Waterville Works

WATERVILLE WORKS BINGO

Mid-Maine Chamber is introducing Waterville Works - designed to bring business downtown this summer. The program includes a series of summertime promotions to engage the entire business community in the downtown district and its consumers. The first promotion will be Waterville Works BINGO, beginning June 1. Details of the program are outlined below. Mid-Maine Chamber wants to encourage a safe and fun shopping experience this summer, while building some additional foot traffic for our businesses.

As our friends and neighbors continue to adapt to a new reality, they need your support to keep the doors open. It may not always be the most convenient – you might have to wait a little longer or pay a little more than you would at a big-box retailer, but supporting local is the way to go. Remember, as small businesses are trying to overcome new guidelines, practicing patience, empathy and showing them support is paramount to the recovery of our local economy. A decision as small as participating in Waterville Works BINGO could make all the difference to the business and to its employees who count on them for income.

Have some fun supporting Waterville’s downtown businesses while they recover from recent closure orders and construction. It’s easy to play and get a chance to win $50! Here’s how the promotion works:

1 - Clip or scan the B-I-N-G-O playing sheet found inside the Morning Sentinel, Kennebec Journal, Town Line, and this month’s Mid-Maine Chamber InTouch Newsletter. (Online versions may also be found at midmainechamber.com).

2 - Visit the downtown Waterville businesses on the sheet and complete the offer in the square. You will receive a unique stamp.

3 - Collect five stamps in a row, any direction and submit your sheet to be entered into a drawing for one of two $50 Chamber Gift Certificates, redeemable at over 100 businesses!

Deadline for entries will be Friday, June 26.

This promotion is made possible by the following community-minded media partners: Morning Sentinel, The Town Line, Mix Maine Media, Townsquare Media and the Waterville Works Bingo sponsor, Kennebec Valley Community College.

Waterville Works BINGO – another way YOUR Chamber works to support our region!

Construction Updates

• Placed 72’ of 12” Ductile pipe ending the week at Station 114+88

• Ledge continues to be encountered with average of 1-3 feet removed to maintain 6’ of cover

• Temporary water lines have been chlorinated and will be tested beginning Monday the 18th

• Expectations are that once temporary water is on line the contractor will be placing a second crew on the project, a guess is within 2 weeks

• Current trench excavation will be completed up to 114+88 which is across from 42 Main Street

• Contractor will begin excavation crossing Main Street to come within 5-7 feet for the Silver Street connection without connecting to the existing butterfly valve

• Once that is complete excavation should resume on the 12” main working towards Common Street

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Introducing Waterville Works

What exactly is Waterville Works?

Waterville Works is a construction update and comprehensive marketing plan for downtown Waterville, developed by Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce with input and involvement from you and geared to provide continued growth and vitality during the coming months. We welcome your ideas, participation and feedback. Various downtown partners including the City of Waterville, Waterville Public Library, Small Business Waterville and Waterville Creates! have agreed to disseminate our messaging in order to further our reach. We invite you to push it out as well and be an active part in creating a thriving downtown.

Why is this plan necessary?

On April 20, water main installation will begin in the heart of downtown Waterville. This will involve the removal of century-old water pipes and the replacement of old pipes under the road requiring that the road be dug up and thus a lane of traffic be closed throughout most of the summer. Work will begin at the intersection of Main, Front and Spring Streets then head north on Main Street past the new Lockwood Hotel. Once it reaches Common Street, it will relocate to the northern part of Main Street downtown where Main and College Avenue intersect and then head south. A lane for traffic will be maintained on Main Street throughout construction. Construction on Main St. is expected to last through Sept. 1 then move to other downtown streets. Where water flow is disrupted, temporary water mains will be installed to minimize the inconvenience to businesses.

Who is responsible for the construction?

Kennebec Water District is responsible for the new water project. It has contracted with Ranger Contracting to replace the water mains. Ranger is a local, chamber member company located in Fairfield.

The goals of Waterville Works are two-fold:

1. To keep you informed so that all are up-to-date of traffic patterns so as to minimize disruptions to productivity and business.

2. To engage the entire business community and consumers in efforts to bolster sales, assure continuation of foot traffic, build excitement over cross-promotion capabilities, and offer valid solutions to parking and other concerns for the duration of the project.

When Waterville Works, everyone wins. Mid-Maine Chamber has some exciting and positive ways to assure residents and visitors that the city will remain very much open for business, and open to success. This plan will include communications of construction timelines, coordination of marketing programs and constructive dialogue among the various organizations involved in the promotion of Waterville. We want people to shop, recreate, dine and enjoy the arts in downtown Waterville! Stay tuned for downtown promotions.

Specific traffic-building promotions will include creation of frequent-buyer cards, cross-promotion among businesses, scavenger hunts, a display window contest and more. Working with area media, in addition to utilizing various social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram, Mid-Maine Chamber will develop the framework for this plan – all that is needed is your involvement.

If you would like to provide input or ideas, please send an email to: courtney@midmainechamber.com Together, we can assure that Waterville Works, for all of us.

Waterville Works

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