February CACC Update from Susan & Ken
With our newly elected President now firmly in place in our Nation’s Capital and the pace of vaccinations rapidly rising, we are increasingly optimistic for a fantastic 2021. We recognize that it will still be several months and a lot of work before our Chamber members and the community feel safe being together, but we are confident that the summer will see a renewed level of normalcy and with it, an economic boost from pent-up demand for getting out and enjoying all that Cape Ann has to offer.
As a result of the continued pandemic, we have moved our Annual Dinner Celebration, the highlight kick-off event of the year, to June, and are planning it as BIG reuniting party of our Chamber business family and friends. Likewise, our first major fundraiser of the year – the Irish Sweepstakes – will be online again, for the last time…thankfully. We are excited to be holding it at Cape Ann Lanes’ new Lanes Side Pub, with all the Irish accoutrements – check it out on Facebook Live on March 18 at 5 pm, details to follow shortly. Tickets are available now at the Chamber.
We continue to focus on our members and assisting the community in weathering the pandemic with weekly updates on COVID financial aid programs, vaccination plans and community information. In addition to our popular monthly Coffee & Connections networking event on the first Thursday morning of every month, we have re-started our monthly Business After Hours on the last Wednesday of each month at 4:30, as a more casual networking forum. We are also excited to be re-engaging this month with our schools through our Business Education Collaborative – a monthly meeting with our schools and the broader Cape Ann education and business leadership community. In addition, we are planning our annual Economic Outlook Breakfast and Spring Cape Ann Caucus. Both will be online this year.
For more on our work, please see a short update from Susan and Ken, and Caitlin Pszenny (1st VP) and Loran Caputo (2nd VP), here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlw5_3I3Ec0&feature=youtu.be
The Chamber works year-round to promote, advocate, and provide training opportunities to fulfill our mission, which is to serve as the principal voice of business while working to enhance both the economic environment and the quality of life for the citizens of Cape Ann. To that end, we are always looking for ways to strengthen your business and build up our community. The Chamber offers incredible opportunity for you to make connections through monthly networking events, \ signature community events and several working committees. We also provide many free promotional opportunities through our social media channels, websites, weekly e-newsletter and monthly e-magazine along with many advertising and sponsorship opportunities. USE US – we are here for you! From Business Mixers to Educational Seminars, Government Advocacy, Regional Promotion and our Business-Education Collaborative, the Chamber is working hard for you and the community.
In addition, our affiliated Cape Ann Community Foundation is gearing up for its 2021 grant cycle, made possible with proceeds from the Cape Ann License Plate. We are proud to say that the Foundation has awarded more than $50,000 over the past four years to many local nonprofits and our schools. Because of the pandemic, these special license plates are not currently available online, but may be ordered at by calling 857-368-8031, as processed by the RMV Service Center. And Save The Date (March 22 – 29) – the Foundation is planning its third low number license plate auction, with 45 plates still available – this is your opportunity to get a custom low plate #? Additional information on the Foundation and Cape Ann Plate, is found here: http://www.lovecapeann.com/.
Cape Ann’s vibrant business community plays an important role in what makes this area a special place to live, work and play. Together we are making great things happen, building on our strong heritage to create a bright future.
