Chamber Updates, Member News

& Tips for Business You Can Use

Dear Members,

For those who don’t know, Oasis Free Clinics is one of the gems of the region, providing free healthcare for no-income and low-income individuals, including New Mainers. Medical professionals volunteer their time, along with staff to meet the needs of the region in a way that is unparalleled in many other parts of the state. They are led by Executive Director Anita Ruff, an active Board of Directors, and a hardworking dedicated staff. 

Some facts from their 2023-2024 Annual Report:

• 1,484 patient appointments
• 130 vision care appointments
• 886 dental appointments
• Over $1.4 million worth of free medications provided to patients
• $63,375 in value for the 372 mental health volunteer hours
• 2,925 volunteer hours

They serve 18-64 year olds who have no health insurance and live in Sagadahoc County, Brunswick, Harpswell, Durham, or Freeport. If single, a patient's income level must be below $29,160 to qualify for service. They provide medical services, (adult primary care, health screenings, women’s health, referrals, counseling, and support), dental services for existing patients (they are hoping to expand to new patients in the future), vision care services, and a community prescription assistance program. 

The new space is located on the Parkview Campus at 331 Maine Street, Suite 4 in Brunswick. The move allows them to increase their medical exams and services by 25%, while also increasing dental case by a whopping 75%.

We've included a couple of ribbon cutting action shots along with the mural that lives in the new space. Congratulations to the whole Oasis team!

A couple of other things to shout out today:

• We're working on scheduling and filming 1:1 interviews with legislature candidates from the 16 communities our chamber represents. They will be posted to our YouTube channel a week prior to Election Day.
• Hopefully you saw the Midcoast Tree Festival email yesterday! If you missed it, you can find the whole thing here.
• If you're looking for something to do tonight and wonder what its like to see our own Cory King on stage, head over to the Theater Project to watch Playing for Laughs, their improv troupe! Show starts at 8pm.
• The BBRC office will be closed on Monday, October 14th in observance of Indigenous People's Day.

As always, lots of good stuff below.

Have a great weekend,

The BBRC Team

Upcoming October Chamber Events

Bath-Brunswick Regional Chamber Presents: 

Grow Your Business with the Better Business Bureau 

Wednesday, November 6th

Union + Co

31 Centre Street, Bath

5:30pm - 7:30pm

Join the Bath-Brunswick Regional Chamber and Better Business Bureau at Union + Co for a night of networking, and a presentation on Growing Your Business. This presentation will cover the important ways BBB can help your business grow. We will introduce the BBB and explain what they do, explain what the BBRC does, highlight frree business resources, what it means to be a member, membership plans/benefits, and more! This is a free event, but registration is required, link here.

October 12 @ 12

The Residence Inn Bath/Brunswick

Wednesday, October 16th

12:00pm - 1:30pm

What's better than (free!) lunch with 11 other local professionals and five minutes to discuss your business with all of them? It's truly one of the best programs we run!

The October 12@12 Networking Lunch will be held at the The Residence Inn Bath/Brunswick on Wednesday, August 21st at noon. Pre-registration is required, there are only THREE spots remaining so email Anthony to grab yours!

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 BBRC. 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.

News & Notes

October 11, 2024

Now in its third year, the Mainebiz 40 Under 40 recognizes the state's up-and-comers, the next generation of leaders who are changing Maine and its economy for the better. 

Mainebiz is proud to recognize these men and women as they rise in their careers. The fabulous 40 come from a wide range of industries — insurance, financial services, law, health care, the nonprofit sector, food-and-beverage, the arts, real estate, tech, government, professional sports, retail and more.

Please join Mainebiz in celebrating the honorees at our awards reception on Thursday, Nov. 7, from 5-7 p.m. The venue will be Brick South at Thompson's Point in Portland. You can learn more and register here.

We are thrilled for Justin Chenette (Sweetser), Samantha Mason (BIW), and Dan Reed (SCORE Maine) in particular! Nothing better than seeing members getting the recognition they deserve!

LUNCH + LEARN: Estate Planning 101

with David Levesque, Levesque Law

Union + Co

Thursday, October 23rd

12:15 - 1:00pm

Do you keep putting off "getting your affairs in order" because you don't know where to begin? Have an old will that might need to be updated, or questions about the how, when, and where of estate planning? David Levesque of Levesque Law will outline the basics of Estate Planning during this Lunch + Learn, and will explain the ins and outs of this very important process.

David Levesque, Founder and Principal of Levesque Law.

David started his practice with a vision to serve individuals and businesses throughout Maine and with a particular concentration on the Midcoast, with high quality, valuable advice and integrity. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience about what it means to be a lawyer serving Mainers.

All are welcomed to attend! Our neighbors, Solo Pane e Pasticerria are generously providing LUNCH. Limited supply available, so come on time!

Union + Co's Lunch + Learns are open dialogues focused on professional & community development topics. We look forward to opening thoughtful and respectful conversations in our space.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bath/Brunswick's

BIG NIGHT OUT

Maine Maritime Museum

November 1st

5pm - 9pm

Join Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bath/Brunswick for the Big Night Out, November 1, 5-9 PM at the Maine Maritime Museum. Celebrate the Big and Little of the Year and enjoy food and cash bar by The Osprey, entertainment by comedian Johnny Ater, and a live and silent auction. Support the agency’s mission to match more children with mentors by getting your tickets here!

Upcoming SCORE Workshops

Marketing Channels: Advertising Your Business

October 16, 2024, 12:00pm

Join this dynamic virtual marketing workshop designed specifically for small business owners eager to amplify their reach. In this hands-on session, you'll explore essential marketing channels—including email, social media, content creation, SEO, and online advertising—to effectively promote your business. You'll benefit from practical strategies and tools to maximize your marketing efforts and drive measurable results.

