Chamber Updates, Member News

& Tips for Business You Can Use

Dear Members,

Happy Friday! We are extra pumped for the end of the week because tonight is our June After Hours at the Maine Maritime Museum and we're getting out on the water!

Here's what you can expect tonight:

• The first 50 arrivals by the 5:10 boarding time will enjoy a 45 minute cruise on the Kennebec River on the Museum's tour boat, Merrymeeting.
• Anyone who would like to stay on dry land is absolutely welcome to do so. Anthony will be on the boat, and Cory will stay on shore to greet later arrivals.
• Upon the cruise's return at 6:00, regular Chamber announcements and updates will happen down on the pier (weather permitting).
• Attendees will enjoy a range of refreshments from Maiz, Oysthers, and Long Reach Kitchen.

The forecast isn't quite what we were hoping for but it's looking dry enough so be a real Mainer and pack some layers and come enjoy an evening on the water with other local professionals and business leaders. Registration isn't required but is appreciated!

We very much hope to see you tonight! And if not, have a wonderful weekend.

The BBRC Team

Upcoming Chamber Events

June 12 @ 12

Bar Harbor Bank & Trust

Brunswick Office

148 Bath Road

Wednesday, June 12th

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 June 12@12 Networking Lunch will be held at Bar Harbor Bank & Trust's Brunswick branch on Wednesday, June 12th.

Pre-registration is required, email Anthony to grab your spot!

Professional Development Opportunities

*DATE CHANGE*

Overcoming Challenges in Today's Competitive

Environment with Anne Frewin

June 20th, 10am - 11am

BBRC Office, 8 Venture Ave, Brunswick

Due to a BBRC scheduling conflict, we've changed the date of this workshop to

Thursday, June 20th. Big thanks to Anne for being flexible!

Register here!

But What Do I Post? - June 14th at Noon - You know you have to post on social media, but figuring out what to post can be tricky. What makes for a good post? What kind of picture do I use? What do I even say? This workshop will focus on the anatomy of social media posting and how to deconstruct it into bite-sized steps.

DIY SEO for Small Businesses - June 25th at Noon - This workshop is your one-stop guide to understanding search engine optimization (SEO) and taking control of your online presence. In this session, you'll learn actionable strategies to improve your website's ranking in search results, attract more qualified leads, and ultimately grow your customer base.

Develop Your Cash Flow Projection - July 11th at 10am - This informative 90-minute workshop will equip you with the tools and knowledge to create a 12-month cash flow projection for your business. Any business needs to understand its future cash flow, and this workshop will guide you through the process.

The Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine's Workforce is offering a free webinar of our Remote Work Essentials for Professionals course.  This two-part webinar runs from 9:00-11:00 on June 18th and 25th.

Remote and hybrid work has the potential to help Maine businesses access talent, and bring quality jobs to rural Mainers.  Those working remote require a new set of skills, strategies, and tools.  Remote Work Essentials for Professionals fills that gap. It is for anyone working as part of a remote or hybrid team, whether they're a seasoned employee or manager, or new to remote work. Covering the essential tools to maintain health and wellness, assess your readiness for remote employment, and learn tools and strategies for communication, and teamwork, this course will help you be a more effective, healthy, and productive remote and hybrid employee. Participants will receive a digital badge for completion. FMI and registration. 

The Harold Alfond Center also has other self-paced courses on remote work at no cost through the end of June for frontline staff, supervisors, and business leaders.  FMI and registration

News & Notes

June 7, 2024

Brunswick Pride

Brunswick Mall

Saturday, June 8th

12pm - 5pm

Our local Pride festival is back for year three! Come join your friends, neighbors, and local businesses and organizations as we celebrate diversity and acceptance. With 60+ tables across the mall, the festival hits every corner of Brunswick! From the Queer Makers Market, to tutorials on Pride and drag make-up, to the bike parade and performances - it's a day filled with love, empowerment, and pride for all.

Please join us as host a variety of artists and musicians, and entertainers, for FOUR 2nd Friday ArtWalks. See the art and meet the artists along Maine Street and beyond, visit our unique and artistic shops, and enjoy Brunswick’s many outside and inside dining opportunities! Event festivities will include an ArtWalk with artist displays outside on the sidewalks and in several downtown galleries, retail shops, and restaurants. 2nd Friday Brunswick will occur from 4 to 7 p.m. on June 14, July 12, August 9, September 13

Artists interested in participating in 2nd Friday Brunswick can register for a small fee.

Registration for each date will close one week prior to the event.  Register HERE.

Email admin@brunswickdowntown.org or call 207-729-4439 with questions.

Gardens of Lincoln County tour returns on June 22

With the great success of last year’s garden tour, Lincoln County Historical Association (LCHA) was inspired to seek additional private gardens to showcase. Happily, seven more homeowners have agreed to open their gardens to visitors for the 2024 Gardens of Lincoln County tour.

