November Chamber Newsletter

Two Grant Programs Available

When it comes to funding new initiatives for your business or non-profit, it's hard to beat a monetary grant award. Right now, there are two current grant programs we are aware of that could be of benefit to you.

The first is the recent unveiling of the DECD's Domestic Trade Grant initiative. This program is designed to help Maine-based entrepreneurs expand to new markets and grow their domestic sales outside of Maine. The DECD website has all the information you need to submit an application. The deadline to apply is December 15th. More information can be found HERE

The second is the Economic Recovery Hub Program, administered by SMPDC. This grant program is intended for businesses formed in the last three years that were impacted by the pandemic but did not receive any covid-related funds, as well as non-profits. Monetary grants are available, as well as Technical Assistance / Support grants. Apply by December 7th. More information can be found HERE

Welcome Chamber of Commerce New Members this Past Month

Please join us in welcoming the following new members who joined this past month:

Energymend - This new downtown business on Common St. in Saco can help you improve your well-being by providing individual healing or group classes in Reiki and other healing modalities.

Peace Behavioral Health - This new practice in the 110 Main St. mill building in Saco offers Psychiatry & Psychology services for children, teens & adults via Telehealth or In-Person Visits, Same Week Appointments, Medication Management, Therapy and More.

Monthly Chamber Member Spotlight:

Youth Full Maine

We've been fortunate to have UNE Senior Bella Caprio helping us out at the Chamber this semester on a number of initiatives. We recently met with Katie Brown of Youth Full Maine to learn more about all the great work they are doing locally to combat food insecurity. To read Bella's Monthly Member Spotlight feature article, please CLICK HERE

Local Holiday Fun Coming Up Soon

We are fortunate to have two fantastic Main St. organizations, Heart of Biddeford and Saco Main St., who along with the City Theater make the holidays memorable with great events and celebrations. Here's what's coming up in the next month:

Biddeford’s Downtown Holiday Festival – December 1st https://heartofbiddeford.org/downtown-events/
Saco Holiday Tree Lighting – December 1st
Elf The Musical – December 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, & 17 https://www.citytheater.org/
Festival of Lights and Parade of Lights – December 9 https://sacomainstreet.wixsite.com/holidayfestival

Small Business Saturday on November 25th

There are at least ten good reasons why you should always "shop local", especially on Small Business Saturday. If it's not obvious to you by now why, ChatGPT instantly wrote for us a Small Business Saturday Rationale leveraging their weirdly amazing AI computer wizardry. And per the below, Saco Main St. will once again be making "Saco Bucks" available that day to use in Main St. stores/participating businesses as an added bonus!

Click on the ads below for more information: