June CACC Update from Susan & Ken
May is always a mixed weather month, and this year was no different. Hot and cold, windy and wet…at least over Memorial Day Weekend…we are ready for summer and warm weather! We did have perfect weather for our Annual Education Fundraiser at Bass Rock Golf, with 120 golfers having a fantastic time on the links. This signature event supports our Education Priority through our Business Education Collaborative, funding our six high school college scholarships, Cape Ann Career & College Fair, DECA, Internship and Mentor support, classroom training, and more. In May we also conducted our first of a three part business seminar series with Endicott College, partnered with the City of Gloucester and Discover Gloucester on a presentation by the SBA on the new Restaurant Revitalization Fund, led several ribbon cuttings and had a terrific turn-out with almost 100 tourism business leaders attending our Tourism Mixer at the beautifully renovated Emerson Inn – congratulations Kimberly! This event marked the first time our members have met in person in almost a year and half and it was so nice seeing everyone again. The event was led by the Chamber’s Tourism Council, open to all members – contact our Chair, Tony Sapienza, email: tsapienza@gmail.com, if you are interested in learning more about joining the Tourism Council.
One more BIG milestone in May – our 2021 / 22 publications were delivered, and they are beautiful! We print a total of 260,000 pieces consisting of the Cape Ann Guide & Directory, Cape Ann Map and Rockport Map; and we deliver around Cape Ann, the greater North Shore, into Boston and beyond. These publications will also be available on our multiple websites shortly for our locals and visitors around the world. Please stop by the Chamber to pick-up as many as you would like, or give us a call, we are happy to deliver.
Normally we kick-off June with our Small Business Week, but we are postponing it this year to September to ensure we can celebrate safely. Instead, we are gearing-up for our 99th Annual Dinner Celebration, postponed from January to June 18, a casual event being held outside under a tent on the docks at Maritime Gloucester. We will be celebrating Board President Susan Gould-Coviello, already well-established our organization’s captain, as well as several incoming Board members, and Tony Sapienza, Board Chair and exiting Board Members. The event in sold-out, but there are still sponsorship opportunities available as a fantastic way to promote your business and support our mission.
Coming this summer, we are pleased to report that the inclusion of Ipswich as part of what will be the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce is moving forward very nicely. We are finalizing details with the Ipswich Chamber and there will be much more to come about this exceptional opportunity for all our members and Cape Ann communities to benefit from this collaborative merger.
And yes, we are planning our full summer events programming including our signature community events: Gloucester Block Parties, Waterfront Festival and Festival by the Sea in Manchester.
Our major fundraiser – Love Cape Ann Annual Auction – normally in July, is being postponed to November…stay tuned for more information.
On other fronts, our Cape Ann Community Foundation has just closed the 2021 grant application cycle – we will be announcing the winners information shortly. The grants are funded with proceeds from the Cape Ann License Plate, easily available online at the official Registry of Motor Vehicles site. Please contact us if would like to learn more, as the registry is not yet allowing purchase online due to the pandemic.
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 imagine and create a bright future.