Chamber Updates, Member News

& Tips for Business You Can Use

Friday trivia!

Each week the question will be at the top, answer at the bottom...we encourage you to take a look at everything in between as well 😉

Question: As we embark on a weekend of arctic air 🥶 what is the lowest temperature ever recorded in the state of Maine?

Dear Members,

As you are likely well aware, we're in for a frigid weekend ending with a decent sized storm, likely another three day weekend for our kiddos and educators. The new year has certainly come in with a bit of avengeance, maybe a second long weekend is exactly what we all need!

In this week's column, Cory tells the story of his ancestors, the strength of America as a nation of immigrants, and the responsibility to stand up for, and support immigrant neighbors during difficult and uncertain times. Regardless of your beliefs, we can all agree that kindness is the basis for a strong and resilient community. We hope you take the time to read his thoughts in The Times Record.

He references a graphic passed on to us from the Maine State Chamber of Commerce as a tool for owners and managers to prepare in the event that ICE visits a business. We wanted to share that today in the newsletter (see below), you'll also find it on our social media pages.

Shifting a bit, the annual meeting of the membership is in two weeks! Last week I inadvertently created date confusion (don't let Cory tell you it was his fault, it was all me!) so to be clear, the meeting is Thursday, February 5th at Cook's Lobster & Ale House. Registration is appreciated but not required, we hope to have a full house to celebrate the new year!

Have a wonderful weekend, stay warm and safe!

Brittany + Cory

Annual Awards Night Nomination Criteria

Chamber News & Notes

Events, News & Notes

January 23, 2026

Vote for the Maine Maritime Museum in USA Today's 10BEST Competition!

Maritime museums across the country offer a fascinating glimpse into the rich history and culture of seafaring life. Often showcasing impressive collections of artifacts that tell stories of exploration, trade, and naval battles, they provide an immersive experience where visitors can learn about the evolution of maritime technology, the bravery of sailors, and the impact of the sea on global commerce and cultural exchange. Many maritime museums also feature interactive exhibits, historic vessels, and educational programs, making them appealing for history enthusiasts, families, and anyone curious about the world’s oceans.

Maine Maritime Museum is one if 20 maritime museums nominated as the best by an expert panel for how they engage guests with stellar collections and exhibits! Vote once a day until polls close on Monday, February 9 at noon ET. The winning museums, as determined by your vote, will be announced on Wednesday, February 18.

Brackett’s Market Raises Money for Bath Area Food Bank Through HungerLESS Holidays

HungerLESS Holidays is a program run by the Hometown Foundation, a charitable non-profit arm of Bozzuto’s who is a wholesaler for many grocery stores around New England. Brackett’s Market in Bath, ran this hang tag program where customers take tags that are hung to buy the necessities for the fundraising organization, as well as giving monetary donations.

The Hometown Foundation supports lots of community needs through grants and fiscal support such as animal welfare, those with developmental disabilities, major injuries or veterans in need. For the HungerLESS Holidays program half of the funds raised goes to a local fundraising non-profit, in this case the Bath Area Food Bank, and the other half goes to the Hometown Foundation who spreads those dollars around Maine- 100% of donations stay in Maine. 



According to the details given at the check presentation this week, customers of Brackett’s generated over $3,200 in monetary donations foe the Bath Area Food Bank and they donated over 1,000 pounds of food. Great work, and what a nice gift those citizens of Batha and surrounding communities gave to the their neighbors in need.  

Online lecture explores the lives of household laborers in Colonial New England

The Lincoln County Historical Association (LCHA) will present the second program in its series of free online talks on January 29 at 5:30 p.m., offering the public an in-depth look at households in Colonial New England.

As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, LCHA invites participants to explore the daily lives inside colonial households as the country was beginning to take shape, with a focus on laborers, often a diverse group ranging from enslaved and indentured people to hired workers, including Indigenous, African, and European women and men. The lecture, titled Laboring Lives and Hidden Stories in Colonial New England, will be presented by Dr. Caylin Carbonell, Assistant Professor of History at Bowdoin College.

During the presentation, Dr. Carbonell will examine labor in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century New England, exploring how and under what conditions these individuals became part of colonial households. She will also discuss the challenges of uncovering the lives of laboring people whose stories are often hidden or incomplete in colonial records.

The lecture is free and open to the public, though pre-registration is required to receive the online participation link.

Dr. Carbonell earned her Ph.D. in History from William & Mary in 2020 and her B.A. from Bates College in 2012. She is currently working on a book manuscript that closely examines daily life within New England’s colonial households, revealing the cooperation and conflict among the people who lived and worked there. Her writing has appeared in Early American Studies, Commonplace: The Journal of Early American Life, and The Junto: A Group Blog on Early American History.

This lecture is sponsored by J. Edward Knight Insurance Company.

For more information or to register, please visit the Lincoln County Historical Association website at www.lincolncountyhistory.org/event/laboring-lives/

Photo caption: Bowdoin College Professor Dr. Caylin Carbonell will speak about her research on colonial household labor division as part of The Lincoln County Historical Association's free online winter lecture series.

