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: Which musical act holds the record for highest grossing tour of all time?

Dear Members,

As August flies by, we’re looking forward to our monthly Chamber After Hours at The Highlands! Join us next Thursday, August 21st for networking, great food and drinks, and connecting with some of the Midcoast’s best business folks.

This annual event is a favorite, complete with a signature outdoor setup, live music, and a warm welcome from our hosts. We’re crossing our fingers the sunny forecast holds, but rain or shine, The Highlands always delivers a memorable evening under the tent. You can register here (not required but appreciated), we hope to see you there!

Short and sweet this week but plenty is happening in our area; Brunswick’s Outdoor Arts Festival, Bath’s Kindness Day, Music on the Waterfront, and MSMT’s West Side Story, just to name a few. Be sure to also check out what’s coming up over the next month and mark your calendars appropriately!

Have a wonderful weekend,

Team BBTRC

P.S. Our office will be closed the week of August 25 for our annual end-of-summer break. Please get anything urgent to Cory before next Friday.

Workforce Solutions Program

Making it Easy: SIGN UP FOR FREE INTERNS!

Spoiler: Just read the highlighted words and sign up!

This spring, we partnered with United Way of Mid Coast Maine, piloted two workforce programs: the Connecting to Tomorrow Internship Program and the Connecting to Tomorrow Video Project. We celebrated the success of both at a May event at Union + Co., where students and businesses were recognized for their participation.

The pilot secured funding to run both programs through the 2025–2026 school year, and we’re pursuing additional grants to grow even further. Workforce development has been a focus since 2020, with support from local high schools and the American Rescue Plan helping us launch career tours and internships. Today, we continue connecting students with real career paths—right here in our region.

Now, we need your help.

This summer, we’re building a list of fall internships. The grant covers intern pay, and internships are 20 or 40 hours. Hosts simply conduct an entrance interview, provide a learning experience, and do an exit interview. You determine the schedule and structure.

The Video Project is also back! A student team will create a short video showcasing your workforce-supportive policies—free and great exposure.

To get involved, email Cory or Maggie at the United Way.

Chamber Committee Profiles

Government Liaisons Committee

As the Chamber evolves, we’re shifting from staff-led programs and events to a stronger committee model. That means more opportunities for members to step into leadership roles; setting meeting times, following up on action items, creating agendas, taking minutes, and reporting to the Board. This transition will give our busy staff more capacity, and empower our members to shape the Chamber’s future.

Last week we profiled our Ambassadors and Membership Committee (e-mail Cory if you are interested), and this week we have a new committee to profile: The Government Liaisons Committee.

One committee we’re aiming to strengthen is our Government Liaisons (GL) team. Policy and advocacy matter to our businesses, but the process can be complex. Our chamber uses a three-tier policy framework, and the GL team plays a key role—one we hope to expand.

Tier 1, Staff-handled policy: For example, Cory might testify or submit testimony on behalf of a member business for a specific bill. To use a phony example: If a proposed tax targeted senior living facilities, affected members could contact us, and we’d notify legislators without involving the GL team or full membership.

Tier 3, Membership vote: In past referendums, we’ve sent members a special e-newsletter outlining both sides of an issue and asking which stance the chamber should take.

Tier 2, Everything in between: This is GL team’s main focus and includes most state issues and occasional local matters. GL members research, debate, and recommend a stance to the Board of Directors or, when time is short, present a position directly from the GL team.

Because the legislature is in session for half the year, this is our busiest time. Discussions often begin by email with supporting documents and bill language, followed by meetings as needed. This fall, we plan to meet more proactively (possibly monthly) to review likely returning bills and anticipated business-related proposals so we’re ready when session begins.

Anyone who considers themselves a policy wonk, or anyone who wants to be, this committee is right up you alley!. Contact Cory if you're interested.

Events, News & Notes

August 15, 2025

Brunswick Outdoor Arts Festival

Saturday, August 16th

9:00am - 5:00pm

Brunswick Mall

The Brunswick Outdoor Arts Festival celebrates the arts on Maine Street in Brunswick. Our mission is to create a vibrant and healthy downtown through the arts.

The festival has showcased a diverse array of fine art since 2006 and features recognized artists, as well as emerging creators; working in an array of mediums from jewelry, fiber, ceramics, photography, painting, and mixed media. The festival opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m. Musical performances start at 10 a.m.

