President's & CEO Monthly Update
What an amazing June on greater Cape Ann!
First, congratulations to our Small Businessperson of the Year Award Winners! Small businesses are the frontline and backbone of our community. They are part of our past, present, and future economy. Small businesses are our neighbors, our friends, our family.
Read Full Report
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Tourism Council Monthly Report
It has been a tremendous spring for the Greater Cape Ann tourism community, in terms of the weather and the events and activities that unfolded across the region.
Summer-like temperatures have attracted visitors to Cape Ann’s beaches, accommodations, restaurants, attractions and natural beauty. The season has also been the backdrop for a number of events and activities that helped draw and entertain tourists – Ipswich’s 80th anniversary D-Day commemoration, the Cape Ann Pride celebrations, and the return of Motif #1 Day in Rockport. Read Full Report
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July Community Relations Update
The sights and sounds around Greater Cape Ann are indicative of the season in full swing. Gloucester just wrapped up Saint Peter’s Fiesta and all our communities are preparing for their annual Fourth of July festivities. Visitors and residents alike are taking advantage of our local amenities, flocking to our many beautiful beaches, boating along our waterways, hiking through the vast array of trails, and enjoying the hydrangeas in full bloom. However, our public safety teams prove it’s not all about leisure and enjoyable activities. As coastal communities, we are particularly vulnerable to storms and flooding. As such, public safety teams around Cape Ann recently completed an Emergency Preparedness exercise. This simulation outlined our strengths and weaknesses should a Category 3 hurricane hit our area. An after-action report will be published once it’s complete, but the insights and revelations highlighted our need to be more prepared should such a storm hit our area. Read the Full Report
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SIgn Up for Paid Member Eblasts
Due to popular demand, the Greater Cape Ann Chamber will be testing the waters of offering paid eblasts on behalf of members. These paid eblasts will be sent on Mondays only. Members may reserve a paid eblast once every two months.
Only one paid eblast will be sent per week. These paid email blasts will be identified as such in the email "From" field as "GCACC Member Paid Eblast", as well as at the top of all email messages (see image below)..
To learn more about this opportunity, please visit our Promotional Opportunities website page or download the 2024 Paid Eblast Advertising Contract. Spacing will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more details or to reserve your spot, please contact Cindy.
Please note that if you unsubscribe from the paid eblasts, you will also be unsubscribing from the Soundings Buisness & Events Newsletters and all Chamber updates and announcements.
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There is Still Space to Join Us for the First Main Street Block Party of 2024
SATURDAY, JULY 13 | 6 - 10 PM | MAIN STREET, GLOUCESTER
Main Street comes alive when the street is closed off and there is live music, street performers, non-profits, food vendors, and more!
Non-profits and Gloucester businesses can reserve a spot for one, two, or all three block parties. Download the participation forms below for more details.
Non-Profit Participation Form | Business Participation Form
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Cape Ann Pride
June 2024 is especially memorable for greater Cape Ann with the landmark event of the 1st Pride Weekend. The Chamber and the Cape Ann Pride Coalition, alongside our many supportive community sponsors, organized the first-ever Pride Weekend on greater Cape Ann where the community celebrated the culture of our LGBTQIA+ community. We received incredibly positive feedback from the community, as they expressed newfound feelings of inclusion, vibrancy, and the ability to build deeper local networks.
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Small Business Weeks
It was a great two weeks of honoring our 2024 Small Business Persons of the Year winners. There were 4 local community receptions plus the 2024 Awards Dinner held between June 4 and June 13. We thank all who joined us in celebrating the winners, we thank our sponsors, and we thank the hosts who helped make these nights special! Please check out the photo galleries below, Videos to be available soon! Once again, congratulations to the 2024 recipients!
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Manchester-by-the-Sea
Erika Brown
June 4
Cala's Restaurant
Photo Gallery
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Essex
Ramie Reader
June 5
Woodman's of Essex
Photo Gallery
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Ipswich
John Muldoon
June 7
Ipswich Ale Brewer's Table
Photo Gallery
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Rockport
Jack & Cathy Porter
June 10
Fish Shack Restaurant
Photo Gallery
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Awards Dinner & Ceremony
June 13
Castle Manor Inn
Photo Gallery
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Gloucester
The Ellis Family
Reception in November at
Gloucester House
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Business Sustainability Speaker Series:
Cazeault Solar and Home | June 20 at Cake Ann
This program, sponsored by the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce's Business Sustainability Committee, was the the first of a three-part speaker series about sustainable business practices. Energy Expert Tim Sanborn, Founder of Cazeault Solar and Home, gave a very informative and interesting presentation on why solar is an attractive business option that has the potential to reduce electricity costs while taking advantage of available incentives. Photo Gallery
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Ribbon Cuttings in June
- June 14: BankGloucester - Essex Branch, 10th Anniversary
- June 14: Black Earth Compost - Compost Facility Grand Opening
- June 14: European Wax Center
- June 26: Woodman's On Wheels
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Muffy White Organizing & Styling
Do you need help developing systems that support calm, clutter free and efficient living? Do you want to take away stress during the moving process? Muffy White Organizing & Styling offers complete project management, home staging, packing, unpacking and all the details in between. Click to Learn More
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Sharon's Studio of Gloucester
Meet Kendra Dott, owner and photographer at Sharon’s Studio of Gloucester. They do amazing portraits, creative wedding and event photography and pretty much any photography with a face in it. Even Cats! Kendra also does photo touch-ups, custom printing & framing, and beautiful passport photos with studio lighting. Click Here to Learn More
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Do You Want Your Business Featured in a Chamber Member Spotlight?
