Interim Director’s & President’s Update – April 2025
April 1, 2025
As spring begins to take hold across Greater Cape Ann, the Chamber is proud to report a strong and engaging March—marked by full-house events, deep community connections, and renewed energy for the busy season ahead.
We were thrilled to host our Annual Economic Outlook Breakfast at the charming Magnolia Library & Community Center earlier this month. This year’s focus on downtown economic vitality drew a sell-out crowd and sparked thoughtful conversation on how to keep our community centers vibrant and resilient. Our three panelists shared perspectives from municipal planning, small business, and regional economic development—offering both practical takeaways and long-term vision. Special thanks to National Grid, our presenting sponsor, for helping make this event possible. And thank you to everyone who joined us for this insightful and energizing morning.
Our annual Irish Sweepstakes celebration took place this year at The James Pub in Essex—and what a night it was! With all 400 tickets sold, we were able to award a total of $20,000 in prizes. Huge thanks go out to The James for hosting, to all of our ticket sellers and buyers for making this fundraiser such a success, and to Seashore Comfort Solutions, our presenting sponsor, for their generous support. This event continues to be a fun and meaningful way to connect with our community—and we’re grateful to everyone who helped make it happen.
Our 2025 Maps and Guides have been in development over the past several months, and we’re excited to share that they’re on track for release in early May. These publications are one of the Chamber’s most visible and widely distributed marketing tools, helping to showcase everything that makes Greater Cape Ann such a special place to live, work, and visit. Thank you to all the businesses and organizations participating in this year’s editions.
The Cape Ann Community Foundation will host its annual Low-Number Cape Ann License Plate Auction from April 11 through April 21. With only six low-number plates remaining, this is a rare opportunity to secure one of these special Cape Ann plates. Donors can also request custom 3- or 4-digit plates by making a contribution. At the same time, the Foundation’s annual grant cycle will open in April, and we encourage local nonprofits to apply for funding to support their community-focused work. For more information on the auction or to submit a grant application, visit www.lovecapeann.com.
This month, we held Division Meetings across each of the Greater Cape Ann communities. These gatherings continue to be an essential forum for sharing local updates, discussing current challenges, and exploring ways that the Chamber, municipalities, and businesses can work together. We were pleased to see strong attendance and thoughtful participation from members and town leaders alike—thank you to all who joined the conversation.
As always, we encourage you to stay connected, get involved, and take full advantage of all the Chamber has to offer. With spring officially here, now is the perfect time to join a committee, attend an event, or simply get out and explore the incredible businesses and destinations across Greater Cape Ann.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Warmly,
Jim Brown, President, GCACC Board of Directors
Sam Bevins, Interim Director, Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce