The Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce has completed acquisition of the Lewiston Auburn Economic Growth Council to add economic development to the chamber’s existing menu of services.
The acquisition is driven by the chamber’s interest in better serving the goals of regional business retention and promoting economic development.
The chamber also announced it was launching a new event, to be called LA Metro Marketplace, to replace the Lewiston Auburn Economic Growth Council’s 22-year production of the Maine B2B Trade Show. In addition to continuing the trade show’s B2B networking opportunities, the new event adds three other components:
- Time for high school students to engage with local businesses
- A job fair
- The launch of an “image campaign” to promote the LA region.
Seven pavilions will be set up, each focusing on different sectors: The Marketplace of Ideas (education); The Marketplace of Prosperity (financial and lifestyle services); Discover LA Maine (arts, culture, sports, recreation and hospitality); the Marketplace of Makers (manufacturing and artisans); The Marketplace of Wellbeing (health and wellness); The Marketplace of Possibility (nonprofits and creative problem solvers); and the Marketplace (municipalities and retail sales).
The event will be held on June 7 at the Bates Mill Complex. Registration is now open for businesses and organization wishing to participate. A business-after-hours celebration will close the event from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. to celebrate LA Metro Area’s new branding initiative.
“The LA Metro Marketplace is the chamber’s new premiere annual event,” said
Rebecca Swanson Conrad, LA Metro chamber president. “The Marketplace will activate the chamber membership’s collective energy and aspirations to promote the LA region as a place to work, live and play by engaging local high school students, attracting young entrepreneurs, and promoting our new focus on cultural and sports tourism.”
The Marketplace is sponsored by Spectrum Healthcare Partners, Maine’s Big Z 92.7 and 105.5, Sun Journal, WGME 13/Fox 23 and Turner Publishing.
