“Wow,” was the reaction of Mayor Robert E. Macdonald upon hearing that the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce had made a $5,000 contribution to the City of Lewiston. Located at 415 Lisbon Street in Lewiston, the Chamber is a non-profit organization and is thereby tax-exempt.

“Although the Chamber is tax-exempt, we use municipal services,” said Chamber president Charles “Chip” Morrison. “Our Board members are very community-minded, and they recognize the challenges posed by current municipal budgets. So they wanted to contribute to the cost of the services our organization benefits from.”

“We greatly appreciate the Chamber’s contribution in lieu of taxes,” said Mayor Macdonald. “The FY15 budget process is going to be a tough one, and contributions such as this are a pleasant surprise and certainly very welcome.”

The Chamber is an independent, member-supported organization that promotes a positive business environment that in turn contributes to the community and economic vitality of the Androscoggin County region. Its mission is accomplished through business advocacy, member support services, regional image development, and business-education partnerships. For more information, see www.androscoggincounty.com.