Piscataquis Chamber looks to be a resource for area businesses

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce has sought to help local businesses locate and utilize various forms of available assistance. Organizational officials spoke about looking to increase this support during the annual meeting on the morning of Thursday, Oct. 14, held at the Piscataquis County Ice Arena and over Zoom.

Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Denise Buzzelli said the organization has 244 current members. “We are so thankful for our relationships we have been able to develop over the years but especially over the last two years,” she said.

Buzzelli added since the 2020 annual meeting the Chamber has continued to be committed to working with business owners throughout the county to help them overcome revenues lost during the pandemic. 

“At the start of 2021 our Chamber came together with other key organizations, and organizations all over the state dedicated to the success of small business,” she said “We joined our effort together and we formulated something called the Piscataquis Economic Recovery Task Force.”

The group has assembled packets for business owners “to better navigate all of the resources, the recovery grants, the loans, the workforce report, anything that was out there that was available that they may otherwise have not known,” Buzzelli said. 

She said for the first time through webinars, the enhanced Chamber website, and social media, “We were able to make our members and all of the businesses tied to each of these organizations aware of these resources the minute they became available.”

Chamber partners on the endeavor includes the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council, Eastern Maine Development Corp., Department of Labor, Small Business Association, and dozens of local banks and credit unions. “We provided resources in detail and we provided a platform for business to ask questions,” Buzzelli said.

“The goal was to increase awareness of the available help in Piscatquis County,” the Chamber executive director said. “It became painfully obvious to me when COVID hit and businesses shut down and business owners were so desperate for help and support. It became very obvious that the engagement rate in this county was so low.”

She said businesses in some of Maine’s largest cities have utilized state and federal assistance and she attributed the low participation numbers in Piscataquis County to a lack of awareness, and the Piscataquis Economic Recovery Task Force has made a difference in reversing this trend.

“I’m proud as the Chamber director to have played a small role in that,” Buzzelli said.

During the pandemic smaller events, such as ribbon cuttings, were held and Buzzelli said she made more one on one visits and Zoom calls than before early 2020. She said got to know some Chamber members better than she may have otherwise.

Buzzelli added the Chamber has invested in its South Street building, painting the exterior and having the front driveway fixed.

“We are the first face of Piscatquis County,” she said. The executive director said now the location matches “the professionalism people were seeing in the guidebook and on the website.”

A document shredding event for Chamber members served as a way for the organization to give back, Buzzelli said, mentioning fundraisers with non-profits as another idea. “The shredding event is just one way in 2021 we can say we want to give back and we want to spend money on you,” she said.

The executive director reported 26 members joined the Chamber and 11 left. She cited reasons such as going out of business, relocating, and national chains dropping local chamber of commerce memberships.

Saying membership dues contribute to the bottom line Buzzelli said, “The partnerships established, the resources shared, the promotion of our area and its businesses, that makes the biggest difference for business owners and the Chamber. That is the most important thing to us, that you feel that this is a value and that we are making a difference in your life as business owners.”

Plans for 2022 include alerting Chamber members about opportunities with the Maine Economic Development Strategy and Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan. Buzzelli said the bylaws and mission and vision statements are in the process of being updated, “completing the long process that began almost two years ago of developing a policy and procedure manual and an employee manual which we really never had in place in writing.”

“Externally our greatest desire, as I mentioned, is to continue to build relationships with you, our members, and like organizations in Piscataquis County and to grow to thrive,” she said. “We look forward to a successful 2022.”

Board of Directors President Matt Spooner said he became enlightened by learning about opportunities out there for member businesses through the Chamber. “As far as I see, it’s our obligation as a Chamber to help businesses and organizations,” he said.

The meeting included an election of officers with Brenda Kelley of Camden National Bank becoming vice president of the board of directors. Outgoing Vice President Wil Wedge, owner of Will’s Shop ‘n Save, will stay on as a director.

Alicia Stone of Bangor Savings Bank will join the Chamber directors.