From Our Blog

Are you a small business owner wanting to expand your reach?

Check out the new pilot program Go Global. Washington State Department of Commerce has the fuel you need to boost your business to reach new customers and increase sales! Go Global, Commerce’s new pilot program, is providing eligible small businesses up to $4,000 for consulting fees and design services to launch a new website, refresh and existing one or add online ordering. Nearly half of small businesses don’t have a website and 75% don’t offer online ordering. Given that 80% Read more…

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October Business After Hours

Columbia Bank will host Business After Hours on October 12, at there Olympic Highway location, they are sure to put on an incredible networking event. Drop in from 5:30-7:00p to socialize and connect with fellow Chamber members, local business owners, organizational leaders, elected officials, and friends. RSVP below. Business After Hours is a monthly event hosted at member businesses on the second Wednesday of each month as a complimentary member benefit. It’s designed to bring together local professionals looking to develop Read more…

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Halloween Spooktacular

Once again, the Chamber is partnering with Shelton Downtown Merchants to present Halloween Spooktacular. This year’s festivities will return to Railroad Ave with all activities being held outdoors. The community is invited for an evening of trick-or-treating with local businesses! The event hours are 4:00-6:00p on Friday, October 28. Railroad Ave will be closed from Second to Fifth, beginning at 2:00p. Local businesses and organizations are invited to pop up a tent or open their trunk to the community trick-or-treaters. Read more…

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Peterson to Serve as President & CEO

The Board of the Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce has asked long-serving Chamber staff member Deidre Peterson to be its next President & CEO. Peterson has served the organization for eleven years, currently as VP of Business Development. During her time at the Chamber, she has been responsible for incentivizing event participation, revamping the Ambassador committee, sunsetting the auction, and spearheading in house policies and procedures. Well known in statewide and national associations, Peterson has received accolades for working tirelessly Read more…

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McCutcheon Announces Her Departure

After 14 years with the Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce and 12 years as President & CEO, Heidi McCutcheon has accepted a new employment opportunity with the Thurston County Economic Development Council and Center for Business & Innovation. During her time at the Chamber, she brought forth many new initiatives and programs to the Mason County community. A few highlights of her tenure include coordinating the Shelton Downtown Visioning Plan; producing the public-facing Business Matters publication; implementing an annual survey; Read more…

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September Business After Hours

Skookum Creek Tobacco will host Business After Hours on September 13 at its spacious manufacturing facility in Kamilche. Drop in from 5:30-7:00p to socialize and connect with fellow Chamber members, local business owners, organizational leaders, elected officials, and friends. RSVP below. Skookum Creek Tobacco Company, Inc. is native owned on the Squaxin Island Indian Reservation and invests its profits in securing the tribe’s economic future and supporting our local community. Seen as a gift from the creator, ceremonial tobacco use Read more…

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Chamber Invites Community to Nominate Deserving Businesses, Individuals

For decades, the Chamber has recognized deserving businesses, individuals, and organizations through its annual awards program. The entire community is invited to submit nominations online at masonchamber.com/nominate and will be accepted through September 30, 2022. Award categories, guidelines, and the complete list of past winners is also published online. There are five categories open for nominations. Business of the Year honors the business that made the most significant contribution benefiting the Mason County community over the past year; most recently, Read more…

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Chamber Convenes Virtual Candidates Forum

The candidates for several local races will be whittled down following the 2022 Primary Election. The Chamber invited contested races (those with more than two candidates on the upcoming ballot) to address topics and questions and to ask questions of their opponents. Partnering with the Shelton-Mason County Journal, North Mason Chamber, and Mason WebTV powered by HCC for the virtual Candidates Forum. The program was moderated by Chamber CEO Heidi McCutcheon and Journal Publisher John Lester. Four candidates are contending Read more…

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Fire Marshal Reaches Out to Businesses

He may look young, but Keith Reitz has years of experience under his belt to be Fire Marshal. Recently, the Chamber convened with Central Mason Fire to champion Fire & Life Safety Inspections. Fire Marshal Reitz is committed to an upfront approach to make sure the business community has the information and understanding of what they need to know and look for at the safety inspections. There are multiple reasons fire and life safety inspections are done, some of which Read more…

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Working Washington Grants – Coming Soon

The Washington State Legislature has allocated a new round of grant funding for small businesses affected by the pandemic. $70 million was appropriated by the legislature for the next round of Working Washington Grants: Round 5. In this round of grants, portions of the available funds are set aside for specific targeted groups or sectors: 60% is identified for the arts, heritage, and science sectors, including those that operate live entertainment venues 40% is identified for most other sectors, including Read more…

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