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Business After Hours at Essex Historical Society & Shipbuilding Museum
Wednesday, September 9 | 5 - 7 PM
Please join us for our September Business After Hours at the Essex Historical Society & Shipbuilding Museum! Come catch up with your fellow Chamber members, forge new professional connections, and explore Essex’s rich maritime history and living shipbuilding tradition. Learn firsthand from Executive Director KD Montgomery about EHSSM's background, educational events, plans for the future, and more. Register Now
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Small Business University Presents:
Increase the Value of Your Business
Thursday, September 17 | 12 - 1:30 PM
Chamber Conference Room or Via Zoom
Whether you plan to sell your business in 5 years or 25 years, the work to maximize its value starts today.
Most small business owners spend years building their company but very little time preparing it to become a valuable, transferable asset. In this session, Tim Sanborn—who has participated in more than 65 business acquisitions and successfully built and sold his own company—will explain what buyers actually look for and what determines whether a business commands a premium price or struggles to sell. Presented by Tim Sanborn, Right Choice Business Solutions. Learn More & Register
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Swing into Fall - Annual Businesswomen's Golf Event
Monday, September 21 | 8:30 AM - 1 PM
Rockport Golf Club
Please join the Businesswomen of Greater Cape Ann for our "Swing into Fall' Annual Golf Event at the Rockport Golf Club.
Newcomers are invited to start their day with basic instructions taught by Golf Pro, Steve Clayton at 8:30 AM. The Shotgun start will be sounded promptly at 10:00 AM for 9 holes of 'Scramble' format, to keep our foursomes moving at a good pace.
This event is for players of all levels- from first timers to accomplished players. There will be at least one experienced player in each foursome. Plan on enjoying a great day with other women while learning a game that is so important for 'doing business on the course'. Download Flyer | Register Now
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Help Inspire the Next Generation of Greater Cape Ann’s Workforce
Local businesses are invited to participate in the 2026 Greater Cape Ann College & Career Fair! Join us on Wednesday, September 30, from 6:00–7:30 PM at Ipswich High School and help local students explore the many career paths and opportunities available right here in our region.
We’re looking for businesses from a wide range of industries to meet with students, share what you do, highlight different career pathways, and introduce opportunities such as jobs, internships, apprenticeships, and other ways to enter your field. Whether your positions require a four-year degree, specialized training, certifications, or learning on the job, your perspective can help students better understand the possibilities available to them after high school.
The fair brings together students and families from Ipswich, Gloucester, Rockport, and Manchester-Essex High Schools, alongside more than 100 colleges and universities and representatives from local industries. There is no cost for businesses to participate.
Interested in representing your industry and helping build Greater Cape Ann’s future workforce? Contact Colleen at colleen@capeannchamber.com to participate.
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Get ready to hit play, Cape Ann!
Recording slots for Chamber Members are now officially open! Spaces are limited, so do not wait to claim your spotlight and book your session. Please contact Colleen for details on how to book your interview.
Turn up the volume and help us kick off this exciting new chapter!
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Membership Drop-In Hours
Tuesdays from 10 AM to 12 PM
Are you a new member who would like to learn more about member benefits? Do you need a refresher on how to post events or update your profile? Members are invited to join us for Membership Drop-In Hours, a dedicated time for members to stop by and meet with Keri Conlon, Member and Visitor Services Manager. This is an opportunity to ask questions, review benefits, and discuss business concerns in a small setting. No appointment is needed! Don’t miss this opportunity to make the most of your membership! If these times don’t work, Keri would be happy to meet at your convenience.
| | Upcoming Sponsorship Deadlines | | Don't miss your chance to promote your business at these great community events! Banners will be going to print soon, so keep the following deadlines in mind to be included on the event banners. | | |
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 upload your news stories to your Member Portal or email to cindy@capeannchamber.com.
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Essex River Day Returns
(From The Cricket) Held in Memorial Park, the Saturday, Aug. 29 celebration will feature a bonfire, live acoustic music, a crepes food truck and a beer truck.
The event began almost 20 years ago when Bob Coviello and members of the Essex Lions Group wanted to provide easy access to the Essex River.