This juried, fine arts show includes more than 100 artists and artisans who will be displaying and selling their work along the sidewalks of Maine Street and on the lush Town Mall (green) in downtown Brunswick.

Kindness Day Bath

Downtown Bath

August 16th

10:00am - 1:00pm

Every year the citizens of Bath come together to give and receive acts of kindness. Taken from the idea of random acts of kindness, the day is full of unique kindness activities, live music, crafts, and many unexpected moments to make you smile. It is loved by all and is a life changing experience. Let your creativity and kindness shine, join us on the sidewalks of downtown Bath on August 16th between 10:00am and 1:00pm.

The event is completely free, family friendly and open to everyone. It is a day to set aside the things that divide us and come together as one, kind community. If you would like to participate, you can bring an act of kindness to share! (please remember to keep the focus on your act of kindness, and no selling).

Music on the Mall

Breaking Strings, A Maine-based Bluegrass Band

Wednesday, August 20th

6:00pm - 7:30pm

Find updates on the BDA Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/brunswickdowntown

In the case of inclement weather, check back for updates. 

Bath Summer Concert Series

Calypso Soldiers

Saturday, August 16th

5:00PM

The Calypso Soldiers are a high-energy five-piece band that knows how to turn any night into a party! With a lively mix of modern and classic rock, funk, country, and blues, they deliver a genre-blending sound that’s both familiar and refreshingly original. Whether they’re putting their spin on beloved hits from across the musical spectrum or diving into their own eclectic catalog of original tunes, the Calypso Soldiers keep crowds dancing, singing, and smiling all night long. Their feel-good vibe and dynamic stage presence make every performance a guaranteed good time.

Motown Downtown

Sunday, August 31st

Waterfront Park, Bath

7:00pm

Main Street Bath's Non-Profit Fundraiser will take place on Sunday, August 31st at Waterfront Park in Bath! The concert starts at 7:00pm and features Decades by DeZyne, a top-rated show band known for their high-energy choreography, legendary dance steps, and powerful vocals. Out event will be appropriately coined, "Motown Downtown"!

For over twenty-five years, DeZyne has thrilled audiences across New England, and their performance—"Decades By DeZyne"—is sure to be a highlight of the evening. Their vast musical repertoire, spanning multiple decades, is something you won’t want to miss. Alongside the incredible concert, we will have food trucks and a beer garden, ensuring an unforgettable experience for all attendees. Gates will open at 5:00pm for noshing before the dancing begins!

Admission is free for children 12 and under. $35.00 per person for all others. 

Pints on the Pier

Saturday, September 13, 2025

4:00 PM  7:00 PM

Maine Maritime Museum

243 Washington St, Bath

SAVE THE DATE!

Pints on the Pier at the Maine Maritime Museum is back! Bring a blanket or lawn chair and join us in the historic Percy & Small Shipyard to sample some of Maine’s best beers, ciders, and more! Grab some grub from the on-site food trucks and take in the late summer sunset along the Kennebec River. Ticket fee includes all beer samples and a commemorative tasting glass.*

Featuring Bath Ale Works • BeatBox Beverages • Bissell Brothers • Black Pug Brewing Company • Flight Deck Brewing • Footbridge Brewery • Maine Beer Company • Mast Landing Brewing Company • Moderation Brewing • Olive Pit Brewing • Sebago Brewing Company | Including canned cocktails & gluten-free options 

With musical stylings from Lauren Crosby & Company • 50/50 Raffle • Lawn Games

Delicious offerings from Bao & Beyond • Black Salt • Crêpe Elizabeth • Maine Oyster Company • Plot Twist Pretzels • Sips & Saddles

Tickets

🎟️ Adult: $45, members receive 20% off and a dedicated entrance

🎟️ VIP: $65, limited quantity—includes choice of free gift and early entrance at 3:30 pm

🎟️ Day Of: $54

🎟️ Excluding Alcohol: $22

New Member Spotlight

KMB Advisors

42 Eastern Shore Road

Brunswick

(207) 607-2854

Karen@KMBinsuranceadvisors.com

Confused about health or medical insurance?

I can help.

Free, personal guidance for individuals and families navigating health or Medicare coverage.

