BETHEL — The Bethel Historical Society will resume its annual Business Partner Program that allows local businesses to sign up as corporate members of the society, Executive Director Randall Bennett said.

The Business Partner Program started in 2008, Bennett said, and has allowed local businesses to support the society’s programming, exhibits, educational activities and publications in return for the society promoting the businesses through “recognition and referral.”

“The program has become a successful collaboration between these businesses and ourselves,” Bennett said. “We’re all about community at the Historical Society — whether it’s Bethel or the wider community — and to be able to help each other out feels very gratifying.”

A news release from the society said that at the beginning of each year, businesses have the choice to pay $50, $100, $150 or $200, with each level offering different benefits.

Bennett said some of the benefits include: businesses being allowed to leave their brochures and business cards on display at the Robinson House, a subscription to the Broad Street Herald, The Courier and e-News announcements by the society, 10 percent discounts on purchases from the society’s museum shop and invitations to special members-only programs and exhibit previews.

“A lot of businesses will leave their business cards and brochures with us, because most people who visit us will pick up lots of fliers,” Bennett said.

He said when the society is looking for restaurants or businesses to cater for them, they’ll turn to the list of those who joined the Business Partner Program.

“We have a large number of events and programs that we host during the year, so we’ll make an effort to rotate amongst the restaurants who sponsored us,” Bennett said. “Our business partners are able to benefit from that kind of exposure.”

Bennett said about half of the businesses involved with the program in 2013 have signed up for 2014.

“It’s really great to have that working relationship,” Bennett said.

Among the businesses signed are 22 Broad Street at the Gideon Hastings House, Bethel Hill Bed and Breakfast, The Bethel Inn Resort, Bonnema Potters, D.A. Wilson and Co., Glidden’s Bethel Foodliner, Good Food Store and Catering Co., Gray Marketing, The Mill Hill Inn, Northeast Bank, Pat’s Pizza, Pooh Corner Farm, River View Resort, Rooster’s Roadhouse, Ski Esta, Smith and Town Printers, Steam Mill Antiques, Tourmaline Media and Western Maine Supply Co.

For more information, call the society at 824-2908.

mdaigle@sunjournal.com