As our Region continues to grow, the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce is working with the Lake Region Development Council and the Windham Economic Development Corporation in building business development in the regional communities we support. As our region continues to thrive with growth of new and expanded businesses, resources are in demand. The value of a Chamber membership is that we provide a network of partnership resources that enhance new and growing business opportunities for the future economic success of our region.

Resources include infrastructure in the area including telecommunications, highways and roads, sewerage, highway lighting, sidewalks, etc. As entrepreneurs establish a new business and follow a business development plan some are working within their residential home to begin their business and are very successful in our region. Long-term plans include growing to a new building or moving into space that has been empty due to a business that has moved on to expanded space. Our region has been very successful with expanded business owners growing their base of employees and clients. In addition, many out-of-state businesses contact the Economic Development organizations to receive information on the area including traffic counts, demographic historical documents, Town Comprehensive Planning information, and diversity of current local business structure in the Region.

As new business start-ups gather data, areas of information that are reviewed include research on Web sites that provide general information about the product or service, working with Library resources on business, contacting the Small Business Administration, local trade association and local Chambers of Commerce. Contacting the Telecommunication Companies is important as voice, data, fax and wireless products are purchased for the business, including white and yellow page advertising. Understanding the market in the area is very important, as well as the competition that will take away market share from the business.

Managing the business with a professional staff who will handle the finances, sales and marketing, human resources, operations and product orders is extremely important. Maintaining insurance and understanding legislative issues that will affect the business is a priority that business owners need to also have in place. Start-up costs and capital is part of the budget process and need to be part of the overall business plan. Lines of credit and maintaining business credit cards, checking accounts, and savings are a basic component of the life of the business.

Locating clients via managing a retail shop, business office, restaurant, motel, bed and breakfast, campground, transportation company, or a publication company, to name a few, is a major component of the Marketing Business Plan and should be prioritized early on in the process of starting a company. Enhanced growth companies succeed as the business finds it niche in the marketing arena and clients can be located locally, regionally, nationally and internationally through Internet sales, catalog sales, or over-the-counter retail.

The Chamber Office and Information Booths are a viable resource with a wealth of information on hand to help a new start-up or existing business succeed in the Sebago Lakes Region. The Chamber’s Executive Director attends monthly meetings of the economic development organizations in the Region, as well as local Town meetings of Select Boards and Planning Boards. The LRDC Transportation Coalition is comprised of directors who meet with the Maine Department of Transportation to work on local issues affecting the long term focus of Route 302 and surrounding feeder roads. The plan is ongoing and the traffic flow is important for local businesses to succeed in receiving clients and products to the location of their business.

If you would like to receive more information on the current businesses in the Region who are members of the Chamber or written information on business start up and growth, please contact the Chamber Office at 892-8265. Business members and community residents are encouraged to stop by the booths in Naples and Windham to obtain information regarding the area and to pick up the brochures of the members of the Chamber.