Weekly Newsletter
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Chamber Member News & Events
Bar Harbor Bank & Trust First Annual School Supply Drive
Ends Friday!
Bar Harbor Bank & Trust invites you to participate in their first annual School Supply Drive from July 22 thru August 16, 2019. Collection boxes are available at all branch locations across Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont! Please visit your local branch to make a contribution of new school supplies such as: notebooks, folders, glue sticks, pencils, and crayons. No cash donations are being accepted. All donations support students and educators in the communities we call home. Want to know which local school will receive your donation? Just ask a branch employee! 
 
“We are introducing the School Supply Drive so local schools will have the supplies students need to actively participate in classroom learning.” said Joseph Schmitt, SVP/Chief Marketing Officer at Bar Harbor Bank & Trust. “Through the simple act of donating school supplies, we can make the educational experience better for both students and teachers. Thank you in advance for giving what you can to help local children with their education.”
Power of Produce Club Ends this Weekend
All kids ages 5-12 are welcome to participate this summer in  Power of Produce (POP) Clubs —a fun, free way to learn about and enjoy fresh local food every week at 13 Upper Valley famers’ markets! In 2018, over 1,300 kids participated in Upper Valley POP Clubs and spent $6,400 in free “POP Bucks” at farm vendor booths.
 
Power of Produce (POP) Clubs are simple, fun, and free. Families sign up at the market’s POP table and start the day’s fun activity—a farmers’ market scavenger hunt, a vegetable quiz, an art project or other produce-related fun. Kids get to explore the market, talk with farmers, learn, taste new vegetables and fruit, and share their knowledge. The POP host is there to help. Once they complete the activity, participants return to the POP table to receive their $3 in POP Bucks: market money just for kids to spend on fruits and vegetables. There is no need to sign up in advance, and families are welcome to participate once or many times throughout the summer at one market or many. In 2018, over 1,500 kids joined POP Clubs in the Upper Valley.
 
Vital Communities is supporting  POP Clubs at 13 Upper Valley farmers’ markets  this year from June 24 through August 18:
 
·         Ascutney Farmers Market , Ascutney, VT, Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
·         Canaan Farmers and Artisans’ Market ,   Canaan, NH, Sundays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
·         Chelsea Farmers’ Market , Chelsea, VT, Fridays, 3-6 p.m.
·         Claremont Farmers’ Market ,   Claremont, NH, Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
·         Greater Falls Farmers’ Market ,   Bellows Falls, VT, Fridays, 4-7 p.m.
·         Hartland Farmers’ Market ,   Hartland, VT, Fridays, 4-7 p.m.
·         Hanover Farmers’ Market ,   Hanover, NH, Wednesdays, 3-6 p.m.
·         Lebanon Farmers’ Market ,   Lebanon, NH, Thursdays, 4-7 p.m.
·         Newport Farmers’ Market ,   Newport, NH, Fridays, 3-6 p.m.
·         Norwich Farmers’ Market ,   Norwich, VT, Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
·         Randolph Farmers’ Market , Randolph, VT, Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
·         Royalton Farmers’ Market ,   South Royalton, VT, Thursdays, 3-6 p.m.
·         Wilmot Farmers’ Market ,   Wilmot, NH, Saturdays, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
 
Most of the markets accept SNAP EBT cards. In fact, at many markets, shoppers who use SNAP EBT can double their benefits and receive up to $10 to spend on fruits and vegetables. With POP Clubs, kids and parents using SNAP both get extra market money to spend. Many markets also accept the Vermont Farm to Family Coupons. Details are available at  vitalcommunities.org/pop .
 
Vital Communities is supporting POP Clubs to increase Upper Valley fruit and vegetable income both this year and in the future when POP Club members become adults. Farmers’ markets are an important sales point for Upper Valley produce farms; customers can get to know farm vendors, ask questions about their products and taste and buy the freshest possible foods for their families. Teaching children about local foods helps all of us grow up healthy and take care of our working lands.
VRH's Charlestown Location Update
Photo Credits, l-r: Robin Caissie, Senior Director of Development and Community Engagement, Valley Regional Healthcare  
Dan McGee, Trustee, Mascoma Bank Foundation  
Liza McSwain, Branch Manager, Mascoma Bank  
Jean Shaw, Chief Financial Officer, Valley Regional Healthcare  
On July 31, 2019, Valley Regional Hospital (VRH) held an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony to introduce it’s newest facility in Charlestown, NH, which includes Urgent Care, Radiology, Lab Services, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy. Being 30 miles from Keene and 12 miles from Claremont, residents of Charlestown and nearby communities like Walpole were used to traveling to meet their healthcare needs. Valley will now bridge that gap for the town’s 5,000+ residents and the surrounding area.

