilion next week.
The first ever West Sound Business Expo will be held from 3-9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13 at the Fairgrounds Pavilion. The all chamber expo will showcase chamber of commerce members from Bainbridge Island, Kingston, Poulsbo, Silverdale, Bremerton, Port Orchard and North Mason. The seven chambers of commerce present at the business expo represent more than 3,000 chamber members. Chamber members will display goods about their businesses to other exhibitors as well as the public. The event is free-of-charge.
The theme for the West Sound Business Expo is “Business Success on the Peninsula” and Silverdale Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Darla Murker said the expo has filled 140 spots for the all chamber event.
“It looks like we’re going to sell out and we’re very excited about that,” Murker said.
The event features a business expo from 3-7 p.m. where people can check out more than 100 businesses from across the peninsula. After hours will be held from 5-7 p.m. and the West Sound Business Expo will conclude with a concert from the Joey James Dean Band from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday.
Murker said the idea for an all-chamber event came from a Silverdale Chamber of Commerce member who took part in such an event in Charlotte, N.C. The area chambers discussed the idea of an all chamber business expo and began preparing for the event.
“We decided we should do an event that shows that all the chambers are working together for the betterment of the community and the peninsula,” Murker said.
Murker said the West Sound Business Expo serves both the businesses and general public. Business professionals will be able to mingle and network with other business men and women throughout Kitsap County and North Mason while the public can see what the area has to offer.
“It’s for the businesses to do networking but then it’s good for the general public to get a better idea of the variety of businesses that are out there,” Murker said.
The types of businesses showcased at the West Sound Business Expo range from small businesses to large corporations. Financial, health and other fields will be represented at the event.
“With 140-150 businesses there it’s really going to run the gamut,” Murker said. “They go from small home-based businesses to major corporations. You name it it’s probably going to be there.”
West Sound Business Expo
Kitsap County Fairground Pavilion
Bremerton
Wednesday, Feb. 13
3-7 p.m. Business Expo
5-7 p.m. After Hours
7-9 p.m. Joey James Dean Band concert