Whether you’re:

• Aging out of your parent’s plan at 26
• Recently lost employer health coverage
• Turning 65 and need Medicare
• Already on Medicare but unsure about your options

Why Choose Me?

• Personalized help- I actually listen
• No sales pressure- just real information
• Free- I’m paid by the insurance companies, not by you!

Let’s chat, schedule a free consult today!

Municipal News

Request for Proposal on Portion of Perimeter Trail

The Town of Brunswick seeks qualified trail designers and environmental engineering firms.

The Town of Brunswick, Maine is accepting consulting assistance from qualified trail designers and environmental engineering firms to conduct field reconnaissance, prepare subsequent trail corridor designs with corresponding specifications and cost estimates that will be used to solicit bids from qualified trail construction contractors to build a ten-foot-wide trail that is as accessible as possible with two foot shoulders on either side through a variety of general landscape features including forest, wetlands, hills and riparian areas. 

The construction phase of the project is not part of this RFP. However, the consultant is also being asked to identify where the trail passes within and adjacent to wetlands, requiring specific expertise in wetland impact assessment and regulatory compliance with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), jurisdictional streams, vernal pools, rare natural communities (specifically Sandplain Grassland), rare plant locations (including but not limited to Carex siccata and Carex vestita) and other protected natural resources that may trigger DEP and Town of Brunswick review.

The project encompasses a portion of the Perimeter Trail located at Brunswick Landing on the the west side of the property between the airport runways and U.S. Route 123.

Read the proposal

Prospective consultants are invited to submit all the required work components outlined in the Request for Proposal. Submissions are due on Wednesday, September 3, 2025 at 3:00 PM and should be sent to Thomas Farrell, Director of Parks and Recreation, Town of Brunswick, 220 Neptune Drive, Brunswick, ME 04011.

Have a great weekend!

Haunted Hayrides 2025

Save the dates—October 24 & 25—for the 1st Annual Haunted Hayrides, a new fundraiser from the Bath Brunswick Topsham Regional Chamber and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bath/Brunswick, featuring spooky scenes, local volunteers, and plenty of Halloween fun!

The Bath Brunswick Topsham Regional Chamber, in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bath/Brunswick, will host the 1st Annual Haunted Hayrides on October 24 & 25. This new fundraiser will feature 10–12 themed scenes designed by local businesses, community groups, and volunteers.

We are seeking:

• Scene ideas and performers for all ages
• Volunteer groups to create and staff scenes
• Event sponsors to help offset first-year costs

Proceeds will benefit both the Chamber and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Location and ticket pricing will be announced soon. To get involved, email Cory or consider joining the Events Committee.

Midcoast Tree Festival 2025

It may seem early but we want you to save the date! Welcome to the 7th Annual Midcoast Tree Festival (MTF)! Whether you’re new to the area or just hearing about the event, we’re glad you’re here.

MTF is a two-weekend holiday fundraiser (Nov. 21–23 & Nov. 28–30) with proceeds split between Spectrum Generations, All Saints Parish, and the Bath Brunswick Topsham Regional Chamber - it's our largest fundraiser of the year and our most favorite.

What to Know

Details are outlined in the PDFs linked below and include:

• Tree Space Registration & Requirements
• Wreath Space Registration & Requirements
• What’s New for 2025
• Sponsorship Info
• Volunteer link

More at midcoastmaine.com/midcoast-tree-festival.

Why We Do It

All Saints Parish provides essential community support including emergency aid and school funding. Spectrum Generations delivers over 300,000 meals annually to older and disabled adults through Meals on Wheels. The BBRC supports 16 communities through workforce development, marketing, and advocacy.

How It Works

55 decorated “trees” each feature $500+ in gifts - we have artificial traditional-looking trees, and structures that resemble trees - the creativity knows no bounds! Guests buy 50¢ raffle tickets, dropping their tickets in for their favorite trees for a chance to win the tree and everything that surrounds it. The more tickets you drop, the better your chances, but it only takes one to win! Entry is $2 (kids under 12 free), with assistance available for those who need it.

The festival also includes a gingerbread house making contest, live entertainment, crafts, concessions, a new wreath decorating event this year, a silent auction, and a welcoming holiday atmosphere. Volunteers and sponsors make it all possible, and the impact ripples throughout our region. Over 2,500 families came through last year!

Thank you for being part of the magic!

Cory and the entire MTF Team 🎄

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.