October 1, 2025 Vol. 39

The Wiscasset Area Chamber Business After Hours

October Business After Hours

at the Lincoln County Dental- Thursday, October 9, 4:30-6:30pm

Please reply to your invitation. Thanks!

November Business After Hours

at Costigan Forest Antiques, Thursday, November 6, 5:30-7:30pm

 Garden Club of Wiscasset

        Invites You to Join us for

  “Invasive Plants of Midcoast Maine “

             Presented by

Louisa Crane, Program Development Specialist 

    For the Knox- Lincoln Soil and Water       

           Conservation District 

6:00 P.M. the Evening of October 2, 2025

         Meeting in Fellowship Hall 

         First Congregational Church 

              28 High Street 

           Wiscasset, Maine 

        Public Invited Free of Charge 

Solar incentives at the state and federal level are changing for Maine businesses this year, while utility electric rates are surging due to the volatility of natural gas and storm-related expenses. How will this convergence impact a company's expected return on a solar investment? Please join us at ReVision Energy's decarbonization facility in South Portland for an exploration of Maine's dynamic energy landscape, and a discussion about the cost-effectiveness of solar to mitigate the rising price of grid electricity. ReVision co-founder Phil Coupe and Commercial Sales Lead Andrew Kahrl will present an overview of the state of commercial solar and lead a discussion about the options available to companies that want to stabilize/reduce their energy pricing while increasing sustainability, independence and resilience.”

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Restoring a Treasure

As the weather drives us into indoor cozy spaces, we can’t think of a better way to spend our evenings! We are back online this Thursday, October 2nd with a look at preservation in action right here in our community.

October 2nd, 5:30 pm (Online): Restoring a Treasure. Steve Williams shares his experience restoring the historic 1803 Kavanagh House in Damariscotta Mills. Free with required preregistration.

More info and registration link here

Sign up Here for contestants,vendors and sponsors.

The First Congregational Church UCC of Wiscasset announces the Blessing of the Animals, Sunday October 5 at 2:00pm.

The blessing of the animals is a religious custom, most often celebrated around the Feast of St. Francis, where pets and other animals are blessed by clergy to ask for good health and express appreciation for creation. This ecumenical tradition is now practiced by various Christian denominations and is a celebration of God's love for all creatures. The ceremony typically involves sprinkling holy water on the animals and reciting prayers that highlight humanity's interdependence with the natural world.

And a special welcome to the Reverend John R. Hogue and family as the church's settled pastor.

The Wiscasset Creative Alliance is excited to announce the return of its Fund for Good grant program, now in its second year. These grants are designed to support projects and initiatives that reflect the Alliance’s mission to connect and strengthen Wiscasset’s cultural, historical, and creative communities.

Applications are now open and must be submitted by October 15, 2025. Recipients will be notified by December 18, 2025, with funds distributed beginning February 15, 2026. Grants are open to organizations, community groups, and individuals. While no maximum award has been set, funding is expected to be modest and tailored to the scope of the proposed project.

To apply, visit the Fund for Good page at www.wiscassetcreativealliance.org or request an application by emailing wiscassetcreativealliance@gmail.com.

Founded in 2019, the Wiscasset Creative Alliance is a legal 501(c)3 charitable organization; gifts to the Alliance or any of its programs-Wiscasset Art Walk, Museum in the Streets, Wiscasset Marketfest, Schoonerfest, Homes on Tour, and Wormfest are tax exempt as allowed by law.

For more information about the Alliance and its programs, visit www.www.wiscassetcreativealliance.org.

Wiscasset Homes on Tour on

Saturday, October 18,11am-4pm  

Historic Homes Express Early Shipping and Entrepreneurial Wealth

A collection of historic, and extravagant, homes will be open to the public during Wiscasset Homes on Tour, on Saturday, October 18, from 11am to 4pm. Located in or near Wiscasset Village, the stately homes on tour harken back to the town’s early shipping days and embody the wealth of those entrepreneurial residents. 

Tickets for Wiscasset Homes on Tour are $30 each. Visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets online in advance of the tour. Tickets can also be purchased on the day of the tour from 10:30am to 2:30pm, at the parking lot at 36 Water St., Wiscasset, ME, with parking and bathrooms nearby. All tickets will be picked up at this location. Cash, checks, and plastic accepted.

More tour details and ticket purchase can be found on www.WiscassetCreativeAlliance.org. For questions, call 214-232-3699 and please leave a message which will be answered promptly. ‘Homes on Tour’ is a fundraiser for Wiscasset Creative Alliance to support the Alliance’s community programs.

Sign Up for the Chamber Member to Member Discount Program today!

Go HERE to find out more about the program and how to sign up.

Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission (LCRPC) and Lincoln County Emergency Management Agency (LC EMA) are requesting public comment on the draft 2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update. The public comment period is open from October 1, 2025 – October 10, 2025.

Every five (5) years municipalities and the County identify infrastructure, engineering, and education projects that will mitigate against natural disasters relevant to their jurisdiction. A detailed risk assessment is performed to inform which disasters are present in an area and assess the costs and probability of disasters.

Participation in, and adoption of, the Plan by Lincoln County and municipalities, along with formal approval by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) allow additional federal funding opportunities for hazard mitigation planning and projects.

The Plan is available for review and public comment via the LC EMA and LCRPC websites, with an online comment form to submit your input on the Plan draft. You can read the plan and prove your feedback by clicking the links below!

View Draft Plan Public Comment Form

Intro to Employee Ownership and ESOPs

October 15, 2025 • 10 am • REGISTER

A Silver Tsunami of

Baby Boomer business owners threatens businesses, jobs, and growth in the coming years. Business Advisor Chris Dodge will discuss exit plans and employee ownership options, including cooperatives and employee stock ownership plans (ESOPS).

Startup Series: Business Planning Tools

October 21, 2025 • 10 am • REGISTER

In this second session of our Startup Series, Business Advisor Vien Dobui will introduce practical tools to help you turn your business idea into a working strategy. You’ll leave with tangible tools and frameworks to help clarify your direction and take the next step with confidence.

Small Business Success Stories: Hard Lessons & Big Wins Panel

October 28, 2025 • 2 pm • REGISTER

Hear from Maine SBDC clients who have weathered the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. Panelists will share how they overcame unexpected challenges, what they wish they knew starting out, and the wins that made it all worth it.

Need help? Connect with a business advisor here.

Wiscasset Area Chamber of Commerce | www.wiscassetchamber.com

(207)882-9600

info@wiscassetchamber.com