See What Biddeford~Saco Has To Offer

I’d like to take the opportunity this month to welcome all of our visitors to the Biddeford-Saco region.  The weather has been beautiful and we sure hope you are enjoying yourselves, whether at the beach or at our amusement parks.  Biddeford-Saco has so much for you to do.  We have movie theaters and museums, great restaurants, hiking and biking trails, a beautiful river and gorgeous Saco Bay. We encourage you to visit our downtown district which has a variety of stores from locally owned and operated to national chain retailers. 

As you are taking in the sights and enjoying some shopping, please take a moment to seek out our Chamber of Commerce members as well as our Buy Local campaign participants.  They will have stickers in their windows with either the Chamber or Buy Local logo-many will have both.  We believe you will find friendly and helpful customer service along with the products and services you are seeking.  If you need help or if you would like some advice and information on the Biddeford-Saco area, please don’t hesitate to call the Chamber staff, we will be glad to speak with you.

If you are enjoying your summertime visit to Biddeford-Saco, have you ever considered coming during the other seasons?  We have so much to offer.  Fall brings fantastic scenery and affordable rates.  Come enjoy our hotels, motels, and bed and breakfast homes. You can enjoy leaf peeping within a short drive and better still - stay within budget.  Lobstermen enjoy good catches in the fall and fresh seafood is both abundant and reasonably priced.  Most restaurants are still open and offer relaxing atmospheres and delicious menus. You can fish and hunt, walk in Ferry Beach State Park or take in a show at Biddeford City Theater.  

Winters aren’t half as bad as they are made out to be.  And besides, this is Maine, we know how to move snow and drive safely.  There’s something unique about the views at the seashore in the winter-a stark contrast to summer but oh so beautiful.  A short drive inland and the views shift to fields of snow and snow capped mountains.  Winter is a great time to seek out Chamber members for cross country skiing, sledding, ice skating, a refreshing hot chocolate or an adult beverage or two.

Spring in Maine is a sight to behold.  Everything is coming to life.  Brooks, streams and rivers are flowing at capacity from the snow melt.  The sun is bright and warm. Farmers and fishermen have begun getting the fields and the gear ready for another season of plenty.  Maple sap is running and being cooked into syrup and candy.  Storefronts are painting, washing windows and getting in new inventory.  Spring is a great time to check out our hardware stores, lawn care experts and landscapers.  The people of Biddeford-Saco will welcome you year round with their friendliness.  Isn’t it time for you to consider spending more time in Biddeford-Saco?  Give us a call and let us help you with your plans.

City of Biddeford ~ MERC Public Hearing Speech

July 3, 2012

Good Evening.  My name is Craig Pendleton and I am the Executive Director of the Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce. 

First, let me begin by stating that Maine Energy has been a loyal and supportive member of the Chamber for a number of years.  They were good corporate citizens when it came time to contribute to our educational workshops and annual fundraising events.  We greatly appreciate their support over time.  Thank you from the current Board and Boards past.

Tonight, I am here to support the agreement between The City of Biddeford and Casella.  It is time to turn a troubled page and focus on a new and more exciting future.  The Chamber hates to see any business close.  The loss of jobs, the short term loss of tax revenue and the impact on the local economy must be recognized and legitimized.  We certainly understand the impact and we are steadfast in our support of relocating MERC employees into equally good jobs as soon as possible.

For us, this time the game changed.  The negotiations have been civil, open, and both sides seem to be listening to each other.  Both sides seem to have clear goals, clarity about their future, and this purchase and sale agreement gets them well on the road to achievement. We want to thank the City and Casella for including us whenever it was appropriate and for making sure we received the most current information possible so we could share it with our members and the public.

We believe that gaining access to 6.5 acres of land in the Mill District will open up an interest in new development.  Whether it is education, housing or manufacturing; retail, wholesale or the service sector, we have the opportunity to make it happen.  We must be optimists.  We must believe there can be something better for Biddeford and Saco.  The time is now for us to make tough decisions so that our children and our grandchildren can live, work and enjoy themselves in these great cities just like we did.  We can do this- I am positive we have the fortitude to make our cities great. The Chamber is ready and able to assist in any way feasible to encourage and recruit economic development in this area.

And finally, I think it is appropriate to recognize the leaders of the past who endured difficult negotiations and failed attempts to get us to where we are today.  Without their fortitude and even their failings, we would not have reached this point we have come to tonight.  And to the current leaders and those who have spoken before me and are about to speak after me, we must always bring our best thoughts and ideas forward.  Democracy is not about like minds coming together and always agreeing with one another-it is the ability to bring civility, openness, tolerance and diverse ideas to our deliberations.  We must always find within us – “the will to succeed and the grace to compromise”.*Dee Hock

Good luck and thank you for the opportunity to speak.  

Craig A. Pendleton

Executive Director