The 4th annual Kennebec River Brewfest is on the go again this year! The KV Chamber has elected to provide the community with a Kennebec River Brewfest To Go cooler bag to allow for greater social distancing efforts while still showcasing the amazing ferments this state has to offer. Each Cooler bag goes for $60 and has a minimum of 12 local beers, as well as the potential for cider, wine, hard seltzer, local goodies, and swag inside!

As if it couldn't get any better, the 2021 Brewfest To Go cooler bag will have a patriotic spin. Pickup will be June 29th - July 2nd to ensure local beer is in your hands this 4th of July. To celebrate the holiday, our cooler bag will be decked out with the red white and blue that represents our country. It is the perfect pairing for your 4th of July plans.

Reservations go live TODAY. Last year we sold out within 24 hours of our sales being open. If you want to get your hands on this highly sought-after product you should RUN, not walk, to the Brewfest website right now.
Presented By
VIP Sponsor
Beer Sponsor
Marketing Sponsor
Distribution Sponsor
Small businesses are the cornerstones of our community. Without them, the unique charm of the Kennebec Valley would dissolve into nothing. Our favorite coffee shops, restaurants, car dealerships, insurance agencies, boutiques, breweries, creatives, farms, and so on are what define us. They are as essential to the identity of a community as its topography and people.
 
Small businesses are so special because along with having the charm of familiarity that keeps us coming back, they also employ our neighbors and friends. As a result, most of the money that we invest in them is redistributed into our local economy. That is good for everyone.

Small businesses are especially vital it the state of Maine as they make up over 99% of all the businesses in the state and employ nearly 60% of its workforce. Simply put, we exist because small businesses exist.

That said, it is no secret that the events of the past year have taken a toll on the vitality of small business in the Kennebec valley and across the nation. Presently, small business revenue is down 32%. It is our time to give back to the small businesses that have given so much to us.

Small business week is May 2nd to the 8th, 2021. We encourage you to get out this week and celebrate our amazing small businesses. We also invite you to check out our social media all week to learn more about the importance of small businesses and ways you can support them.

This Small Business Week the Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all the small businesses in our community for contributing to the economy of the Kennebec valley. 
May Monthly Programs
CEO Spotlight
with
Donna Strickler, Sexual Assault Crisis & Support Center
Wednesday, May 5th
11:30 am - 12:30 pm | FREE Webinar!
Donna Strickler has been the Executive Director of the Sexual Assault Crisis & Support Center for over 25 years and has been working in the area of prevention and intervention of sexual violence for over 30 years, she brought the first Sexual Assault Forensic Nurse Examiner program to Maine and has been involved in many legislative policy initiatives, as well as the development of the first Nationally Accredited Children's Advocacy Center in Maine.
Thank you to our 2021 Cynergy Sponsor!
Traveling In 2021
Navigating Your Travel Plans In The Time Of COVID

With
AAA Travel Agents, 
Vanessa Erickson & Taylor Eddy

Wednesday, May 12th | 12:00 - 1:00PM
One of the many aspects of our “normal lives” that COVID has made complicated is travel, both for pleasure and work. In this ever-evolving climate as each state and nation addresses the pandemic differently, it can feel impossible to know exactly when and how to purchase those tickets. We are plagued with concerns about when the best time to fly is, how to prepare, what obstacles we may face, and beyond. To help us navigate these issues and many more are Vanessa Erickson and Taylor Eddy, travel advisors at AAA in Augusta Maine. With nearly 40 years of combined experience in the travel industry, they are ready to help you set sail on your summer plans with ease.
$20 per person
KV Chamber Members will receive a $10 gift certificate to enjoy lunch on us!
Thank you to our Women's Network Luncheon Sponsor!
May 2021 Legislative Update
Wednesday, May 16th | 7:30am - 9:00am

FREE for KV Chamber Members
$10 for the Public
A Zoom conference line will be emailed to member attendees after registering for the event. Attendees from the public must make the full payment prior to the event in order to receive the link to attend the digital event.
Thank you to our Chamber Connection Sponsors!
Augusta Colonial Theater
Wednesday, June 23rd | 5:00 - 7:00 PM
We are taking May off from Business After Hours to prepare for our first in person gathering at Augusta Colonial Theater. We encourage you to RSVP now for this event as space will be limited due to our social distancing efforts in correspondence with Maine and US CDC guidelines. We look forward to seeing you in June!
After registering for the event, attendees will be emailed a Zoom link to attend.
Thank you to our Business After Hours Sponsor!
Dozens of leaders in southern Kennebec County are spearheading a process to establish 10-year community goals in health, education and financial stability. The Goal-Setting Council, coordinated by United Way of Kennebec Valley, seeks broad feedback in the form of public surveys and community conversations with people who live, work or play in the region by June 15
FREE Face Masks Available!

