FORT KENT, Maine — The Greater Fort Kent Area Chamber of Commerce is preparing to host its annual dinner on Friday, Feb. 7, which is set to feature speeches, awards and the naming of the Fort Kent Citizen of the Year.
Other awards will include the longevity award, the nonprofit excellence award and the community advocacy award, Chamber Director Lana Malyuk said.
And while a schedule is not yet available, the dinner will also feature special recognitions and speeches from members of the business community. The event will be a great opportunity for people in town to network, she said.
“This year, we have cocktail hour at 5:30 p.m., and the dinner starts at 6:30,” Malyuk said. “So we have all the presentations, what’s new with the Chamber of Commerce, then everyone can mingle, and at the very end we have the Citizen of the Year award and vote in new members for the board of directors.”
The board currently has 15 members.
The chamber, which includes roughly 170 businesses, covers Fort Kent and surrounding towns including Allagash, Frenchville, St. Agatha and Portage, Malyuk said.
One of the strengths of the local business community is that it features a myriad of tourist attractions, she said.
As an example, the upcoming Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Race on March 1 is a major draw that benefits many of the region’s local businesses.
The dinner will take place at the Knights of Columbus Hall on 372 Frenchville Road. Anyone interested in attending can reach out by contacting the chamber at fortkentchamber@gmail.com or calling (207) 834-5354.
Tickets are $50 each and the deadline to RSVP is Jan. 31.
After the event, an afterparty will be held at 47 North on Main Street at roughly 9 p.m., Malyuk said.
