Initiative to create new business chamber begins; Rock Coast Entrepreneurs to take lead on networking, education functions
ROCKLAND — Almost one month ago, the Board of Directors governing the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce announced that organization's dissolution following its financial collapse. It came as shock to the Rockland-Camden region, where the chamber, once the fourth largest chamber of commerce in the state, had been considered a stalwart fixture.
That Dec. 12 announcement was accompanied by a message that a plan was evolving to create a new structure — not to replace the chamber, but create a different model.
“There is no one who wants the chamber back more than me,” said Chris Austin, former vice president of the Pen Bay Chamber. “I am heartbroken over it. But right now, in the short term, we are not replacing the chamber. That is longterm.”
Austin spoke over the phone Jan. 2 about organizational steps. And, he talked about the latest initiative to recreate networking functions that the chamber had hosted over the years.
Rock Coast Entrepreneurs, a nonprofit that was formed last March as a 501(c)7 (defined by the IRS as a social club), intends to, “provide continuity for the programs and events that have long supported entrepreneurs, small businesses, and organizations in the Midcoast region.”
Rock Coast Entrepreneurs, a membership organization lead bymembership-elected officers, meets at the UMA Rockland Center, University of Maine Augusta on the fourth floor in the Breakwater Building, 91 Camden Street in Rockland. Meetings are held on the first and third Thursday of every month from 8 to 9 a.m.
For those who are now in the process of building a new resource for business owners in the Midcoast, the dissolution of the Pen Bay chamber represents a loss, “but it also presents an opportunity to reimagine how we work together to support the business community,” according to a Jan. 2 news release from Rock Coast Entrepreneurs. “With the combined strength of Rock Coast Entrepreneurs and our partner organizations, we are prepared to build a stronger, more unified foundation for advocacy, growth, and collaboration.”
Those partner organizations are Rockland Rockland Main Street, the Lincolnville Business Group, the Camden Area Business Group, and down the line, perhaps the Maine Office of Tourism, said Austin.
Austin is president of Rock Coast Entrepreneurs, and he said the nonprofit’s roots extend back almost 20 years ago, when it was known as the Rock Coast Networkers. That group was dissolved last year in order to create Rock Coast Entrepreneurs, “a better model for the future based on what we do well,” he said.
Austin said the nonprofit business group focuses on the, “Midcoast entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
“We’re not new,” he said. “We just have a new name and a new focus.”
According to a Jan. 2 news release, Rock Coast Entrepreneurs presents a collaborative commitment to the community, and will create:
“Networking Opportunities: We will work together to provide spaces for local businesses to connect, collaborate, and share ideas;
“Support Key Events: Our collective efforts will help ensure beloved regional events and expos continue to thrive;
“Celebrate Local Achievements: We’ll shine a spotlight on milestones, achievements, and success stories to inspire and engage our community.
“Share Success on Entrepreneur’s Hour: Our radio show will highlight local businesses, fostering awareness and unity.”
Austin hosts the Entrepreneur’s Hour, a weekly radio show on local radio station 93.3 WRFR. The show airs on Tuesdays, “and we will be expanding that to two hours later this month where we will offer business news updates, press releases and other business news,” the release said.
On Tuesday, Jan. 7, Austin said a core organizational group will meet: “to get the ball rolling. We need the expo. Everyone wants the expo, how do we get that going?”
That Business/Community Expo and Job Fair was the annual Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce event held at the Samoset Resort that drew thousands of business owners and visitors to a day of networking and informational display.
The expo, along with Business After Hours — the monthly evening gathering of business owners at various company headquarters or institutions to chat with each other — were considered core functions by the former chamber membership.
Austin said Rock Coast Entrepreneurs will host a business breakfast in the future, as well as business after hours, brown-bag lunches, and other networking engagements.
There is, “no way that the Pen Bay chamber will return,” said Austin, noting that the chamber model must have fundraising mechanisms.
He foresees a possible model whereby an umbrella organization includes under it a variety of existing like-minded organizations. He and others have looked toward the Greater Topeka Partnership in Kansas, as a potential model.
Greater Topeka Partnership is the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce, which advocate for business at all levels of government. It also emphasizes training for adaptive leadership, which is a theory of business that, according to a explanation on Indeed.com, rests of three components: Determine what to keep and what to let go, take calculated risks and make adjustments as needed.
The seven principles of adapted leadership are: encourage continuous learning, improve communication processes, embrace change, keep an open mind, seek input from employees, increase emotional intelligence, and experiment as often as possible.
The other advantage of grouping like-minded organizations under one umbrella organization, said Austin, is to be more competitive in seeking larger grants, and to reduce fiscal restraints.
That fundraising mechanism could benefit the success of a new regional chamber, he said. Such a chamber could be formed in the next 12 to 18 months, and could serve as a fiscal agent for the smaller organizations.
In the meantime, assembling the “dream team”, as Austin describes the organizers, is the current effort. That includes creating a team of economic development people working for a combined area.
“We have to figure out what is missing and what needs to be filled, divvy that up and create a longterm plan for what can be a chamber down the road,” said Austin. “This is a developing thing.”
On Jan. 7, Austin is putting individuals from the various organizations in the same room.
“Day One is next Tuesday,” he said.
For more information or to get involved, contact Austin, at chrisaustin@ardiah.com or 207-230-4576.