Houlton Chamber of Commerce sees growth

HOULTON – In 2007, the town celebrated its 200th birthday, saw a spike in construction and made great strides in the economic development arena.

It also has been the year the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce has seen the most growth in some time, and officials with the organization are confident the momentum will continue.

“It has been a fabulous year,” Lori Weston, executive director of the Chamber, said Wednesday. “We absolutely accomplished so much and saw so much growth as both an organization and as a town. It has been wonderful.”

Weston, who took over the helm of the Chamber last October, reflected on the organization’s growth during a telephone conversation and talked about what she feels will be a bright future for the establishment.

The executive director said that one of the highlights of this year was surpassing a goal to increase membership from around 147 members in 2006 to 200 members in 2007, a number that matched Houlton’s 200th birthday this summer.

The organization exceeded its goal in early fall and now boasts 206 members, according to Weston.

“That was a goal that I personally, as well as our board, thought we could accomplish, and we did it and then some,” she said. “It was incredible, and we feel we are going to see that number climb some more next year.”

The Chamber has undergone many changes since Weston took the helm. Last year, the organization revamped its annual holiday parade, launched a significant public relations campaign and began a drive to increase its membership.

This year, more than 1,300 people attended the Chamber’s Home, Garden and Recreation Trade Show in April, with 30 businesses and organizations with booths at the event. The Chamber also sponsored a number of successful Eggs and Issues breakfasts, and added a number of new events to its calendar.

Chamber officials also launched a publicity blitz that included successfully revamping its Web site, producing more brochures about the organization and the municipality, and printing a monthly article in the town’s weekly newspaper to keep the community abreast of the Chamber’s activities.

Next year will feature much of the same and more, Weston said Wednesday.

One such activity will be a continuation of an ongoing effort to find a location for, and the money to build, new office space.

For several decades, the organization has been housed inside the town’s historic White Building, which also houses the local museum.

Last June, the Chamber was given a new office building, thanks to a donation from Ward Cedar Log Homes of Houlton.

Since then, Chamber officials have been working to find a permanent location for the donated facility and raise the money to erect the structure.

While the cedar building kit has been donated, the Chamber has to come up with an estimated $90,000 to erect the structure and outfit it with necessities such as plumbing and electricity.

They also need to find the land.

While that continues to be a challenge, Weston said she is optimistic it will eventually be a successful venture.

“We will keep the momentum we have built up going,” she said Wednesday. “We are looking forward to another good year.”

jlbdn@ainop.com

532-9257