08/26/2026
Great Energy, New Connections, and More Ahead
What a great way to start a Friday!
We had a fantastic turnout for Coffee & Commerce on Aug. 21, and even better than the number of people who showed up was the energy in the room. Members were networking, making connections, sharing ideas, and talking about what’s ahead for our business community. The conversations and connections continued well beyond our scheduled end time, which was a great sign of the energy in the room.
A big thank you to Glazed & Confused for the doughnuts, Cascade Columbian Coffee for the coffee, and Merle Pense for the biscuits. You helped make the morning that much better!
The momentum continued throughout the day. We received two new Chamber membership applications, and Merle stepped forward and expressed interest in serving as a Chamber Ambassador. It was great to see that kind of enthusiasm and to have members looking for new ways to get involved.
We also introduced members to CC-Assist, our new membership platform designed specifically for chambers of commerce and their members, and gave a demonstration of some of the tools it offers. The new system will help us manage events, communications, membership information, and other Chamber services, while giving members better access to Chamber resources and opportunities. Jamie will be helping members get familiar with CC-Assist as we continue rolling it out.
And there’s plenty more happening.
Work continues on plans for a shuttle during the final three weeks of Spirit of Halloweentown, with a route along Columbia Boulevard between the Chamber office and the Riverfront District. One local business has already stepped up with a commitment to cover half of the shuttle costs, putting us halfway toward our funding goal.
Now we’re looking for businesses in both the Riverfront District and Houlton Business District to help us close the gap and get the shuttle on the road.
Businesses that participate will also have opportunities to advertise on the shuttle and reach riders throughout the event. It’s a chance to help visitors get around town, connect them with more of our local businesses, and put your business in front of people while they’re here enjoying Spirit of Halloweentown.
If your business is interested in helping sponsor the shuttle, reach out to the Chamber to learn more about the available opportunities.
Friday was a great reminder of what happens when we get people together. Conversations turn into connections, connections turn into ideas, and ideas give us new opportunities to support our members and our business community.
There’s a lot happening at the Chamber, and there’s even more ahead. Thank you to everyone who joined us Friday, everyone who helped make the morning happen, and all of our members who continue to be part of what we’re building together.
We’re excited about where things are going, and we’re glad you’re along for the ride.
South Columbia County Chamber of Commerce
