07/07/2026
Business After Hours - Suspended
After much thought and discussion, the PenBay Collaboration has made the decision to suspend our Business After Hours events for the time being.
When we formed the PenBay Collaboration, our mission was simple: identify the gaps left in our business community after the Chamber closed and help fill them. One of our proudest accomplishments has been bringing back the annual Business Showcase & Job Fair. The response from our business community has been incredible, and it has become clear that this event continues to meet a significant need. We are excited to continue growing it for years to come.
Another gap we identified was the loss of Business After Hours networking events. We believed there was value in bringing local professionals together after work to build relationships, support local businesses, and strengthen our community.
Over the past year, we've learned something important. Today's business environment looks very different than it did just a few years ago. Many businesses continue to face staffing shortages, owners and employees are stretched thin, and many have found other ways to connect or simply have less time available for evening networking. As a result, it has become increasingly difficult for both our volunteer hosts and attendees to make these events successful.
Because the PenBay Collaboration is an all volunteer initiative sponsored by Rock Coast Entrepreneurs, we believe it is important to focus our time and energy where we can make the greatest impact. For that reason, we will be pausing Business After Hours and concentrating our efforts on continuing to grow the annual Business Showcase & Job Fair.
We want to sincerely thank every business that opened its doors to host an event, every attendee who came out to support the business community, and every volunteer who helped make these gatherings possible. Your support has meant a great deal to us.
If you're looking for a place to continue building relationships and growing your network, we invite you to join us at Rock Coast Entrepreneurs. RCE's networking meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month at 8:00 AM at the University of Maine at Augusta – Rockland Center, located on the 4th floor of the Breakwater Building in Rockland. Guests are always welcome, and there is no obligation to join. Come visit, make connections, and see what we're all about.
This isn't goodbye forever. It's simply the right decision for where our business community is today. Thank you for believing in collaboration, supporting local businesses, and helping strengthen our region. We look forward to seeing you at future PenBay Collaboration events and at an upcoming Rock Coast Entrepreneurs meeting.
