Business After Hours Returns July 14

Chamber Business After Hours Returns July 14th

The Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce will finally be returning to in person Business After Hours events in 2021 with an indoor/outdoor event on Wednesday, July 14th, from 5pm – 7pm at their 14 Main St. office. The event will be catered with drinks and light food available. They will be bidding a fond farewell to Executive Director Steve Ryan as he heads into retirement and officially welcoming the new Executive Director Dorothy Havey.

“Welcome” remarks will be offered by leaders of the Chamber Board, as well as other businesses in the community. The food and beverage sponsors for the event are Changing Seasons Federal Credit Union, Front Street Shipyard and LCI Fiber Optic Network. A door prize of offerings from Cellardoor Winery will be raffled off as well.

The remaining 2021 schedule is as follows: August – First National Bank, September – LCI Fiber Optic Network, October – Belfast Maskers, November – Rollie’s Bar & Grill at the Waldo County Shrine Club, December – Camden National Bank.

For more information, please call the Chamber office at 207-338-5900 or email chamberoffice@belfastmaine.org.

Newsletter – June 24, 2021

In This Issue: Arts in the Park on the waterfront this weekend, Belfast Garden Club Open Garden Tours, Belfast Fiberarts Rug Hooking Demo Day, Ananda Yoga & Wellness teaches class at The Blue Alpaca Ranch and Store, Launchpad & Bangor Arts Exchange host Murcielago, Left Bank Books hosts book signing with Paul Doiron and virtual conversation with Gigi Georges, NARFE holds monthly meeting, Ripped from the Headlines with Penobscot Marine Museum, Belfast Summer Nights begins, celebrate Searsport 175th Birthday, Front Street Shipyard tours begin, North Atlantic Blues Festival is a go, and much more!

This week’s cover photo comes to you from this year’s Arts in the Park Artist of the Year, Lacey Goodrich of Laceypots! News from Belfast, Waldo County, and Beyond!

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Newsletter – June 17, 2021

In This Issue: 2021 Paces for PAWS Virtual 5K & Walking Challenge, Father’s Day Take-out at Searsport First Congregational Church, One-Acts at Belfast Maskers, Belfast Waterfront Photography Exhibition at Waterfall Arts, Open House at Captain Nickels Inn, Summer Events at Searsport Shores Ocean Campground, Open Garden Days with Belfast Garden Club, 25th Anniversary of Arts in the Park – Belfast, Maine, Upcoming Meeting with NARFE Midcoast, North Atlantic Blues Festival, Doiron book signing & Georges virtual conversation at Left Bank Books, tours now available at Penobscot Marine Museum, Belfast Summer Nights, and more!!

This week’s cover photo comes to you from The Colonial Theatre, which reopens June 18th! News from Belfast, Waldo County, and Beyond!

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25th Anniversary – Arts in the Park

The Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce, Belfast Parks & Recreation Department and Waterfall Arts invite you to the 25th annual Arts in the Park on June 26 and 27 at Steamboat Landing Park from 10am – 4pm, sponsored by KSW Federal Credit Union and RE/MAX Jaret & Cohn Real Estate.

This year the focus is on local art and fine craft, and all artists are residents of the State of Maine, with an emphasis on Waldo County. There will be artwork covering a wide range of categories, including ceramics, fiber, jewelry, painting, photography, print, stone, wood, and more. This year’s Artist of the Year is Lacey Goodrich of Laceypots, a ceramic artist located in Portland, Maine.

With an awareness of our continued recovery from the coronavirus, this year the event will be half the size, with 61 artists spread out across the park. Organizers understand the COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult on many and hope to provide a safe and enjoyable atmosphere for artists and art lovers alike, so they ask that if you are not fully vaccinated, that you wear a mask while visiting. Vaccinated artists and visitors do not have to wear a mask.

There will also be a great line up of music to entertain park visitors, including Meghan Clark, Jonesville, The Juke Rockets, Belfast Bay Fiddlers, Alice Limoges and Miners Creek.

Want to satisfy your tastebuds too? Food options available during the event include The Scone Goddess, Sabatian’s pizza, Bricks-N-Sticks, Perennial Cider Bar and the classics from Belfast Lions Club.

The Chamber also encourages visitors to enjoy the event but to stay in the greater Belfast area a little longer and support area artisans, galleries, studios, and suppliers too. There will be a special page in this year’s program for those area Chamber members.

For more information, email Scott at ChamberOffice@belfastmaine.org or visit Arts in the Park online at www.belfastmaine.org/arts-in-the-park/ and on Facebook.

Newsletter – June 10, 2021

In This Issue: Waldo County Shrine Club Drive-Thru Chicken BBQ, Paces for PAWS Animal Adoption CenterFriends of Sears Island Benefit Day at Nautilus, Father’s Day Take-out at Searsport First Congregational Church, One Acts on the Lawn at Belfast Maskers, Open House at Captain Nickels InnFiber College of Maine June Schedule, 25th Anniversary of Arts in the Park – Belfast, MaineNorth Atlantic Blues Festival, and munch more!

This week’s cover photo comes to you from Chase’s Daily Restaurant in Belfast Maine

News from Belfast, Waldo County, and Beyond!

