Caribou, PI chambers of commerce to merge
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Two Aroostook County organizations that have worked to bring in more businesses to their respective communities announced last Wednesday that they will be merging.
Theresa Fowler, director of the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce, said Dec. 30 that the Caribou Chamber of Commerce is closing effective Dec. 31. It will merge with the Central Aroostook Chamber, which is located in Presque Isle. The area served by the Caribou chamber will be picked up by the Central Aroostook chamber.
The merger will result in both chambers being called the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce.
“I think that is a big step for us, but something that is manageable,” said Fowler. “We have been talking about it for a few years, but nothing has been official until now. I think it is a good opportunity to pool resources and serve a larger area.”
Fowler said that the Caribou Chamber currently serves 140 businesses, but she estimated that about 40 of those businesses are also enrolled in the Presque Isle chamber.
“We will be increasing the area that we cover, but it will be manageable,” she said, adding that chamber staff will be working with the marketing and event coordinator for the city of Caribou to continue to promote events in the Caribou area and all of the area businesses.
At this point, she said, all of the Caribou chamber staff will move to the Presque Isle chamber, she said.
The Caribou building, which also houses the Nylander Museum, will be put up for sale.
