Thanks to our Premium Members:
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Quick Links to Organizations offering Interim Guidance and Resources for Businesses:
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Camden Office:
2 Public Landing
Camden, ME 04843
207.236.4404
Rockland Office:
1 Park Drive,
Rockland, ME 04841
207.596.0376
Our Visitor Centers are
currently closed to the public, but your Chamber staff is here to serve you via phone and email:
Tom Peaco
Diane Norton
Amy Rollins
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Chamber News...
Chamber offers connections to timely information
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We've turned the calendar to April, and stay-at-home living, learning, and working is the new norm. The Chamber staff continues to focus on bringing you news, information and ways to connect virtually.
Coronavirus News pages daily. In fact, these two timely news items were just added to the Coronavirus News page this morning:
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Leading Teams in a Virtual Environment
Tuesday, April 7 - 1:00 - 2:00 pm
Presented by Jill Parker of inspireal
Many of us find ourselves suddenly managing virtual teams today as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic. While this entire endeavor is challenging and a bit overwhelming, it can teach us invaluable lessons in adaptability, resilience and teamwork that will stay with us for the rest of our professional careers. Working from home is not as simple as deploying a VPN license and making sure that team members can get on the server to access the necessary systems to do their work. It requires a deliberate and dynamic strategy for leadership. Register for this free webinar
here.
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What every employer needs to know during COVID-19
Tuesday, April 7 - 11:00 am
This webinar will get you up to speed on the latest guidance and understanding concerning the emergency paid sick leave, expanded Family Medical Leave, and payroll tax credit provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. We’ll do the same for the enhancements to unemployment benefits under the CARES Act and Maine’s Emergency Unemployment Act.
The Maine State Chamber of Commerce is inviting members of all Maine Chambers to attend this free webinar. Register
here.
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Join us online for the Chamber Cafe 9@9
Every Wednesday in April at 9:00 am
Your Chamber leadership invites you to join us online for coffee and conversation. Due to the popularity of our first Chamber Cafe, we are offering them every Wednesday this month: April 8, 15, 22, and 29, from 9:00 to 10:30 am. Each event is open to the first 9 members who register. Sign up for the date that suits you best by clicking
here,
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Join "Opportunity Knox" At No Cost Today!
The Local Movement to Help Support and Sustain Knox County’s Small Businesses and Organizations During the COVID-19 Crisis
The Chamber is pleased to invite your participation in Opportunity Knox. Membership in the Chamber is not required for participation; all businesses and organizations located in Knox County, Lincolnville, and Monhegan are invited to participate. This concept was originated by the Steel House in Rockland, and we are so grateful to the Steel House for bringing this program forward for the benefit of local businesses and organizations. Other partners in launching this program include Your Maine Concierge and AE Sampson.
There is no cost to get involved and it only takes 3 minutes to sign up. To read more about this program and to register, click
here.
If you have questions, please call Program Manager Vanessa Santarelli (Your Maine Concierge), at 207-215-4151, or email
admin@opportunityknox.me.
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PayItForwardMaine
As Maine business owners and their employees weather this unprecedented pandemic, the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce is partnering with several organizations in our state to launch a community support campaign. Find out how you can help with
Pay It Forward Maine
here.
And, if you're looking for some inspiration, or just a way to feel good about how your neighbors are paying it forward here in the Camden-Rockland Region, here are some shining examples:
Megunticook Market
has been preparing and delivering meals to local teams providing essential services, including Rockport Fire Department, CRES Teachers/Custodians, Camden Police Department, Camden Fire Department, YMCA Staff, Bus Drivers/Ed Techs/Foodservice at the school delivering lunches.
If you know of any essential services, health care workers (departments or teams of 6-36 people) where a lunch might improve morale or serve as a thank you, please let us know (207-236-3537) and we can add them to our list.
The Brass Compass
prepared and served chowder by donation, via pick-up window this past Wednesday, with all proceeds to benefit the AIO Food Pantry.
Atlantic Baking Company
: To thank all our health care professionals and First responders working on the front lines, we will be offering them free coffee and cookies for the month of April. ABC donated $100 to start the process; if you like to contribute to this account, let your cashier know.
Dream Local Digital
and
inspireal
have created free webinars on topics to help our local businesses navigate these times!
