To the Editor:

While economic times remain challenging for many people and businesses, it was uplifting to see the amount of support for local businesses from community members in the Wiscasset area throughout our holiday buy-local campaign, Think Outside the Box.

With more than 40 businesses participating in Think Outside the Box, nearly 300 passports submitted for the raffle and nearly $30,000 spent locally as part of the four-week promotion, Think Outside the Box was a huge success showcasing our vibrant, prospering local economy.

More than 60 people came out to Le Garage on Dec. 20 for the passport promotion raffle drawing. An additional 100 people joined the celebration outside on the Wiscasset waterfront to watch the fireworks show marking the conclusion of Wiscasset’s firstever buy-local promotion.

The success of Think Outside the Box is credited to our community. We would like to extend our most heartfelt appreciation to the community members for the support they showed during the campaign and choosing to spend their dollars locally. Our businesses in the Wiscasset area are successful because of their support.

Additionally, we cannot thank enough the many businesses and organizations that made the campaign happen: Big Al’s; Le Garage; the Wiscasset Fire Department; Treats; Key Bank; Kim Andersson; the Chamber and the town of Wiscasset; Todd Souza from Wiscasset Parks & Recreation; Jody Haggett; the community groups that participated in the Dec. 1 events; and to the many businesses that participated in the passport campaign and showcases, and offered extended shopping hours, and especially those that donated prizes for the passport raffle.

Strong local economies come from strong communities. We thank the Wiscasset area for showing us just how strong we can be.

David Stapp
Sherri Dunbar
Wiscasset Area
Chamber of Commerce

Misty Parker
Wiscasset town planner