Please join us for our annual Gala Awards Dinner as we celebrate and recognize those who have made extraordinary contributions to our region in the past year.

Samoset Resort

Thank you to our Sponsors:

Lead Sponsor:

Social Hour Reception Sponsor:

First National Bank and Edward Jones, Ken Gardiner - Camden

We are still seeking sponsors for Dinner Wine, the After Party, and two Honoree Awards. Please contact Diane@CamdenRockland.com today.

For the list of award recipients, more details about the evening, and to purchase tickets, click on this button:

Chamber members, put your business or organization at the center of attention at our 2023 Gala by decorating a table with a center piece that will be raffled off during the evening. Signing up to decorate a table is FREE and only costs what members are willing to put into the decorations and raffle item. Still 7 tables up for grabs - reserve your table to decorate today! Click below to get started:

Jake Miller, Vice President and Sr. Business Development Officer for First National Bank, has been elected as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce for 2023. Other Officers elected to one-year officer terms for 2023 by the Chamber board include Vice Chair David Gogel of Rockland Main Street, Secretary Joan LeMole of New Hope Midcoast, and Interim Treasurer Steve Matteo of Camden National Bank.

Our May 10, 2023 Business After Hours date has recently become available. We will fill this vacancy on a first come-first served basis. Sponsor requirements and contract can be found here. Please contact Amy@CamdenRockland.com to reserve this event date.

Looking for a way to wine and dine your Valentine? In addition to our weekly dining grid found in the left column of this newsletter, we have started to compile a list of member restaurants offering Valentine's dining.

We will continue to add listings as we receive them, so send your offerings to Amy@CamdenRockland.com today.

Workforce is the most pressing challenge to the Maine tourism and hospitality industry today. MTA is forming an industry-led partnership to address these issues in a business-focused way using a grant received from the Maine Department of Labor. You are invited to participate in these upcoming industry roundtables, divided by subsector, where labor issues and business-centered solutions will be discussed. Register today!

Outdoor Recreation Industry Roundtable  

via Zoom - Register Here

Arts & Culture + Attractions and Amusements Industry Roundtable 

via Zoom - Register Here

Questions? Contact Kathryn at kference@mainetourism.com

Each week, the Chamber features one of our members here in our Friday Report e-newsletter (distributed to 2,000 emails) and on our Facebook page (5,000 followers). Featured Member posts link directly to your Chamber business profile webpage and to your Facebook page.

Simply click below to complete the two easy steps. Featured Members will be chosen as submissions are received (limit of one featured listing per member, per calendar year). We invite you to take advantage of this great Chamber member benefit to promote your business.

Offering full-charge bookkeeping at any level for individuals, small or large business, or non-profits, founder Karen (Kelsey) Littlefield brings 30+ years experience in bookkeeping and accounting to service your business needs. Her commitment to quality and detail will help you focus on managing and growing your business. Karen shares her commitment to her faith and our community by giving 10% of her gross revenue to charities and non-profits in the mid-coast area. A ribbon cutting ceremony at her downtown Rockland office (see photo) was held earlier this week, marking the one-year anniversary of her decision to launch B.O.G. Balanced Bookkeeping.

To learn more about becoming a Featured Member, click here.

Submit your news releases to Amy@CamdenRockland.com.

What happens when you bring together ice carving, a polar plunge, fashionable dogs, music, and delicious food on a winter’s day? That’s right­ — the long-running community celebration, Camden Winterfest! The Camden Public Library is delighted to announce that the 20th annual Camden Winterfest will take place on Saturday, January 28 from 11 AM – 2 PM with all of the classic traditions plus some exciting new additions. More...

The Rockport Public Library invites families to a free “Penguin Party” on Saturday, January 28, at 11:00 a.m. Participants will make a penguin-themed craft, enjoy a penguin snack, and participate in a waddle relay (with prizes for winning teams)! The library will also be screening the film March of the Penguins (1 hr 20 min, rated G), for those who wish to learn more about these unique birds. Attendees are encouraged to dress in black and white. Tuxedos are optional. The party will take place in the library’s Rockport Room on the lower level. For more information, contact the library at 207-236-3642.

Learn simple skills to put web development in your toolbox with software engineer Sam Auciello. For the Winter/Spring term at Mid-Coast School of Technology, this means two new Monday evening courses to help you build your online presence: On Feb. 6 & 13 Simple Websites with WiX will teach students how websites work and introduce them to a free drag-and-drop interface that will help them get up and running. Interactive Websites with Glitch is a six-session course (Feb 27. – Apr. 3) that will delve deeper into the technical aspects of websites. Students will build their own sites using an online platform that uses HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. More...

The Camden Garden Club will host a free public Zoom presentation on Tuesday, February 7 from 10AM to 11AM on the topic of “Forestry for Maine Birds.” Sally Stockwell with Maine Audubon and Allyssa Gregory from the Maine Forest Service will provide a presentation on ways to steward your woodland and provide habitat for birds and other wildlife. They will discuss ways to enhance habitat for a diversity of birds, fish, and other wildlife that live in or visit your forests, and provide information on where to find additional resources, and who to contact for professional guidance. More....

The Satellite of West Bay Rotary presents Red Carpet Trivia. On Saturday, February 11, 2023, from 6 to 9 pm at the Samoset in Rockport, teams of up to 6 will compete for a grand prize, testing their knowledge of all things cinematic. Proceeds from the event will benefit World Central Kitchen (WCK). More...

Bixby Chocolate Belize 70% Dark Chocolate Bar is a 2023 Good Food Award Finalist. Spanning 42 states and Washington D.C., the Finalists stood out from the nearly 2,000 entries as the top scorers in 18 categories. Bixby Chocolate is a craft chocolate company that makes non gmo, vegan, organic and gluten free chocolates in Rockland, ME. Bixby Chocolate is the first bean to bar chocolate maker in the State of Maine. Bixby products can be found in grocery and specialty stores as well as on bixbychocolate.com, Hannafords, Reny’s, Stonewall Kitchen, LLBean, Whole Foods Market, and independent stores and co-ops. More...

Not sure how to get hot, fresh Causeway dinner delivered to your door by our staff? Look no further. Free delivery to St. George, Thomaston, Rockland (and points between)! https://craignair.com/maine-inn-restaurant

It’s a new year. It’s time for a new adventure. Book a trip in January and ride the Amtrak Downeaster from Brunswick to Boston or any station in between for $20 or less round trip. No black out dates! Select “Adult”, use promo code V520 and book 3 days in advance of travel to take advantage of this deal. Offer is only good until 1/28/23. What are you waiting for? It’s time to take the train.

Same great company, brand new names! To celebrate, we have a gift for you. Between now and Feb. 1, 2023, if a new client mentions you as a referral, we will send you a $150 Visa gift card upon the completion of your referral’s project. You can see our customized storage solutions for your whole home at tailoredcloset.com and premiergarage.com. Or contact Marci at 207-236-3319 or marci.lambert@tailoredcloset.com.

Members are invited to email Amy@CamdenRockland.com with details of goods, programs, products, or services they would like to offer to their fellow members. Please limit your offer to headline + 75 words and include an end date not to exceed 1 month.

Our online calendar is your guide to live & virtual events in the Camden-Rockland Region. Click here to view.

Have an event to share? Members are invited to share events on the Chamber Calendar. Login to your Chamber Profile Page to get started.