New Ventures Maine is very pleased to receive a $2,500 donation from NBT Bank at the recommendation of Bob Gaudreau, Owner of Hardypond Development, and Deirdre Wadsworth, President of Hardypond Construction and member of NVME’s Advisory Council. The gift will support Totally Trades! Conferences which provide hands-on opportunities for middle and high school girls to explore careers in the trades and technical fields.
All of New Ventures Maine staff wish all of you a happy holiday season. We hope for the very best for you in the New Year.
Written by Karin Petrin, Aroostook Microenterprise Specialist It Starts With an Idea You’ve got a great idea for starting a business and your friends keep telling you to put it into action. You type “Business Plan” into the search bar of your favorite internet browser. Then, 3 billion possibilities for drafting a business plan pop up. There are software solutions, templates, how-to articles, and sources upon sources of informative topics …
Written by Karin Petrin, Northern Region Microenterprise Specialist You spend significant time and money trying to grab your customers’ attention. You put ads in newspapers, on social media, and on television to be seen or heard above a continuous barrage of advertisements. So what makes a successful advertising campaign? Here are some pointers: Clearly identify your customer. Who are you trying to reach? Know the purpose and …
Written by Karin Petrin, Northern Region Microenterprise Specialist We are excited to announce the winners of our Marketing Mini-grant competition for small businesses in Aroostook County! Two awardees were selected from a strong group of applicants. Two Rivers Lunch at 75 Dickey Road in the Allagash received an award of $200. Conveniently located at the confluence of the Allagash and St. John Rivers, Two Rivers Lunch provides a …
Written by Suzanne Senechal-Jandreau, Northern Region Workforce Specialist and Regional Manager There’s a trend in Maine communities – city and town-wide yard sales. Yard and garage sales are great opportunities for you to not only get rid of what you do not use anymore and make space in your home and living areas, but also to bring extra money into your household. Tips For a Good Yard/Garage Sale: …
Written by Suzanne Senechal-Jandreau, Northern Region Workforce Specialist and Regional Manager Easy access to technology and the internet has opened up new possibilities for skill building and personal enrichment. At New Ventures Maine we have offered some online learning opportunities, and continue to explore how to best reach people through technology. If you have never taken an online class, ask yourself the following: Am I too busy to …
We are excited to announce the winners of our Downtown Dollars marketing mini-grant competition for small businesses in Aroostook County. Two awardees were selected from a strong group of applicants throughout Aroostook County. Wicked Water Graphics on Main Street in Madawaska received an award of $300. The business is a Factory Certified and Factory Trained Company in Hydrographic Printing. This process is also known as Camo Dipping, Liquid …
We are pleased to announce the addition of a new Microenterprise Specialist staff member in Presque Isle. Karin Petrin is based at University of Maine at Presque Isle in Preble Hall and will provide small business development and personal financial management services in Aroostook County. She has an AAS in Business Administration from Northern Maine Community College and is completing a BS in Business Administration with an Accounting emphasis …
Women, Work, and Community recently announced the winners of its Downtown Dollars marketing mini-grant competition for small businesses in Aroostook, Piscataquis, Washington, and Hancock counties. The County Co-op and Farm Store on Main Street in Houlton received first prize of $400. The business is a consumer cooperative with more than 130 members operating a retail outlet open to the public. Their start-up in September 2014 included strong branding, …