Mastering Instagram Reels – From Basics to Creation

October 29, 2024, 10:00am

Are you ready to take your social media presence to the next level but feel intimidated by Instagram Reels? You’re not alone! In this workshop, we’ll break down everything you need to know to create engaging Reels that boost your brand.

Funding Your Business Q&A

October 22, 2024, 10:00am

Do you need cash on hand to grow your business? Whether you seek funding to launch a new business or grow an existing one, this Question & Answer session is for you!

New Member Spotlight

Islebrook Village at Wiscasset

Sales Office (OPEN NOW)

61 Flood Avenue, Rt. 1

Wiscasset, ME 04578

Community (Open Spring 2025)

146 Gardiner Road

Wiscasset, ME 04578

(207) 910-4211

Islebrook at Wiscasset Website

jhill@islebrookvillage.com

Islebrook Village at Wiscasset is the seventh community in New England-based Everbrook Senior Living's portfolio. Poised to open in spring 2025, it will offer 105 units of independent and assisted living as well as transitional and traditional memory care. Located in the former Wiscasset Primary School, Islebrook Village has undergone a complete renovation and will offer state-of-the-art facilities with countless amenities for the enjoyment and comfort of its residents. 

Everbrook’s flagship program, Wellness 4 Later Life, provides stimulating mental, physical, emotional and social activities that help preserve independence by harnessing the full potential of seniors to live well later in life. The local and regional management team is comprised of experienced professionals with a passion for helping older adults thrive in their golden years. They are excited to open the doors of Midcoast Maine’s newest senior living community, offering a welcoming place for Mainers to live and work.

Maine Department of Labor Launches Statewide Education Initiative Ahead of 2025 Rollout of New Paid Family and Medical Leave Law

Partners with Four Statewide Organizations for Comprehensive Webinar Series to Equip Workers, Employers, and Self-Employed Individuals with Essential Knowledge

MAINE - With contributions to Maine's Paid Family and Medical Leave program set to begin on January 1, 2025, the Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) today launched a multi-channel education campaign It's How We Care. It's Who We Are designed to provide guidance and support to Maine's 680,000 workers, approximately 40,000 small employers, and self-employed individuals across the state about the new law. To kick off the campaign, MDOL has partnered with four statewide organizations, the Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition, the Maine Paid Leave Coalition, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), and the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, to host a series of informational webinars in October.

"This new law will provide critical support for Maine workers during some of life's most challenging moments. It's essential that both workers and employers are fully informed and prepared as we implement the Paid Family and Medical Leave program," said Laura Fortman, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Labor. "By ensuring everyone understands the timing, benefits and responsibilities of the law, we can make the transition smoother for all, creating a stronger, more resilient workforce and economy for our state. We encourage workers, employers, and self-employed individuals to participate in the upcoming webinars to stay informed and ask questions about the program's implementation."

Read the full press release on our blog.



IRS opens new process for payroll companies, third-party payers to help clients resolve incorrect claims for the Employee Retention Credit

The Internal Revenue Service recently announced a supplemental claim process to help third-party payers (TPPs) and their clients resolve incorrect claims for the Employee Retention Credit. We hope you can help us spread the word to organizations that can take advantage of this.

How can you help? Please share links to:

• IRS news release IR-2024-246, IRS opens new process for payroll companies, third-party payers to help clients resolve incorrect claims for the Employee Retention Credit.
• Filing a Supplemental Claim for the Employee Retention Credit, a new webpage that explains the supplemental claims process and includes a sample form.
• Supplemental Claim Frequently Asked Questions for Third-Party Payers

If you use social media, please post one of the following messages:

• The #IRS will allow payroll companies and third-party payers to help clients resolve incorrect Employee Retention Credit claims through a new supplemental claim process. Find out more: https://ow.ly/Bb8L50Twyop
• In a critical next step to improve the processing of complex Employee Retention Credit claims, the #IRS begins a new supplemental claim process for third-party payers to correct clients’ improper #ERC claims. See who qualifies: https://ow.ly/Bb8L50Twyop

We’re especially interested in reaching professional employer organizations and IRC section 3504 agents.

Have a great weekend!

2024 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 2024, 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 at this level
• Top level marketing package and mentions and chamber events and chamber programs, including: BBRC Awards Dinner, Hacker’s Ball, Chamber After Hours, 12 @ 12, and much more
• Complimentary Tickets to the BBRC 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: BBRC Awards Dinner, Hacker’s Ball, monthly Chamber After Hours, monthly 12 @ 12, and much more
• Complimentary Tickets to the BBRC 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: BBRC Awards Dinner, Hacker’s Ball, monthly Chamber After Hours, monthly 12 @ 12, and much more
• Complimentary Ticket to the BBRC 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 2024 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 Anthony or Cory.

If you want to get more information on any of the four programs, or you want to sign up for the In School Chats, or Job Shadows program, please fill out this direct contact survey, it won't take more than a couple of minutes.

Brunswick Landing Neighborhood News

We’re thrilled to announce launch of Brunswick Landing Neighborhood News, a new publication of the BBRC 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. While we are fully booked for the remainder of 2023, we're always happy to secure hosts for 2024. More information and application can be found below.

The BBRC News & Notes are generously sponsored by

Our 2023 Cornerstone Banking Member: 

The BBRC News & Notes are generously sponsored by

Our 2023 Cornerstone Commercial Real Estate Member: 

The BBRC News & Notes are generously sponsored by

Our 2023 Cornerstone Healthcare Member: 

The BBRC News & Notes are generously sponsored by

Our 2023 Cornerstone Automotive Sales Member: 

Darling's Brunswick Ford