Blog
Joe Lane Lobsterman – Damariscotta, Maine
Izzy Nelson and Joe Lane have owned Joe Lane Lobsterman since 2014, operating their business from various temporary Damariscotta locations such as the farmers market. Their business specializes in live and cooked whole lobsters, which Lane, who is a fourth-generation lobsterman, catches from his boat, the Spirit of ’76.
After taking the summer of 2016 off, the couple saw an opportunity to reopen their restaurant in a more permanent location – the former home of Skidompha Second Hand Book Shop, which had recently relocated. In order to do this, the couple needed to transform the space into a restaurant and purchase the necessary equipment for a commercial kitchen. They turned to Maine SBDC Business Advisor David Hill for assistance in obtaining financing with hopes of opening the restaurant in early summer 2017, which was a little over 2 months away.Read More
Steps to Success: New video series from the Maine SBDC
Series focuses on key info to start or grow your small business
Maine SBDC is pleased to announce a new video series that gives entrepreneurs and small business owners key information about starting, operating and growing their businesses. Five short videos feature Maine SBDC business advisors and small business clients. They provide information on starting a business, business planning, financing, marketing, and financial analysis. Read More
Integrity Services of Maine – Poland, Maine
Bill Bouchard of Poland has 20 years experience in the HVAC industry. After years as a technician, supervisor and project manager with the largest HVAC service company in Southern Maine, Bouchard wanted to start his own business. While he had all the necessary licensing and experience, he needed assistance in getting his business started and turned to Larry Giroux, a certified business advisor with the Maine SBDC at AVCOG in Auburn.Read More
Maine SBDC at CEI hires Rose Creps as Business Advisor
The Maine Small Business Development Centers (Maine SBDC), a state-wide program that helps entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses, is pleased to announce the recent hiring of Rose Creps as Business Advisor in their Waterville office located at Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI). Creps will provide business advising to new and existing entrepreneurs and small businesses in Somerset and Kennebec Counties. Read More
U.S. SBA & Maine SBDC Tours Small Business Successes in Bucksport
On August 16, 2017, leaders from the Maine District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) joined the Maine SBDC on a tour of recent small business successes as part of a grant initiative in the Bucksport Bay Area.
SBA District Director Amy Bassett and Senior Area Manager James Pineau along with Maine SBDC’s Betty Egner and Jennifer Sherwood met with several Main Street business owners who shared stories about their businesses, the Maine SBDC’s role in their success, and about the determination of the towns in this area to redefine themselves after the Verso Paper Mill abruptly closed.
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Custom Composite Technologies, Inc. – Bath, Maine
Since 2005, Custom Composite Technologies, Inc. (CCTI) has been developing lightweight, durable carbon fiber and fiberglass solutions for its customers around the world. A pioneer in advance composite technology and application, the company creates customized, high-performance solutions for industries and individuals with unique challenges. Their innovative techniques and advance composite materials are fabricated from their facility in Bath, Maine.
Pictured: CCTI Customer, MIT Solar Electric Vehicle Team
While CCTI’s specializes in making high-performance boats, they’ve seen significant diversification in their products in recent years, expanding into the transportation, art/architectural, renewable energy, robotics and defense industries. Their parts, tooling and molds have been used in a racing sailboat used by the America’s Cup champions, in art exhibits featured in prominent US cities, in a solar vehicle that is being developed by students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that will be raced at the 2017 Formula Sun Grand Prix, and in a robotic arm being designed as part of an exhibit by the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, just to name a few.
Since the beginning, business owners Steve and Maureen Hassett have sought the advice of Brad Swanson, Maine SBDC Business Advisor located at Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI). Swanson helped the pair create a vision for the company. This vision sustained them through extremely tough economic times and the diversification of their products and services. His encouragement helped them to believe in their success. Swanson has spent nearly 300 hours working to help the Hassett’s start and grow their business, working with them on a range of issues to ensure their business ran profitably and smoothly.
With a goal of reaching $1 million in sales in the coming year, Swanson helped develop strategies and goals to achieve this. The company recently received an award from the Institute for Family-Owned Business for excellence in family involvement, business success and commitment to employees, customers and community. They company also won an Innovation award in 2016 from the Manufacturers Association of Maine for their diversification of products. CCTI is in a prime position to achieve their goals, as many manufactures look to get away from heavier materials such as metal and invest in durable, lightweight and easily malleable composites.
For more on this unique Maine company, visit their website or follow them on Facebook!
Quality Saw & Supply • 105 Restaurant & Lounge – West Enfield, Maine
Michael Brasslett, owner of Quality Saw & Supply in West Enfield, was sent to Business Advisor Tom Gallant by his banker in 2008. Specializing in the repair of saw blades and catering to Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, Quality Saw was struggling financially – sawmills were closings, sales were down, business was slow, debts were mounting up and there was no cash. Four employees relied on him, and his business.
Crooked Face Creamery – Norridgewock
Amy Rowbottom has had her share of ups and downs as a business owner. She first opened Crooked Face Creamery located in Norridgewock in 2012 making specialty whole milk cheese with milk from the farm that she grew up on. But even the best written business plan can prepare us for some of life’s challenges. After weathering these challenges, she turned to Business Advisor Janet Roderick for assistance in re-booting her business.Read More
International Resource Center – Portland, Maine
Paul Okot’s International Resource Center (IRC) in Portland offers high quality, timely language services such as translation, interpretation and tutoring. The services help people with things like job applications, medical appointments, immigration documents and more. His business has provided interpretation in places such as courtrooms, in hospitals, home visits, and group sessions.
Okot came to the Maine SBDC for business advising on marketing and promoting his business, and was paired with Business Advisor Tom Leach. Together, they’ve worked for two years, meeting regularly to discuss marketing IRC and continually developing his business to increase his sales.Read More