Does your business need PPE? The KV Chamber has masks available for our members! Please contact us at info@kennebecvalleychamber.com or by calling (207) 623-4559 so we can assist you with your needs.
Welcome Our New Members!
Amy Gingras Communications & Photography, LLC
Amy Gingras, (207) 215-1654

Everett Realty Group
Shelly Everett, (207) 461-4249

Freckle Salvage Company
Nicole D. Stanford, (207) 395-5429

Higgins & Bolduc Agency, Inc
Matthew Marquis, (207) 465-2531

Summit Real Estate
Jordan Stolt, (207) 620-2652

T-ROC Global
Dee Galery, (229) 375-7376

U.S. Army Augusta Recruiting Station
(207) 622-4910

Wrapped Up Coffee House
Ryan Hill, (207) 480-1455

Wrapped Up LLC
Ryan Hill, (207) 620-9727

Member Anniversaries
40+ Years
Key Bank, Gagne & Son

30+ Years
MaineGeneral Health | S.J. Wood Construction Co. | University of Maine at Augusta

20+ Years
Lake & Denison, LLC | Macomber Transportation & Warehousing | Oakes & Parkhurst Glass | Bonney Staffing Center

10+ Years
AAA Portable Toilets | Liberty Mutual Company | Milestone Communications | The Boulos Company | The Foster Agency | United Insurance | Viles Arboretum | Friends of Kennebec River Rail Trail | Maine Staffing Group

5+ Years
Statewide Towing, Inc.

Also Renewing
Dave's Diner | Fedcap | Maine Market Refrigeration, LLC | MPowered, LLC DBA Empowhers | NAMI Maine | River Road Variety | Dave's Appliance | Gallant Therapy Services | Rare Bird Art Studio
Chamber Member News
Androscoggin Bank Becomes a Certified B Corporation™-Lewiston, Maine –Androscoggin Bank announced it has become a Certified B Corporation, an accomplishment made by only nine other banks in the U.S. Unlike traditional corporations, Certified B Corporations must meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability. There are only ten other Maine companies that have achieved B Corp status, and only three other banks in New England. With offices in Lewiston and Portland, Androscoggin Bank has over 180 employees and 12 branches across the state. With assets of $1.35 Billion, Androscoggin Bank has served businesses and consumers of Maine for 150 years. With this certification, Androscoggin Bank is leading the way in how Maine banks can use business as a force for good and setting a new bar for transparency and accountability. Follow the conversations on LinkedIn and Facebook.

U.S. Small Business Administration- The American Rescue Plan Act established the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) to provide funding to help restaurants and other eligible businesses keep their doors open. This program will provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location. Recipients are not required to repay the funding as long as funds are used for eligible uses no later than March 11, 2023.
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care teamed up with Olympic gold medalist, Joan Benoit Samuelson and Dajuan Eubanks of the Maine Red Claws to encourage Mainers to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Watch the PSA here.
American Red Cross of Northern New England: Please consider taking 20 minutes to meet with a trained Red Cross educator to help you and your family learn how to prevent, prepare for, and recover from a home fire. The American Red Cross of Northern New England is “Sounding the Alarm” to educate people about home fire safety and prepare families to act quickly. Get tips on escaping from a home fire, plus learn smart habits that can prevent a fire from starting. You will receive personalized information on how to protect your home and reduce fire risks. Visit redcross.org/EndHomeFiresNNE or call 800-464-6692 to make an appointment to prepare your family today.
Key Bank is offering a new initiative called Key@Work. Key@Work is an all-encompassing program, providing a dedicated team to deliver educational tools, special products, and benefits to improve your employees' financial wellness. If you open a Key Bank premium checking account with a qualifying monthly direct deposit you may be eligible for a $250.00 cash gift. Offer expires 6/23/2021. Click here for more information.
To submit Member News, send your press releases to: info@kennebecvalleychamber.com
KVCC Board of Directors
Earl Kingsbury, Chair*
Augusta Civic Center
Tim Walton, Chair Elect*
Walton External Affairs
Michele Pelletier, Vice Chair*
PERFORMANCE Foodservice - NorthCenter
Matthew Tardiff, Treasurer*
J.S. McCarthy Printers
Alec Rogers, Past Chair*
Quality Inn & Suites Maine Evergreen Hotel
Chuck Hays, Past Treasurer*
MaineGeneral Health
Cathy DeMerchant, Human Resources*
Capital Area Staffing Solutions, Inc.
Katie Doherty, President & CEO*^
Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce

* Executive Committee  ^ Full -Time Executive

Karen Boston
Lipman Katz & Boston, P.A
Nathan Cotnoir
Camden National Bank
Lori Dube
Sprague & Curtis Real Estate
Elisa Ellis, Special Counsel
Ellis Law, LLC
Sue Grenier
G&E Roofing Co., Inc.
Eric Jermyn
Cross Insurance Agency
Steven Marson
Central Maine Pyrotechnics
Stacey Morrison
Ganneston Construction Corp.
Richard Parkhurst
Stained Glass Express
Lynn Quirion
Macomber, Farr & Whitten
Andrew Silsby
Kennebec Savings Bank
Eric Stinneford
Central Maine Power Company
Rebecca Wyke
University of Maine at Augusta
KVCC Staff

Katie L. Doherty, President & CEO, kld@kennebecvalleychamber.com
Lindsay L. Corbett, Office Manager, llc@kennebecvalleychamber.com
Kayla M. Tracy, Events & Membership Director, kmt@kennebecvalleychamber.com
Amy P. Gingras, Marketing Coordinator, apg@kennebecvalleychamber.com