Stepping forth for the Fourth
Municipalities that are hard pressed for fireworks funds are turning to the business community to ensure a colorful Fourth of July.
Steve Marson, owner of Central Maine Pyrotechnics in Hallowell, says he is working with several communities that rely on businesses to fund either all or a portion of their display costs, including Bangor and Boothbay Harbor.
“There are very few shows that we do that are funded (solely) by municipalities,” says Marson, a shift he’s noticed over the past few years. This year, his company will do 65 Fourth of July displays, involving $500,000 of fireworks.
In Portland, several businesses have agreed to fund fireworks over Casco Bay on July 4. Jon Jennings, president and general manager of the Maine Red Claws basketball franchise, says the NBA Development League team has joined with Quirk Chevrolet, Wright Express, PowerPay, MaineToday Media and others to put on the $45,000 “Stars and Stripes Spectacular” celebration, including a concert from the Portland Symphony Orchestra on the Eastern Promenade. The group launched the fundraising effort in April after the city council announced fireworks would be canceled because of budget cuts.
Jennings says the group is forming a nonprofit July 4th Portland Foundation to solicit donations for the city’s fireworks show each year. Its website, www.july4thportland.org, was recently launched.
The patriotic goodwill extends up the coast to the Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville Chamber of Commerce, which is also making sure residents and visitors enjoy fireworks over Camden Harbor on July 3. According to chamber officials, the business community raised $6,000 to go with a $6,000 match from an anonymous donor.
Bob Cook
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