If you would like to be considered, please let us know by filling in the Member Spotlight Request Form. These spotlight opportunities are open to all members, on a first-come, first-served basis. Once we receive your request form and confirm that you are a member in good standing, we will send you a profile questionnaire.
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Do you have a news story or helpful resource to share? If so, send it to us by Monday of each week and we will try to include it in our Tuesday Business Soundings!
Please email news stories and press releases to cindy@capeannchamber.com
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Gloucester’s 4th Annual Culture Splash Returns Bigger and Better for 2024!
Gloucester’s Culture Splash is back and bigger than ever for its fourth annual celebration, with an expanded lineup that honors the cultural vibrancy of this culturally-dense city, famed as America’s Oldest Seaport. The event series, running Thursdays July 11 through August 29, 2024, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., will feature a variety of free and discounted activities that highlight the rich artistic tapestry and maritime heritage of Gloucester, including outdoor and indoor live music, dance performances, light shows, film screenings, free museum admission, artist demos, exhibit openings, performing arts, and more! Read Press Release
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Hammond Castle & Manchester-by-the-Sea Musueam Recieve Essex Heritage Partnership Grants
(From Gloucester Daily Times) The Essex National Heritage Commission recently announced the 2024 Essex Heritage Partnership Grant Program recipients at the commission’s spring meeting at Hamilton Hall in Salem. Congratulations to award recipients Hammond Castle Museum and Manchester-by-the-Sea Museum. Hammond Castle will use the grant to enhance and preserve its collections of several recordings made for or by John Hays Hammond Jr. The grant will assist the Manchester Museum in developing its “Manchester, The Revolution, and The War at Sea” program. Learn More
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Essex Town Hall Update - June 28
(From The Cricket) There are several important updates from the Essex Board of Selectmen this week, including updates on the town’s Housing Production Plan with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, the town’s accounting software connection issues, distribution of the town’s sexual harassment policies, and more. Click Here to Read Article
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Rockport Featured in Article: Experience Peak New England Charm in This Coastal Massachusetts Town
Rockport is a prime example, full of storybook houses, sandy beaches, and winding streets—it’s as New England as you can get. At the tip of the Cape Ann Peninsula, Rockport is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on almost all sides, making it a seafood-lovers paradise. It’s definitely worth a visit year round, but spring and summer is when Rockport truly comes alive. With small fishing vessels circling, seagulls roaming the skies, kayaks along the shore, and the air full of the smell of freshly caught lobster, it’s the perfect spot for those looking for a little rest and relaxation while delving into the excellent food scene and outdoor activities. Read Article
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Cape Ann Animal Aid Pet of the Week
Time is a social guy who loves meeting new people and is busy learning basic commands. This young kid will likely grow to be medium-sized dog. Time is self-assured, outgoing, curious, and smart with an excellent personality. In the shelter environment, Time has shown some resource-guarding behavior so he is looking for a dog-experienced home without children under the age of 12. Time is part of our Extended Stay Program and his adoption fee has been reduced to $100; he is also available for Foster to Adopt to ensure a smooth transition to his forever home. If he sounds like he could be your match, visit him at the Christopher Cutler Rich Animal Shelter, 4 Paws Lane in Gloucester. You can fill out an application by going to https://capeannanimalaid.org/adopt.html
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Bring Your American Dream Home To Life with Coastal Windows & Exteriors!
50% off installation AND no interest financing for 12 Months*
Learn More
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Get FREE Vending Machines For Your Business, School, or Health Facility.
Learn More
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Virtually Eliminate Credit Card Fees with i3 Commerce Technology
Learn More
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Do you have a special offer or hot deal to offer to your fellow chamber members?
if so, you can post this to our website via the Member Portal. These special deals will automatically post to the Chamber Facebook, and will be featured here in Business Soundings.
Contact Becca for more details.
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We extend a big thank you to our supporting sponsors.
If you are interested in promoting with the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and sponsoring this newsletter, please contact Steve Buckley at steve@capeannchamber.com
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