The gardens, which are in and around the towns of Wiscasset and Nobleboro, feature woodland environments as well as sunny country gardens. Two of them have been featured in Down East magazine, and all are bound to provide elements to spark the imagination of local gardeners. One of the gardens, for example, includes a delightful potting shed made from vintage windows. A beautiful old work table stands on a brick floor, and a wrought iron chandelier provides a touch of whimsy.

Ticket holders will drive themselves to the homes between 10AM and 3PM on Saturday, June 22. In addition to intriguing landscapes, they may observe plein air painters at their easels. There will be flower arranging demonstrations and lessons in making biochar, a horticultural supplement that holds water and nutrients for the plants.

Tickets can be purchased online for $35 at www.lincolncountyhistory.org.

Yarmouth Notes

Yarmouth Clam Festival

Julia Gagnon to be Parade Grand Marshal!

We are thrilled to announce that Julia Gagnon, a proud resident of Cumberland, top 6 finalist on American Idol, and former student at North Yarmouth Academy, will be our grand marshal for this year's Yarmouth Clam Festival parade!

This year's theme, Pop Culture Phenomena, aligns perfectly with Julia's incredible journey and rising stardom, exemplifying how local talent can capture national attention. Julia's achievements on American Idol have made her a pop culture icon, and we are excited to celebrate her success and roots within our community. Join us in honoring Julia and experience the vibrant energy she brings to our beloved festival with events through the weekend!

Want to see how you can get involved in the Yarmouth Clam Festival?

Contact Chelsie today at Chelsie@Chelsie@clamfestival.com

Small Business Resources

Governor Mills Announces Launch of Maine Funding Network to Help Maine Businesses Explore & Secure Financing

New online portal is a one-stop shop for Maine business owners exploring public and non-profit financing options

Governor Janet Mills today announced the launch of the Maine Funding Network, a new online portal designed to be a one-stop shop to connect Maine businesses to financing options to help them grow and succeed.

The new resource, an initiative of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) and the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME), is a centralized, easy-to-use platform designed to help interested borrowers easily navigate Maine’s menu of public and nonprofit business funding options. The portal was designed with input and feedback from Maine business owners, lenders, and economic development leaders.

“The Maine Funding Network will serve as a one-stop shop for Maine businesses as they explore funding options available from Maine’s public and nonprofit funding agencies,” said Governor Mills. “I thank the Finance Authority of Maine for working with my Administration to create this new resource, which will help keep Maine the best place to live, work, and start and grow a business.”

“Maine entrepreneurs, business owners, lenders, and local economic development entities told us they wanted an easy-to-find online resource that identifies funding resources and assistance – and we are delivering,” said Heather Johnson, Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development. “Now the best business ideas in Maine can more easily access multiple funding resources in one location, making it that much easier to start or grow a business in Maine.”

The network initially will be comprised of fifteen partner organizations ranging from Maine business advisors to lenders to venture capital and is expected to grow.

“FAME is pleased to host this business funding network and to amplify the collective impact of our fellow economic development partners,” said Carlos Mello, CEO of the Finance Authority of Maine. “Whether it be a state-sponsored financing program or a local lending product, Maine businesses and entrepreneurs will now have far more solutions available to them in one location.”

Information on how to leverage the new portal can be found on the Maine Funding Network's website. FAME is holding an online training on May 29th at 3pm, registration is now open.

Governor Mills and Treasurer Beck Encourage Maine People to Claim Outstanding Relief Payments

Approximately 40,000 unclaimed relief payments are available through Maine’s Unclaimed Property program

Governor Janet Mills and Maine State Treasurer Henry Beck are encouraging Maine people to see if they are missing out on pandemic-era relief money that belongs to them.

During the pandemic and immediately following, Governor Mills and the Legislature created several relief payment programs to put money directly back into the pockets of Maine people.

Of the nearly 2.3 million payments distributed, approximately 40,000 checks (or nearly 2 percent) – totaling approximately $19 million – have never been cashed. This money has now been turned over to the Maine Unclaimed Property program and can be claimed by Maine people.

To determine if their relief payment has gone unclaimed, Maine people can visit the Maine Unclaimed Property program’s website at www.maineunclaimedproperty.gov.

You can read the full press release here.

MCOG New Business Recovery Grant

Midcoast Council of Governments is accepting applications for New Business Recovery Grants.

To be eligible, businesses and nonprofits located in the Midcoast region must have:

• started or been acquired on or after January 1, 2020,
• fewer than 250 employees, and
• be current on State of Maine taxes, in compliance with labor laws, and in good standing with applicable entity registration and reporting requirements.

Additionally, applicants must demonstrate that they were unable to take advantage of previous pandemic-related relief funds or continue to experience adverse economic impacts related to COVID-19. (Impacts from ongoing challenges, including labor and supply chain constraints, will satisfy the latter requirement.)

The maximum award under this program is $25,000, and applications are due by June 7, 2024. Businesses/nonprofits must apply online at MCOG’s website.

Applicants should direct questions regarding this program to hub@midcoastcog.com.

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