Rock City Coffee
has created a new blend of beans called “Front Lines” to honor the Pen Bay Medical Center team for stepping up to see our community through the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week Rock City also donated 15 gallons of iced coffee to employees at Pen Bay.
We look forward to sharing more Pay It Forward moments here next week! Please send them to
Amy@CamdenRockland.com.
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A Few Moments of Your Time
Your Chamber board and staff are here for you, in good times and challenging times. We are eager to hear from you to learn how we can best support you at this time, and to hear your ideas, concerns, questions and celebrations. Please take a few moments to complete this 6-question survey. Many thanks for your input!
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Easter's On Its Way!
Our members are coming up with meaningful, clever (and delicious!) ways to help you celebrate Easter this spring. From virtual church services to brunch boxes to go, look to our industrious business folks to bring smiles to all faces this Easter. And if your business is hopping to it, be sure to let us know. We’ll be happy to add you to our Blog, published
here.
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Member News...
Under normal circumstances, our Friday Report: Member News edition is published every other week. Submit your news releases to Amy Rollins at
Amy@CamdenRockland.com.
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Strand At Home Virtual Cinema
At the Strand, we’re thrilled to be able to work with film distributors to keep new releases coming to you while we are closed. Watch our latest film selections at home! Go to our website to find films curated by our staff that you can watch at home. Buying a virtual ticket for these films helps support the Strand and compensate our staff during these unprecedented times.
More...
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OUT Maine Continues Programming Virtually
OUT Maine is continuing much of its youth programming online during this time. OUT Maine staff has continued the weekly youth group via zoom and google classroom and OUT’s Youth Policy Board has switched its focus towards a project combating social isolation. OUT Maine is also welcoming the young adults selected to be Junior Counselors at its cancelled Rainbow Ball to come together online to find community with each other and to dream up ways to create community in this challenging time.
More...
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Permaculture and Regenerative Food Systems Online Presentation
On Tuesday, April 14, at 7:00 pm, the Camden Public Library will host Rockland-based permaculture designer, teacher, and builder Jesse Watson for an overview discussion of the permaculture process via the online Zoom platform. He will highlight permaculture design principles and methods by looking at some case studies in Maine.
More...
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Keeping Kids Connected: BBBSMM starts #BiggerTogether Campaign
Big Sister Rachael Rademacher and her 7-year-old Little Sister Abby Erickson haven’t seen each other since March 8th, just a week before the Coronavirus pandemic shut down their weekly meetings as part of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine mentoring program at Camden Rockport Elementary School. But they aren’t letting social distancing keep them from staying connected, thanks to a pen pal program that is allowing them, and 176 other school-based matches across eastern and central Maine, stay in touch.
More...
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Economic impact payments: What you need to know
The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service announced on March 30th that distribution of economic impact payments will begin in the next three weeks and will be distributed automatically, with no action required for most people. However, some seniors and others who typically do not file returns will need to submit a simple tax return to receive the stimulus payment.
More...
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Treat Your Feet this April and May
at The Grasshopper
Treat Your Feet with our annual Footwear Sale! This year we are running our annual sale for the months of April and May, and all shoes, sandals, boots, socks, tights, and even foot creams are 25-50% off!
More...
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What you can do for your business during Covid-19
Update your workplace Tobacco Policy! Respiratory health is critical to the overall health of your business and your employees. There is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. In Maine alone, smoking causes over $600 million in productivity losses each year. (Source: https://breatheeasymaine.org/facts/workplace/). Don’t let those be your losses.
More...
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Member to Member Marketplace...
Packard Partners offers rental vehicles at special rates
If your business is offering delivery during the COVID-19 situation and you need an extra vehicle or two, AvisBudget has authorized us to offer special pricing. $20 per day, $120 per week. Your choice of what is on the lot. Business credit card. Please call the office at 594-2691 or just stop by. We're open daily 9 am - 4 pm. Stay well. We'll get through this.
Schooner Heron offers 15% off day sail gift certificates
15 days in self quarantine? We will give you 15% off a gift certificate on Schooner Heron's daily sails. Choose from a Private Morning Charter, Educational Eco sail or Happy Hour Sunset Sail. We know despite everything, summer will come and there is no better place to be than breathing in the fresh sea air from the deck of Schooner Heron. Buy gift certificates at our website
sailheron.com. Stay well everyone!
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