Are you a small business owner with an exciting marketing idea? Our fall 2018 Marketing Mini-Grant Program could help you put your idea into action! Awards of $500 are given to applicants who are selected through a competitive process in each of our 6 regions. The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. on Friday, November 2, 2018. To learn more and apply, click here.
Written by Jenn Dobransky, Midcoast Microenterprise Specialist The keys to brand success are self-definition, transparency, authenticity and accountability. – Simon Mainwaring I am in good company when I emphasize how important it is to create a solid brand in your small business. In a nutshell, this means taking the time to think about the image you want to present to the marketplace. Do the market research to find, attract, and …
Written by Chris Davis, Western Region Workforce Specialist Right now in Maine, there are more people retiring each year than there are new workers to replace them. This imbalance is a little scary for our service providers and manufacturers. For people like you and me, this means a big increase in the number of career opportunities available. It is a mighty good time to explore and prepare for a career …
Written by Janet Smith, Regional Manager and Workforce Specialist in NVME’s Western Region What Happened? At the beginning of this year, major changes to federal income tax rates went into effect across the country. These changes may have impacted your take-home pay and may also affect your 2018 taxes when you file in 2019. Who Does it Impact? If you fall into one of the following categories, it’s crucial that …
We are excited to welcome our new Operations Manager, Rachel Boynton. Rachel will coordinate our administrative & financial systems while also providing data management and support to staff statewide. She joins our staff from the Maine State Housing Authority, where she recently held the position of Financial Officer II. Prior to joining New Ventures Maine, Rachel coordinated the Section 8 contracts for low-income housing across the State of Maine; managing several …
Written by Tom Grogan, North Central/Downeast Region Workforce Specialist “Because one believes in oneself, one doesn’t try to convince others. Because one is content with oneself, one doesn’t need others’ approval. Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts him or her.” – Lao Tzu Start With Confidence Why is developing a sense of confidence important in a job search? Because it is a key part of any new …
Written by Sherrie Brann, Central Region Workforce Specialist The good news in today’s job market is that unemployment rates are low. However, for some employers, this makes it hard to fill key positions with strong candidates. So what are hiring managers looking for when selecting employees? Every field requires a unique set of technical skills, but what sets one job applicant apart from the rest? The answer may be in the …
Congratulations to both of our spring 2018 Marketing Mini-Grant recipients in Midcoast Maine! go-en fermented foods – Whitefield go-en fermented foods is a small family owned fermentory owned by Nicolas & Mika Repenning. They specialize in traditionally fermented Japanese seasonings and foods. Their goal is to enrich Maine with Japanese culture by spreading the ancient culinary wisdom of Japan. They also hope to excite people’s taste buds with healthy nourishing foods. …
Written by Melinda Wildes, Midcoast Workforce Specialist Do you dream of owning your own home? Own a home that needs repairs? Are you worried about paying for vehicle repairs or unexpected expenses for your family? It can be challenging to try to figure out how to save when you are focused on meeting your daily needs. The good news is it is never too late to start learning about saving. …
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 …