With temperatures becoming more seasonable, it's been great getting out again and dropping by member businesses to say hello in person. It's something we will never take for granted again after these past two years. We encourage you to do the same! And when you are out and about buying local and supporting our community, if you see a Chamber sticker in the window don't be afraid to let them know you are also part of the Chamber.
It's been fun lately building out our 2022 calendar of events. Check out the below events section of this newsletter for "coming attractions". As a member you can add events, hot deals and other information to your Chamber directory listing. If you need help with access - or have information you'd like us to share - please let us know.
Lastly, we have a random opportunity du jour here at the Chamber. Our offices on Water St. in Bideford have four large window displays. We'd LOVE to create a display that features Chamber member products, photos, pictures, or anything you'd like walkers-by to see, highlighting the dynamic business environment we have here locally. If you have something for this display, please reach out, we'd love to hear from you.
Happy Spring and enjoy getting back out there!
|
|
Welcome New Chamber of Commerce Members This Past Month |
|
Please help us welcome the latest new members of the Chamber:
Apex Automation & Machine - This Buxton company provides engineering and manufacturing solutions for a wide variety of industrial applications.
CHI Aerospace - This Biddeford company offers flight lessons at Biddeford Airport. The programs that CHI offers allow students to progress through and develop their aviation goals as they train.
Diverse Anecdote, LLC - Karen Chasse's new marketing and communications business helps local businesses with her expertise in graphic design, copywriting, and project management.
Independence Food Truck - Located on Elm St in Biddeford, Independence Food Truck provides American Pride you can taste! They are famous for their North Shore style "3-Way" Roast Beef Sandwich.
LaundrYup! - Located on Hill St. in Biddeford, LaundrYuP! is a Laundromat Café, building a closer-knit community. Their mission is to bring a clean, healthy, and pleasurable experience for their local community.
Saco Valley Shopping Center - The Saco Valley Shopping Center has scores of great merchants, and features plenty of parking and easy access from the Maine Turnpike.
Sea Love - Sea Love is offered in 500 retail stores in the US, and they opened Maine's 1st DIY Candle Bar and Boutique in Kennebunkport. They are opening a 2nd location in Biddeford in May. More details coming soon.
|
|
Upcoming Chamber Events
We are excited to be building out a full slate of Chamber activities and events this year! Mark your calendars to join us for the following events:
-
April 25th: Ribbon Cutting for Laverriere Auto Detailing at Mechanics Park in Biddeford, 4pm-5pm
-
April 27th: Job Fair with the OOB Chamber at Oceanwood Camp & Conference Center in Ocean Park, 3pm-6pm
-
April 28th: Business After Hours at CHI Aerospace with the KKA Chamber at the Biddeford Airport, 5pm-7pm
-
May 19th: Business After Hours at River Winds Farm in Saco, with Your Real Estate Co. and Harbor View Lending, 5pm-7pm
-
July 21st: ChamberFest Celebration at Mechanics Park in Biddeford
- September 20th: Chamber Scholarship Golf Tournament at Dutch Elm
|
|
Monthly Member Spotlight:
Clear.Live
We recently visited with Kory Webster from Clear.Live in Saco to learn more about their exciting software launch plans for later this year. Clear.Live introduces a new way to think about web conferencing, focused on usability, anywhere accessibility, and extreme security. Read more about Clear.Live in this monthly member spotlight by CLICKING HERE.
|
|
Biddeford City Theater's Upcoming Show
We are very excited about the next show at the City Theater in May, On Golden Pond - a heartwarming classic with memorable characters and timeless familial wisdom. Tickets will go quickly for this must-see performance, so reserve yours now here:
|
|
Independence Food Truck's Ribbon Cutting
We recently had a fun ribbon cutting celebration for Independence Food Truck, which will be parked at Jim Godbout Plumbing & Heating at 486 Elm St. in Biddeford on weekdays from 5 AM – 3 PM. Breakfast and lunch are served all day, and the menu features American favorites such as their famous North Shore-style “Three Way” Roast Beef Sandwich. A special part of Independence’s mission is to ‘pay it forward’ to local veterans by making donations to local nonprofits that support veterans in our community. Please stop by and check it out!
|
|
Getting Out There with APEX
As parents begin planning summer arrangements for their children or creative adventures for themselves, Apex Youth Connection wants to encourage both youth and adults to “Get Out There!” This campaign raises awareness about the many mental and physical health benefits of active engagement and connection with the outdoors, community, people, service, and neighborhood events. Join Apex Youth Connection at their Open House on May 5th between 3-6 pm to learn more and/or register youth for Summer Adventure Camps and adults for Outdoor School classes. A full list of adventures and service opportunities is available at: www.apexyouthconnection.org
|
|
Waterboro Public Library Annual Auction
The Waterboro Public Library is holding its 11th Annual Spring Silent Auction from May 1- May 31st. They are currently seeking donations to raise funds to complete a permanent StoryWalk® location at Friendship Park. Last year they purchased a portable StoryWalk® and raised $2,500 towards the cost of a permanent installation but still need to raise approximately $4,000 to complete it. Donations will be accepted through April 15th. Please call (207) 247-3363 or email: librarian@waterborolibrary.org for more information.
|
|
Chamber Members Using Video Effectively
A number of our members are creating and distributing compelling video content as part of their overall communication and promotional efforts. We want to highlight a few of them here for your informational benefit. Maybe this will inspire you to create your own video content! If so, please pass any videos you create along to us to share with the membership in future newsletters:
|
|
Immigrant Welcome Center Update
We recently heard from Reza Jalali who runs the Immigrant Welcome Center in Portland about the important work they are doing and the services they offer to help New Mainers integrate into our community.
The Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center was founded in 2017 by a pair of immigrants. Their mission is to serve as a hub of collaboration that strengthens the immigrant community through language acquisition, economic integration and civic engagement. This non-profit organization features 4 programs all dedicated to workforce integration. These Programs include an English Language Lab, a Business Hub, a Citizenship and Civic Engagement Initiative, and a Co-Working space.
The Business Hub assists immigrants with starting and expanding businesses. Among other programs, they offer zero-free, zero-fee microloans to immigrant business owners. For more information, please visit their website at: https://www.welcomeimmigrant.org
|
|
Join Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center for their 2nd Annual Virtual HERO 5K! Register by Tuesday, April 26th to receive a complimentary t-shirt or kids HERO cape! To learn more or to register, please visit HERE.
|
|
Maine Tourism Association Celebrating Their Centennial Year on May 19th! |
|
This will be a fun night of celebrating not only MTA's centennial year but also the last 100 years of tourism in Maine. It will include an industry networking cocktail hour, historical tours of the property, a plated dinner with entertainment by Maine Humorist, Tim Sample, the Hall of Fame Award, a brief annual meeting, and entertainment into the night by Maine's own The Mallett Brothers Band. To wrap up the night, there will be fireworks on the lawn provided by the Poland Spring Resort in partnership with Poland Spring®. For more info go to: mainetourism.com
|
|
Click on the ads below for more information: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