Mascoma Bank and the Mascoma Bank Foundation’s generous donations totaling $7,500 will help provide new medical equipment and supplies for VRH’s new Charlestown location.

“Mascoma Bank and the Mascoma Bank Foundation are happy to be able to support the Valley Regional Healthcare Urgent Care Center in Charlestown,” says Samantha Pause, Chief Marketing Officer at Mascoma Bank. “Providing access to healthcare for the local community with an urgent care center is addressing a vital need for the wellbeing of it’s citizens. Having Valley Regional at the forefront of this project ensures that the quality of care will be exceptional.” 

“Valley Regional partners with local organizations to improve and expand healthcare options in our community. Mascoma Bank and the Mascoma Bank Foundation have played a vital role in making this happen, and we remain incredibly grateful for their ongoing dedication to our patients, friends, and neighbors“ says Robin Caissie, Senior Director of Development and Community Engagement at VRH.

Valley Regional in Charlestown is slated to open soon.
Celebrate NH Eat Local Month with Vital Communities
This August, Vital Communities joins more than 70 partners throughout the state to highlight NH Eat Local Month—a month-long celebration of local food and New Hampshire farmers and food producers. Find Upper Valley farms, farmers’ markets, and foods using  Vital Communities’ Food & Farm Online Guide  at vitalcommunities.org/guide , and join the celebration!
 
“New Hampshire residents and visitors, alike, are showing unprecedented interest in local food, and this month-long celebration offers a great opportunity to feature New Hampshire grown foods and farms,” said Gail McWilliam Jellie from the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food.
 
As part of the NH Eat Local Month festivities, stop by the historic town centers of Lebanon, Newport, Claremont, Wilmot, Canaan and Hanover during a weekly farmers’ market and taste the freshest, yummiest farm products. Pull over when you see a New Hampshire farmstand and find a treat for dinner. Keep an eye out for native-grown products at your local grocer. When you choose New Hampshire grown, you support a local family business. Increased interest in local food benefits us all by positively affecting the health of the economy, communities and environment.
 
“Nothing gives me the feeling of summer in New Hampshire like stopping at a market or farmstand to grab some fresh food for a picnic or fruit for the kids’ breakfast. Of course, sometimes the fruit doesn’t make it to breakfast!” said Beth Roy, Food & Farm program manager at Vital Communities. “I’m happy my family can support our local farms so easily.”
  
NH Eat Local Month also coincides with National Farmers’ Market Week, honoring farmers’ markets all across America. The celebration also includes a virtual scavenger hunt, buy local campaign, story sharing from farmers and businesses and events hosted by NH Eat Local Month partners. Find more information at  nheatlocal.org  and  facebook.com/nheatlocal . To become a NH Eat Local Month partner, contact Samantha Cave at  [email protected] .
 
Promotion of this year’s NH Eat Local Month is in collaboration with the NH Food Alliance, the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food, Seacoast Eat Local and the Monadnock Food Co-op.  
Group Rides are Rolling at Claremont Cycle Depot
Monday Nights:
No drop road ride from the shop. Departs at 6pm.

Tuesday Nights:
MTB group rides (intermediate-advanced) announced weekly on our Facebook/Instagram pages.

Saturday Mornings:
The DONUT GRAVEL RIDE departs the shop at 7am. Always a good time and covers around 30 miles/3k feet and of course, donuts!

Vital Communities Seeks Proposals from Social Enterprises for  Community-Based Crowdfunding Program
Vital Communities invites emerging and established social enterprises to submit project proposals to  The Local Crowd (TLC) Upper Valley , a new community-based crowdfunding program.
 
Vital Communities is one of five sites nationwide selected to participate in the National Science Foundation grant-funded project with Wyoming-based company The Local Crowd. TLC combines a world-class rewards-based crowdfunding platform with business and campaign technical support for the emerging fourth sector of the economy—social enterprise. This initiative is designed to uncover the best ways to support social enterprises—mission-driven organizations that use business principles to make their communities and the world a better place.

Sullivan County Invitations for Bids
Sullivan County NH government has released an   Invitation for Bids  for Rehabilitation Services , with proposals due no later than Friday, August 30, at 2:00 pm. This request for proposal, as well as any updates/addendums, may be viewed on the County’s website.    

