AUGUSTA – The Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce held its 7th Up Biz Tour on Oct. 4. The program exposes students to businesses and career opportunities in the Kennebec Valley.

In partnership with the Augusta School Department, the Kennebec Valley Chamber transported 170 seventh graders from Cony Middle School on a day-long tour of different chamber member businesses from a variety of industries, according to a news release from Katie Doherty, chamber president and CEO.

Fourteen participating businesses offered experiential tours, the opportunity to meet and engage with employees, and the chance to learn about the business from the inside and the jobs available in the Kennebec Valley region (Augusta Fire Department, Augusta Police Department, Bangor Savings Bank, Central Maine Power, Delta Ambulance, Finance Authority of Maine, Kennebec Savings Bank, Kennebec Technologies, KV Tooling, JS McCarthy, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Maine Judicial Branch, Performance Foodservice, and Senator Inn & Spa).

The short-term goal is to spark an interest in a future career and excite each student with what exists for them in the community. The long-term goal is to develop the region’s workforce and economy of the future.

The presenting sponsor was Everett J. Prescott, Inc.

The Kennebec Valley Chamber plans to expand out to other schools in the region in 2024.

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