When the Essex Lions Group stepped down as the event organizers, Rob Fitzgibbon stepped in to make this community-wide summer event happen. An Essex resident, Fitzgibbon is the vice president of the board at 1623 Studios. He is also a prolific true-crime author and runs a side business offering interactive coffee-cupping, where he teaches participants about coffee and its history. Read Full Article
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Indoor batting cages and pickleball courts coming to Ipswich
(From The Local News) Indoor pickleball and batting cages are coming to Ipswich, and in a somewhat unexpected place. The portion of the Ipswich Ale Brewery complex in Brown’s Square that housed their large-scale brewing operation is now being converted into an indoor sports facility named “The Cage.” The brewery hopes to open the facility this fall. Jason Nadeau, a Georgetown resident and father of three baseball players, has leased the space and is in the midst of a build that will bring eight batting cages and two pickleball courts. Read Full Article
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Piece-by-Piece: The Art of Assemblage, Where 1 + 1 = 3
Opening Reception: August 27 | 5 - 8 PM
The Cove Gallery
Discover the magic when individual objects, no matter how similar or different, are joined into an entirely new work at the Cove Gallery in Rocky Neck. The act of assembly reveals, to the artist, new forms, new relationships of color and shape. Perhaps another unit can be placed over here, or a new piece added there, giving a fresh and unexpected whole. These works by five Rocky Neck members explore assemblage, in its broadest sense. Using materials ranging from wire, corrugated cardboard, reclaimed wood and hardware, to toy figures, rocks, and recycled flameworked glass the pieces become, in the hands of the contributing artists, surprising and delightful 3-D works. Learn More
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TownGreen is seeking 6 - 7 Community Liaisons
TownGreen is working with Essex, Gloucester, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Rockport to translate climate resilience priorities into local action and is looking for 6-7 residents (like you!) to serve as a paid Community Liaison participant.
Who is a Community Liaison? Someone with strong ties and trusted relationships within Cape Ann. You’ll connect with community members, identify their needs and priorities, and help make sure those insights shape the project.
What are we looking for? Someone with connections to youth, older adults, parents or caregivers of young children, the shellfish and lobster industries, immigrant communities, and commuters and seasonal workers, as well as someone with expertise in or experience with housing instability, financial insecurity, and food insecurity.
Download Detailed Description
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The City of Gloucester is seeking public feedback on the draft Housing Compass Plan, a five-year roadmap for addressing the community’s housing needs. The plan reflects extensive data analysis and a year-long engagement process involving more than 550 participants. All comments received will be considered as the project team prepares the final plan.
Please review the draft plan or executive summary and submit comments by August 29th. All feedback will help inform the final plan. Learn more and comment here.
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Sawyer Free Library Call for Artists
The Sawyer Free Library is inviting artists from across Cape Ann and beyond to participate in the 2026 Sawyer Free Library Silent & Live Art Auction, an evening celebrating the region's extraordinary artistic talent while supporting the completion of the Library's Building Renovation Campaign.
The event will take place on Friday, September 18, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Sawyer Free Library, 2 Dale Avenue in Gloucester, and will feature both silent and live auctions showcasing original works by local and regional artists. Read Full Press Release
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Cape Ann Animal Aid Pet of the Week
Meet Kazoo, an 11-month-old spayed female, house-trained cat who is part of Cape Ann Animal Aid’s Name Your Price adoption promotion, meaning you get to choose the adoption fee that feels right for you!
Kazoo enjoys lounging on fluffy blankets, throwing around her mice toys and getting love. She is considered a special needs adoption since may have health issues in the future from having battled panleukopenia as a kitten. If you have any further questions about this virus, you are more than welcome to call the shelter to talk with one of our adoption counselors. Visit www.capeannanimalaid.org for more information about the adoption process, Kazoo and all the other animals waiting for homes.
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Exclusive Member Deal from Vrtical Media: 360° Google Street View for $360
Enhance your business’s online presence with a professional 360° image added to your Google Street View profile. Chamber members can take advantage of this special offer—one immersive 360° photo for just $360. Give customers an inside look and stand out on Google Maps! Contact: jaysalois@vrticalmedia.io
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Month's Worth of Social Media Reels
Fast, easy, and affordable content creation without the stress. You walk into Streamography’s video production studio, ready to take your social media presence to the next level. No cluttered home setup, no loud background noise at your business, no shaky phone footage—just a professional, fully-equipped space waiting for you. The lights are perfect, the sound is crisp, and the camera is ready to roll. Learn More
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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 Sam Bevins at sam@capeannchamber.com
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