This message is bit longer than usual, and certainly less flashy. Take 5 minutes, and read it fully.
Every day I am talking to businesses and organizations dealing with rapid change. Financial institutions implementing new programs quickly. Restaurants shifting to curbside and hiring delivery drivers. Retailers learning how to increase online sales. Managers learning new tech and supporting newly remote teams. Members and non-members alike, we are making and receiving calls to hear how things are going, and what we can do. We are looking for trends and patterns, planning ourselves how to adapt to meet your needs- now and in the months to come. 
What we see is that running a business, leading a team, executing your work goals- all seem infinitely harder right now. Processing new information every day, hour and minute has our brains in overdrive. Grieving the loss of planned events, milestones and normalcy are indicators of the collective trauma we are experiencing as leaders, teams, and individuals. Many of us are either experiencing a type of paralysis in action or patterns of thinking that are harmful to ourselves and to your long-term sustainability and success. 
What we know is that you are not alone in this crisis, or your response to it. This message to you is part of a series where I will share on-the-ground observations from businesses, NGO’s and regional peers. I will offer some of the best strategic thinking I have culled, and I will contribute my own locally contextualized thoughts. I will end the series with some of the key strategic questions we all should be asking ourselves if we want to stay relevant, solvent, and strong in the Next Normal. Click here for on-the-ground observations of businesses across the greater LA region, and from our peers and counterparts across the state and US.

The Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce announces that applications are now being accepted for the 2020 Top Gun LA entrepreneurship acceleration program.

Top Gun LA is designed specifically for the entrepreneur with a desire to grow his/her business and achieve long-term success through the use of the right tools and resources. Top Gun elements include mentorship, lessons from successful entrepreneurs, workshopping, discussions, and pitch development and practice, all of which occurs during high-impact weekly gatherings held in multiple locations across the state. The LA Metro Chamber has offered Top Gun LA to Central Maine entrepreneurs since 2017.

Program information and applications are available at https://www.mced.biz/top-gun/. Applications are due by Friday, November 15th. The program begins on February 5, 2020 and will run through the end of May. In addition to submitting a short online application, prospective companies will be required to submit a pitch deck and present a live pitch to the Top Gun LA interview committee.

The program will conclude with regional pitch off events where the top two semi-finalists will move on to a statwide Top Gun showcase, where they will compete for a $25,000 cash prize sponsored by the Maine Technology Institute.

For more information on the 2020 Top Gun LA entrepreneurship acceleration program, contact Top Gun LA program coordinator Scott Benson at 783-2249.

Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce announces 2019 scholarship recipients

For the past 20 years, the LA Metro Chamber has given scholarships to local graduating seniors planning to continue their studies at either an accredited college or university, as well as a certificate program. The Chamber has also given scholarship awards to adults continuing their education while working called the Member Employee Scholarship.

This year’s local high school recipients were announced at the June membership breakfast held at Poland Spring Resort on June 13^th.  The recipients are Ryan Theriault from Edward Little High School, Sadie Waterman from Oak Hill High School, Hunter Steele from Lewiston High School, Catarina Bifulco from Leavitt Area High School, Abigail Castonguay from Saint Dominic Academy, Joshua Landry from Poland Regional High School, and Riley Leeman from Lisbon High School.  These students were selected from their respective guidance office for good academic achievement, positive involvement in the local community, a good record of extracurricular school involvement, and time management skills fostered through part time employment, and continuing their education in the state of Maine.

This year’s Member Employee Scholarship recipient is Laura LaBelle, staff accountant at the City of Lewiston. Laura stated in her essay “Not long ago I did not think it would be possible for me to be an employee of the City of Lewiston or have the opportunity to obtain a college degree” Laura has overcome many challenges but is determined to succeed in her role at the City of Lewiston and as a college student.

The Chamber raises the funds for scholarships through the Annual Chip Morrison Scholarship Scramble.  This year’s scholarship scramble will be held on Wednesday August 21^stat Fox Ridge Golf Course in Auburn. The funds raised from the scholarship scramble help improve the education of our local workforce. Opportunities to support the scholarship scramble are still available.

The Chamber’s scholarship program aligns with the Maine Spark initiative, a 10-year commitment from Maine’s most influential education and business leaders to work together to ensure that Maine’s workforce is productive and competitive. MaineSpark is powered by a coalition of organizations—schools and universities, nonprofits and foundations, government agencies and businesses—with a common goal: by 2025, 60% of Mainers will hold education and workforce credentials that position Maine and its families for success.  LA Metro Chamber President Rebecca Swanson Conrad said, “We are pleased to align our scholarship program with Maine Spark’s goal to connect people with the education, training, jobs, programs and resources needed to thrive in Maine’s robust and changing economy aspirations.”

News From 415 Lisbon Street

Workforce Development

Economic Development

• was launched within the past two years (May 2017 – May 2019)
• must have commercial viability and currently be in the market
• will be evaluated on international market appeal as well as innovation

Make It Here: Tourism

LA Metro Partners

• Have annual revenues of at least $250,000
• Have been in business for at least 3 years
• Have at least one employee, other than self
• Must has decision making authority

Download the application here.

The purpose of the Chamber Member Employee Scholarship Program is to recognize an employee of a LA Metro Chamber member who has shown effort in advancing his or her education.

Scholarship Awards

Scholarships of $1000 each will be awarded annually. The scholarships will be awarded directly to the recipient. One award will be made per individual, although the award may be divided to apply to two semesters of college work.

• Preference will be given to applicants who have not previously won a Chamber Member Employee Scholarship from the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce

Eligibility

Applicants will…

• Be employed 20 or more hours by a member in good standing of the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
• Begin course(s) within 6 months of receiving award
• Be applying to or matriculated in college-level coursework applicable toward an Associates, Bachelor’s or Master’s degree

OR

• Be applying to or matriculated in a technical institute or certificate program
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent
• Be at least 18 years old
• If already matriculated, proof you are a student in good standing from the college you are attending

Application Requirements

• Scholarship application
• 250-300 word processed essay (see attached)
• Completed employer verification form
• Professional letter of reference/recommendation (more points will be given when the author is knowledgeable of the applicant’s professional work and/or collegiate work and speak to: motivation, financial need, aspirations, etc.)
• Unofficial transcript or letter of acceptance for upcoming semester
• Application MUST be complete to be considered!

Deadlines

The application and employer verification form must be received by April 26, 2019.Recipients will be notified by May 31, 2019 (Scholarship recipients will be notified by mail/e-mail)

Download the application here.