Ten entrepreneurs recently completed Venturing Forth, NVME’s comprehensive business planning class, which culminated in a celebration featuring business plan presentations and a potluck lunch. Friends, family members, and colleagues gathered at the UMA Brunswick Center in early April to learn about the business plans that were created during the class. New businesses planned to launch across the state by Venturing Forth graduates in the coming months include:

Atlas Libations and Tastes – Ariel Provencal, New Gloucester: Mobile bar to be used at Pineland Farm events and other festivals.

bird finds bear – Lena Berger, Windham: Custom greeting card company.

Cardinal Gardener – Dana Stern, South Portland: Garden design, creation, and coaching.

Our Grandmothers Hands – Jenna Brooks, Brunswick: Birth and post-partum doula services.

Mural Marketing – Phaedra Schmidt, Cape Elizabeth: Mural design and implementation.

Sage Home Support – Crystal Morrigan, Gouldsboro: Home support company offering services such as small repairs, companionship, pet-sitting, and housekeeping.

Sharama Events and Tours – Divine Uwase, South Portland: Event and tour company specializing in Maine-based tourism and expeditions to East Africa to see gorillas.

Spirit Crafts – Angela Auger, Farmington: Art Supply store within a store in Farmington.

The Village Table – Zack Hanrahan, Jefferson: Community Restaurant “Where kitchen arts and human kindness come together.”

Worker Bee Flower Farm – Kristen Babcock, Yarmouth: Roadside flower stand

Completing the Venturing Forth class required 60 hours of business planning covering customers, competition, marketing, record keeping, taxes, financing, legal aspects of running a business, and much more.

Graduate  is pictured with NVME microenterprise program manager Alicia LaFosse. Microenterprise Specialists Martha Leonard and Gina Platt co-taught the class.

Venturing Forth will be offered again online beginning May 26. An application, attendance at the orientation session, and an interview are required to attend the class. The application deadline is Friday, May 15 at 12:00 p.m. noon. View the class listing for more information on the upcoming class,