Click here for this week’s Chamber newsletter

Newsletter – June 3, 2021

In This Issue: Art in the Beer Garden with Waterfall Arts at Three Tides & Marshall Wharf Brewing Company, Drive-Thru Chicken BBQ at Waldo County Shrine Club, annual Plant Sale with Belfast Garden Club, countdown to Arts in the Park – Belfast, Maine, and much more!

This week’s cover photo comes to you from the Memorial Day Parade in Belfast – photo by Kendra Caruso, The Republican Journal News from Belfast, Waldo County, and Beyond!

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Chamber Hires New Executive Director

The Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the hiring of our new Executive Director, a person who will be familiar to many in our community!

Dorothy Havey has accepted the position succeeding Steve Ryan, the outgoing director. Dorothy expects to start in her new role in early July.

Dorothy has served our community in many ways over the years. She was the Executive Director of Our Town Belfast in its early days and has held management positions with several nonprofits including the Owls Head Transportation Museum, the Farnsworth Art Museum, The Institute for Global Ethics and the Penobscot Marine Museum. She lead the Belfast Area Chamber from mid-2013 to the end of 2014 during which both membership and activity increased. During that tenure, she was lured away to serve as Director of Constituent Services for Sen. Mike Thibodeau for several years. She currently serves as the Director of Development for Waldo CAP.

In accepting the position, Dorothy said: “I’d like to congratulate Steve Ryan on his retirement and applaud the staff and board of directors on the success of the Chamber. It is exciting to be returning to the position and I look forward to the years ahead as we welcome visitors, friends and family, and of course, a return to economic growth.”

Dorothy is an eleventh generation Mainer, growing up in the small town of Sullivan, Maine, the daughter of the local postmaster. She is a graduate of UMaine with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Dorothy lives in Belfast with her husband and the family pets. She enjoys her role as a Belfast Free Library Trustee and is an active member and past president of Rotary.

Newsletter – May 27, 2021

In This Issue: Julz Makes LLC & Belfast Fiberarts host a Grand Opening for their new weaving studio and maker space, Drive Thru BBQ Fundraiser for Waldo County Woodshed, ‘She Kills Monsters’ opens this weekend with Midcoast Theater Company, Belfast Garden Club prepares for the big annual Plant Sale, and much more!

This week’s cover photo comes to you from Castine Kayak Adventures! News from Belfast, Waldo County, and Beyond!

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Newsletter – May 20, 2021

In This Issue: Belfast Maskers present a groovy version of Shakespeare’s ‘As You Like It,’ Quirk Carquest of Belfast holds Grand Opening at new Renys Plaza location, Old School ME holds Mid Coast Maine Cards & Collectibles Show, May Antiques & Collectibles, Coins & Currency Auction with DownEast Auctions, Midcoast Theater Company presents the dramatic comedy ‘She Kills Monsters,’ Belfast Garden Club prepares for their annual Plant Sale, and much more!

This week’s cover photo comes to you from The Only Doughnut

News from Belfast, Waldo County, and Beyond!

Click here to read this week’s Chamber newsletter.

CDBG Economic Development Program Grant for Public Awareness & Comment

The City of Belfast, ME is currently working with GO Logic, LLC, a Belfast-based business specializing in Passive House architecture and construction, to secure a grant in the amount of $240,000 from the Community Development Block Grant Economic Development Program. This program can award grants of up to $250,000 that can be used by a business for capital and non-capital equipment, job training, and working capital. The business ultimately receiving the benefit of the grant must supply matching funds in at least a 2:1 ratio (for every dollar of grant funds received, the business must provide 50 cents of matching funds) and create one full-time equivalent position per $30,000 of grant funding received, with at least 51% of those new positions being taken by individuals from low- to moderate-income households (those being households making less than 80% of the county median income, scaled by household size, for the previous 12 months).

If awarded, G O Logic plans to use this $240,000 to pay for the majority, if not the entirety, of: 1) two butterfly tables (tables that are used in manufacturing processes to aid in the construction of wall and roof panels); and 2) a specialized forklift (to efficiently and safely transport these fabricated panels around their production area). These equipment acquisitions will contribute to the outfitting of G O Logic’s new combined office and production facility located in the Belfast Airport Business Park on Little River Drive. G O Logic will be required to provide (at least) $120,000 in matching funds and also create eight full-time jobs within 12 months of grant award notification, with at least five of them being taken by individuals from low- to moderate-income households.

The City of Belfast will be holding a public hearing on this grant application on Tuesday, May 18th, 2021, as part of its regularly scheduled City Council meeting, which begins at 6:30pm on that date. Public comments will be solicited at this hearing and will be submitted as part of the application. Comments may be submitted in writing to:

Thomas Kittredge
Economic Development Director for the City of Belfast
Belfast City Hall
131 Church Street
Belfast, Maine, 04915

or via email to economicdevelopment@cityofbelfast.org at any time prior to the public hearing. Questions regarding this grant application can also be directed to Thomas Kittredge via email at economicdevelopment@cityofbelfast.org or via phone at (207) 338-3770, extension 116. More information regarding the grant application can also be found at www.cityofbelfast.org/gologic