Two area chambers of commerce are hosting the 8th Annual Business Showcase on March 7th at the Samoset Resort, where local businesses showcase their products and services to other businesses and to the general public.

The showcase, hosted by Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville and the Rockland-Thomaston Area chambers of commerce is open from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and is free to the public.

New this year to the showcase is the Business Resource Area, where 11 federal, state, and local resource agency exhibitors will be on hand to discuss the various services they provide to help businesses grow and prosper. These include: Eastern Maine Development Corporation, Market Development Center, Kennebec Valley Technical College, Penobscot School, Penobscot Bay YMCA, UMaine Hutchinson Center, University Center at Thomaston, U.S. Small Business Administration, Department of Economic & Community Development, Finance Authority of Maine, and Hurricane Island Outward Bound School.

Local businesses will occupy more than 100 booths at the showcase.

In addition to the tradeshow and resource area, the event will feature several seminars, led by area business experts. The seminars are $5 each and tickets are available at the door.

The seminar schedule: 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. -- "Leading Employees Towards Productivity & Results," with Andrew McPherson of Directions Unlimited in Camden.

11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. -- "Using the Internet to Your Advantage," (sponsored by J&B Diversified Associates, Inc.) with a panel of speakers from various business sectors -- Cathy Planchart of Union Trust Company, Barrie Pribyl and Virginia Peckham of ABCD Books, and Joanne Reuillard and Mark Reuillard of the Norumbega Inn.

1 to 2:15 p.m. -- "Resources for a Growing Home Based Business" (sponsored by Market Development Center) with Roberta Laverty, a home-based consultant in Milo, and Jane Haskell of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension in Waldo.

2:30 to 3:45 p.m. -- "Taxes, Liability, and the Small Business Structure" (sponsored by Knox Financial Services/USAllianz) with Erica Harriman of Macdonald Page Schatz Fletcher & Co. in Camden, and Dana Strout, attorney at law in Rockport.

A hospitality suite for exhibitors, sponsored by Androscoggin Bank, will be located in the Ebb Tide Room from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Samoset Resort will host a Business Reception from 5 to 6:30 p.m., when door and raffle prizes will be drawn. Courtesy carry-alls for the event will be provided by WMCM Real Country/WRKD NewsTalk Radio and will be available at the registration area and seminar sign-in tables.

In addition to the business-to-business promotion that takes place at the show, the business showcase will again host 40 high school students from Camden Hills Regional, Rockland District, and Medomak Valley high schools. The students will have the opportunity to find out more about business opportunities in the midcoast and throughout the state.

Students will also attend a brown bag luncheon meeting led by Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville Chamber of Commerce Director Greg Dugal. The session will feature several local business people discussing their career paths and training and what they see for future job opportunities.

About J&B Diversified Associates, Inc.

J&B Diversified Associates, Inc. is a leading provider of e-business solutions in the New England region. J&B solutions enable companies of all sizes to cost-effectively change the technology, structure, processes and culture of their organization. These solutions include network design and management, systems integration, web design and hosting, and telephone communication systems. The company was founded in 1991 and remains a profitable, privately held corporation. For more information, visit the J&B website at www.jbda..com or call 800-450-1190.

For more information; contact James Arseneau, Chief Executive Officer, J&B Diversified Associates, at 207-338-1138 (jarseneau@jbda.com).