Questions regarding the request for proposal may be directed to the Sullivan County Nursing Home Administrator, Ted Purdy  or via T. (603) 542-9511 Ext. 217. 
Taverne on the Square is now offering a 15% discount for lunch to all business members of the Claremont Chamber of Commerce. Lunch is served from 11:00am to 4:00pm

For your convenience you may consider calling an hour ahead of your desired pick up time. Then simply pick up your lunch order to go. If you prefer, we will be happy to have it ready to serve to you!

Simply mention promo code: Jasper56
Places we LOVE in
Sullivan County
Choose your favorite outdoor place, building, restaurant, business or historical site. Any place where others can visit is perfect to share. Use your smart phone to snap a photo, then visit bit.ly/LoveSullivan to upload and describe what makes it special to you!
Seminars & Trainings Presented by Clark-Mortenson Agency
State and federal regulations are part of doing business; but fines and penalties for non-compliance don't have to be. Clark-Mortenson compliance workshops cover a range of topics, from labor laws to federal mandates. Our presenters focus on specific, practical information that you can use to improve your  compliance  practices right now. Designed for company owners, managers and HR directors, our workshops are open to all local businesses and most events are free of charge.

September 12, 2019 & September 13, 2019 at 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

September 25, 2019 at 8:30 am - 12:30 pm

October 16, 2019 at 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
Community News & Events
Community Development Block Grant Program Listening Sessions
The Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) administers the Statewide Community Development Block Grant program in New Hampshire and is seeking input from municipalities and other stakeholders to help inform the development of the 2020 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Annual Action Plan. This Action Plan describes how CDBG resources will be applied for, distributed and utilized to address New Hampshire's housing, homeless, community development and economic development needs during calendar year 2020.
 
As part of this initiative, the agency will be holding community listening sessions relative to the CDBG Program.  The intent of these sessions is to gather input that will help the agency t o better understand the needs and priorities of New Hampshire communities and our partners to create  a system of distributing funds that responds to those priorities.
 
Listening sessions will be held on the dates and locations detailed below. Please register via the links provided for each location.
 
CDFA has also developed a brief survey to collect your insight and help guide this process. We kindly request you fill out the survey by Thursday, August 15 :  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/STBCFPD . 
 
Monday August 19, 2019
Colonial Theater, Bethlehem – 10:00 AM –  REGISTER HERE
Attendees are invited to arrive by 9:40 AM for a brief tour of the Colonial Theater.
 
Tuesday August 20, 2019
Northeast Delta Dental Conference Center, Concord – 1:00 PM –  REGISTER HERE
 
Wednesday August 21, 2019
Hannah Grimes Center, Keene – 10:00 AM –  REGISTER HERE
 
Claremont Visitor Center, Claremont – 2:00 PM –  REGISTER HERE
 
Friday August 23, 2019
Belknap Mill, Laconia – 1:00 PM –  REGISTER HERE
Attendees are invited to arrive by 12:40 PM for a brief tour of the Belknap Mill.
 
For more information or to provide comments, please contact Shelley Hadfield, Director of Housing and Community Development at CDFA, via  [email protected]  or 603-717-9112.
Upper Valley Land Trust - Corporate Volunteer Program
The Upper Valley Land Trust has an exciting opportunity to offer Upper Valley businesses and employees! Now in its second year of operation, the Corporate Volunteer Program puts your employees to work in the community, volunteering with our local environmental nonprofit to make a difference socially and ecologically. This offering is designed to provide an opportunity for your Upper Valley business to spend time volunteering in the outdoors and strengthen bonds between your team members. This program will benefit your business in many ways:
 
·         Engaging employees in team building activities in a beautiful environment outside of the typical workplace
·         Involving your group with our local social and natural communities
·         Providing a philanthropy opportunity for a business and its employees
·         Reenergizing and resetting a team dynamic before diving back into work projects
 
We are ready to create a volunteer experience tailored to the needs of your company! Contact Paul Blazevich ( (603) 643-6626 x 201) for program offerings, more information on CVP, or to begin customizing your own volunteer experience. UVLT’s current project offerings for CVP are attached below, which also includes program logistics and a recommended packing list for participants.
 
The Upper Valley Land Trust is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, committed to preserving natural areas, working farmlands, and priority habitat so residents and visitors alike can enjoy the scenic landscapes that make the Upper Valley so special.
An Opportunity from our friends at the Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce
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