Wow –what an incredible start to Fall on Cape Ann, with gorgeous weather and a spectacular foliage color show spreading over the region. With the change in seasons comes a whole new set of Chamber initiatives, including fun and important Fall events and a renewed focus on our economic and community priorities.

We began October with our monthly online networking event, see the recording herein. On October 14 we will partner with Discover Gloucester and members of the Cape Ann visitor-based community for an online Fall Tourism Collaborative, looking back on learnings from the summer and looking ahead to plans and for the upcoming seasons. Then it is onto our BIG $25,000 Game drawing on October 15, a Facebook live event. Someone is going to win the top prize of $10,000; and with 12 chances to win at least $500, and only 500 tickets sold, these are the best odds on Cape Ann.  We only have a few tickets left, so please contact us right now if you would like one.  This is also the beginning of Cape Ann Plein Air (CAPA) 2020, which also has been re-structured as an online painting sale this Fall and the painting competition and Gala art sale are moved to May of 2021 – see more information within.

We are saddened to report that we had to cancel the Essex Clamfest this year, for obvious reasons, but we look forward to bringing it back bigger and better than ever next year.  And yes, the holiday season will soon be upon us, and we have already kicked-off planning for Santa’s arrival on Cape Ann, with associated fun community festivities and important shop-local initiatives.

Work on our three Mission Imperatives – Promoting Our Region, Strengthening Our Businesses, and Supporting Our Community – is heating-up.  We have started our 2021 publications cycle, key to raising the visibility of our region and our members. We have also begun planning for our Fall Cape Ann Caucus on October 23, where we will meet with local and state elected officials and public safety, education and business leaders to discuss issues and opportunities affecting our region. In addition, we will kick off our Business Education Collaborative, with our annual Focus on Education Roundtable, again bringing together all state and local elected officials and education and business leaders to specifically progress regional education priorities.

See our October Love Cape Ann Update podcast for a recap of these and other Chamber events and activities.

Cape Ann’s vibrant business community plays an important role in these initiatives and as part of the Chamber you are helping to make the region 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.

And when times are difficult, the Chamber is there as well.  This spring and summer, we made many vital contributions in response to the pandemic – and this will continue through the fall and winter.

These are further examples of the message we delivered at our annual celebration in January:  the Chamber is making a difference – for our members, our region and our community.