WATERVILLE -- If you've ever been to a high school football game, you may have seen the boosters selling cards giving you discounts to several local businesses. The Chamber Advantage Card, offered by the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce, is the same idea.

"They're very similar," said Kimberly N. Lindlof, president and chief executive officer of the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce. "The only difference is, we can't fit them all on the back."

Many people don't know about the Chamber cards, but Lindlof says they are available to anyone who is employed by one of the 530 Chamber-area businesses, as well as students of Colby, Kennebec Valley Community College, and Thomas and Unity colleges.

The cards offer discounts at about 80 area businesses, ranging from a 10-percent discount on your order at Midnight Blues Club to 30 percent off your first hour of financial consulting at Uhl-Melanson Investor Services. The list of discounts is available at the Chamber's Web site www.midmainechamber. com.

"That (list) changes, I don't want to say daily, but it's pretty close," Lindlof said. "We're trying to encourage people to shop at local businesses."

The Chamber cards have been in circulation since September 2005. Two of the most popular specials are a day pass at the Holiday Inn in Waterville and 10 percent off an order at Are You Ready to Party?

"When we're busy during the summertime, we'll probably see at least one or two per week," said Tom Davis, owner of Are You Ready to Party?

The Holiday Inn special is a two-for-one, which allows two people an all-day pass for the pool, fitness club, sauna and health club for $8.

"It is very popular," said Darlene Ratte, assistant general manager at the Waterville Holiday Inn. "It's great for us. People come in and try it, and oftentimes, they'll purchase a membership."

Lindlof said another option for holiday shopping is the Chamber gift certificates. The gift certificates are good at any participating business. Currently, there are more than 180 local businesses listed as participating on the Chamber Web site.

Lindlof said more than $250,000 worth of gift certificates have been sold since the program began in 1998. Although they are sold year-round, the certificates are most popular as Christmas gifts, Lindlof said.

"Most people spend it in the first quarter," she said. "That's the toughest quarter for businesses. It's giving them money in that first quarter, when they might not otherwise have it."

One feature of the certificates is that you don't have need a special occasion to get the benefits. One of the participating businesses in the certificate program is Central Maine Power.

"You can pay your CMP bill," Lindlof said. "So it doesn't get much more flexible than that."

Matt DiFilippo -- 861-9243

mdifilippo@centralmaine.com