Networking & A Show, Feb. 5^th

Typically, Cory keeps his theatrical pursuits separate from his Chamber work but on February 5th, those two worlds are colliding, and The Theater Project said, “Let’s lean into it.”

That evening, the Chamber will host its Annual Meeting of the Membership and Chamber After Hours at Cook’s Lobster & Ale House in Harpswell from 5:00 - 7:00 PM (a cool 18-minute drive from downtown Brunswick...this matters). That same night, Winter Cabaret is performing in downtown Brunswick.

As Executive Director of the Chamber, Cory will head straight from the Chamber event to the theater. Amanda at The Theater Project suggested inviting Chamber members to come along—and even offered a discounted ticket price to make it happen.

So, if you’re interested in networking first and then heading into Brunswick to laugh with some Chamber friends, join us for the 7:30 PM performance of Winter Cabaret. The show is open to the public, so you’re welcome to come on your own or bring friends and family, but we thought it would be fun to turn it into a Chamber night out.

Tickets for The Theater Project are pay-what-you-can, with a suggested price of $30. For this performance, that suggested price is reduced to $20 for Chamber members. If that’s more than you can swing, come anyway and pay what you can.

The show is a light, campy, comedy-driven production running about 95 minutes, with an intermission and desserts served. Cory appears in four of the nine pieces and directed three others(!) so you’ll definitely get to see a different side of him.

FMI, or to reserve seats for you and your friends contact the Theater Project box office at (207) 729-8584 or email at theaterprojectmaine@gmail.com

Health Access Solutions Webinar

Wednesday, February 11th

12:00 - 1:00pm

We're excited to offer this webinar to members! Here's what you can expect:

• Slash Your Healthcare Cost: learn how our program has kept a year-over-year increase under 3%

• No More High Deductibles: discover a “low-cost, high-value” model where out-of-pocket cost for major health incidents can be as low as $1000.

• Predictable Budgeting: Find out how to fix your company costs so they are no longer tied to unpredictable employee claims.

• Zero-Cost Wellness: See how to provide preventive care and wellness to every employee at no cost to them.

• Personalized Coverage: Learn how to offer customized solutions for every individual and family member rather than a “one-size-fits-all” plan.

Register now!

New Member Spotlight

MainelyNP Primary Care

333 Maine Street, Suite 6

Brunswick  

(207) 218-0639

amynp@mainelynp.com

www.mainelynp.com

MainelyNP Primary Care is a nurse practitioner–led Direct Primary Care (DPC) practice serving individuals, families, and small businesses throughout the Midcoast Maine community. I provide relationship-based healthcare that prioritizes time, access, and personalized care.

Direct Primary Care is a membership-based model that removes insurance from the exam room. Patients and employers pay a simple monthly fee that covers most primary care services, allowing for longer appointments, same- or next-day access, and direct communication with me as their provider. This model reduces administrative burden, improves continuity, and allows care to focus on prevention and long-term health rather than volume-driven visits.

As a nurse practitioner–led practice, I bring a holistic, evidence-based approach to healthcare. I take the time to understand the whole person—their lifestyle, work demands, stressors, and goals—so care plans are realistic, sustainable, and aligned with daily life. My focus includes preventive care, chronic disease management, mental health support, and lifestyle-based interventions alongside traditional medical care.

For small business owners, DPC offers a practical and cost-effective alternative to traditional healthcare benefits. Employers can offer meaningful access to care without the rising costs and complexity of insurance-based plans. DPC helps reduce missed workdays, supports employee retention, and ensures timely care that keeps teams healthy and productive. I also partner with local businesses to provide wellness education, workshops, and coordinated care.

I am deeply committed to the Midcoast community. After the success of my South Portland location, I am excited to expand my practice and serve the Midcoast area as a newer resident. I actively collaborate with local physical therapists, wellness providers, and small businesses to create a connected, supportive healthcare ecosystem. By keeping care local, accessible, and personal, I aim to support both individual health and the vitality of our local business community.

Municipal News

BNAS Job Tax Increment Financing (JTIF) Presentation

Shae McGehee, Maine Department of Economic and Community Development

Thursday, February 5th

TechPlace Classroom

74 Orion Street, Brunswick Landing

Please join us for a tutorial presentation on completing the Job Tax Increment Financing (JTIF) form for FY2025. Before February 5, 2026, the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) will email you the JTIF form. You will also be sent a form via email from MRRA to report on the total number of employees and total number of wages for FY2025. This is a great opportunity to ask any questions you may have when it comes to JTIF reporting. Please keep in mind you are under no obligation to report; however, it does help MRRA to cover costs associated with municipal services here on Brunswick Landing.

What is Job Tax Increment Financing Program (JTIF)

This program was established to assist with funding the provision of municipal services to the former base area by the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority (MRRA) and the provision of higher education services by Southern Maine Community College's Brunswick campus. The job tax increment means the level of state income tax withholding attributed to any employees employed within the base area, above the base level of employment. DECD is responsible for the collection of annual report data from the respective companies and provides guidance to businesses participating in the JTIF program.

