Chamber Executive Director Dennis Lyford explained that over the last three years the Chamber has become more involved with tourism. In 2001 the Chamber joined the Maine Highlands Corporation, a tourism coalition of regional tourism organizations . The Corporation now market's Piscataquis and Penobscot Counties under the brand name of the Maine Highlands.

The Chamber also has created two new events to bring visitors to the region, The Maine Highlands Challenge Sled Dog Race and the Piscataquis Heritage Festival.

Over 200 teams took part in last year's The Maine Highlands Challenge Sled Dog Race. On Feb 15 & 16th 2003, the Chamber race will be the Official State Championship Sled Dog Race. The successful 2002 Piscataquis Heritage Festival featured the State of Maine Championship Barbecue Contest and a Blue Grass Music concert.

The goal of the Chamber will to bring together local tourism providers and other interested citizens to begin a dialog on tourism said Lyford. The first step in this process will be to form a tourism task force steering committee. The steering committee goal will be to sponsor a conference on local tourism in the spring of 2003.

The first meeting of the steering committee will be held at 6:30 PM Tuesday Jan 7, 2003 at the YMCA in Dover-Foxcroft. If you would like more information about the Tourism Task Force contact Dennis Lyford at 207-564-7533.