The Chamber Beat

On March 15 SCORE and the Chamber teamed up to bring two representatives from broadcasting to the monthly Business Roundtable. In February we heard from representatives of the Lewiston Sun Journal and the Advertiser Democrat, and our Magazine Sales Representative, Jon Whitney.

This past week we heard from Vic Hodgkins, the Station Manager for the Gleason Radio Group and Kris Snell from WCSH 6 in Portland and WLBZ 2 in Bangor. Both of these Roundtable were well attended and focused on how to provide useful information about all of the marketing opportunities available to our business members here in the Oxford Hills.

The next Business Roundtable will concentrate on using Social Media and is scheduled for April and Rich Brooks from Flyte New Media is coming back for a full blown seminar on Wednesday, May 23rd from 8:30-11:30 a.m., at the Norway Town office. More information about theses great business resources will be available soon.

Our next Business After Hours will be held on Thursday, April 5, at Affordable Events with Scott and Necole Mondor in their super new facility right off Route 117 on the Plains Road in Harrison, right next to the Crooked River. They can cater your entire event from tents to crystal place settings or anything in between. Come to the Business After Hours and meet Scott and Necole.

Hey it’s that time of year when tax returns are on everyone’s mind and if you need some help, whether it’s a question you need answered or are looking to get connected to someone who can handle your tax preparations go to www.irs.gov By the way we receive regular news emails from the IRS and post them in our eblast, so if your on our email list you automatically can have access to useful information on a regular basis.

I had the opportunity to tour one of our largest and most successful businesses with Governor LePage while he wads in the Oxford Hills during “Capital For A Day” on Thursday, March 15. We toured Grover Gundrilling with Suzanne Grover and several of Grover’s top supervisors.

A remarkable facility and a family owned and operated corporation right here in our communities that employs over 100 people and manufactures some of the most articulate and remarkable products for the medical and nuclear industries. Governor LePage was impressed as he should have been and took time to talk with and meet employees throughout the tour.

Speaking of the Governor, the Chamber is planning to help facilitate the his new initiative, the “Certified Business Friendly Community” Program, the goal of which is to encourage business development in communities throughout Maine. Communities are being asked to apply for this program and applications can be submitted at anytime.

The Chamber plans on doing just that, but virtually anyone can apply: regional development authorities, trade organizations, businesses and individuals, but they do require the approval of the community/communities being considered. The plan is for Business Friendly Communities to be certified beginning in May, 2012.

We’ll keep you posted on this initiative, but if you would like more info call 207-287-2531 or check min with the Chamber.

How do you like this Spring, maybe even Summer weather. It won’t be long till our Chamber Member Golf Courses are open. They are Norway Country Club, Paris Hill Country Club, Poland Spring Resort & Country Club and the Bethel Inn Country Club.

And finally we’re getting new publications in the Information Center daily including the new Maine Invites you so stop by and pick up a copy.

As always, the Chamber is on top of business throughout the Oxford Hills-are you a Chamber Member yet? It’s easy, just call us at the office and speak with Jennifer or myself and we’ll sign you up. I'll see you next week.

Photo:

John Williams