The primary purpose is to provide a dedicated, non-operational revenue stream for MRRA to cover costs associated with municipal services (e.g., water, sewer, fire protection, road maintenance) and for Southern Maine Community College's (SMCC) Brunswick campus.

MRRA receives 25% of state income taxes paid by employees at Brunswick Landing and the SMCC campus at Brunswick Landing receives 25% as well.   

It also allows MRRA to track total wages in bulk for all employees here on campus as one of the metrics for our performance is tracking wages to compare with the Navy to restore economic power for the region. 

Light refreshments will be offered. Space is limited to 40 people and is first come, first served.

Parking will be in the lot across from SaviLinx (Signs will be posted).

We hope to see you there!

Have a great weekend!

The BBTRC Newsletter is generously sponsored by

our 2025 Cornerstone Real Estate Member: 

The BBTRC News & Notes are generously sponsored by

our 2025 Cornerstone Banking Member: 

The BBTRC News & Notes are generously sponsored by

our 2025 Cornerstone Commercial Real Estate Member: 

The BBTRC News & Notes are generously sponsored by

our 2025 Cornerstone Healthcare Member: 

The BBTRC News & Notes are generously sponsored by

our 2025 Cornerstone Automotive Sales Member: 

Chamber Resources

Last week we sent out an email full of information on sponsorship opportunities for 2025. We made a downloadable document for you to reference here.

In addition, we've created a one-pager that outlines the benefits of joining the BBTRC. We're always eager to welcome new members but we also know that our current members are some of the best resource we have! The downloadable document is here and also below.

2025 Cornerstone Memberships

Cory is booking meetings all month long for Cornerstone Membership visits. These businesses are interested in elevating their commitment with the chamber to include sponsorship of the events and programs that the chamber initiates annually.  There are three levels of Cornerstone Membership for 2025, and they include all of your dues (or most of your dues at the third level) for 12 months. 

The top level is the Cornerstone Member level ($5000 annually) which includes:

• 12 months of dues for your main and branch offices
• Industry exclusivity
• Top level marketing package and mentions and chamber events and chamber programs, including: BBTRC Awards Dinner, Hacker’s Ball, Chamber After Hours, 12 @ 12, and much more
• Complimentary Tickets to the BBTRC Awards Dinner in March
• Cornerstones are limited to 8 industry-specific businesses only (meaning 8 businesses from 8 separate industries)

The second level is the Chamber Partner level ($2000 annually) which includes:

• 12 months of dues for your main and branch offices
• Secondary level marketing package and mentions at chamber events and chamber programs, including: BBTRC Awards Dinner, Hacker’s Ball, monthly Chamber After Hours, monthly 12 @ 12, and much more
• Complimentary Tickets to the BBTRC Awards Dinner in March
• There is no industry exclusivity or limited amount of spots at this level- we will accept as many businesses who want to join us at this level

The third level is the Chamber Supporter level ($1000 annually) which includes:

• $400 dues voucher towards 12 months of dues
• Tertiary level marketing package and mentions at chamber events and chamber programs, including: BBTRC Awards Dinner, Hacker’s Ball, monthly Chamber After Hours, monthly 12 @ 12, and much more
• Complimentary Ticket to the BBTRC Awards Dinner in March
• We will accept as many businesses who want to join us at this level

For the full package, see the listing below. E-mail Cory (or call) if you're interested! Even if you’re not sure he can lay out the 2025 plan and talk about how your business or organization may fit a Cornerstone Membership.  

Chamber Works Program Updates

We wanted to again highlight some very exciting news about our workforce programs.

If your business is interested meeting students and showcasing your careers through:

• Work-Study Internships
• Job Shadows
• Career Bus Tours
• In-School Chats

…then we would love for you to take 5 minutes now to sign up. There are two ways to sign up and/or get more information...



If you're ready to register to be considered for either career bus tours or work-study internship programs, please fill out the following forms and e-mail them back to Cory.

Brunswick Landing Neighborhood News

We’re thrilled to announce launch of Brunswick Landing Neighborhood News, a new publication of the BBTRC focusing on Brunswick Landing events and business updates, news from MRRA, and infrastructure information. It is intended to both highlight things happening on Brunswick Landing, and to share information that is highly-impactful to Brunswick Landing businesses.

Please note that this is a separate newsletter from the weekly Chamber newsletter. If you would like to be included, you must sign up using this link.

Anyone is welcome to sign up however submissions will be limited to BL businesses and BL news with very few exceptions. Feel free to submit anything you think may be relevant but we will be the final arbiters of what is included. That said, your submission could very well end up in our regular Chamber newsletter. 

After Hours, 12 @ 12, & Cornerstone Info

Chamber After Hours hosts get the chance to show off their space to 60-80 attendees and educated them on their organization. More information and application can be found below.