Posts Categorized: Recovery & Relaunch Resource Center

CIA Cafe – Saco

Photo of the dining room at CIA Cafe, wooden tables and chairs and windows letting in natural light on the neutral walls and floor.

In early 2022, Jamie Bissonnette and his business partner Duncan Taylor were presented with the opportunity to purchase CIA Cafe (pronounced see-ya), a successful coffee, sandwich and art shop located in Saco. With tons of food and beverage business management experience, Jamie decided it was time to take a chance and step out on his… Read more »

Aegir’s Den Meadery – Palermo

Mark and Carrie Mancini both come from families familiar with fermentation and preserving, but a friendly competition leading to the accidental brewing of a honey mead made Aegir’s Den Meadery possible! After nearly a decade of experimenting and testing different meads with friends and family encouraging them, they opened their Pittsfield storefront in 2019 and… Read more »

Wine House on Main – Kennebunk

External photo of Wine House on Main's red building and large sign with logo and open flag.

Betsy Ross owns the Wine House on Main, a small wine shop and bar located in downtown Kennebunk. Since 2021, Wine House on Main has offered wine selections from small families around the world. With decades of experience in hospitality and the wine industry, Betsy shares the stories of winemakers, vineyards and regions with her… Read more »

Odyssey Event Designs – Portland

White women smiling in black jumpsuit sits at a table she set for a formal event

Rachel Johnson pivoted in college from Fine Art to Hospitality, which set her on the path of finding her passion in event planning! She worked her way through boutique hotels and luxury resorts learning as much as she possibly could and eventually started a side hustle while continuing to work her 9-5 job. She even… Read more »

Custom Fit Physical Therapy & Wellness – Auburn

Entrance to a physical therapy practice, includes comfortable looking chairs and medical equipment

 As a healthcare worker negatively impacted by COVID, Jennifer Frazier decided to launch her own physical therapy practice where she could uphold her values and create personal plans to help her physical therapy clients recover. Out of that grew Custom Fit Physical Therapy & Wellness, an outpatient physical therapy clinic that assists clients develop and… Read more »

To Purchase or Not to Purchase? – Penobscot County, Maine

black and white image of a person in a black suit on a white background with many Yes's and No's streaming out of their head into a cloud of confusion in the sky

Success stories come in all shapes and sizes, but sometimes avoiding a bad situation is the best-case scenario! While Maine SBDC Business Advisors are usually helping their clients towards a traditional happy ending, they are often tasked with helping aspiring entrepreneurs avoid potentially damaging situations. We saw it first-hand this past year when Shawn Bouchard… Read more »

Small Business Saturday Prep

White bold font on a dark blue background says Preparing for Small Business Saturday, November 26, 2022. Inlcludes a light blue small business graphic with a front door and window.

This year Small Business Saturday is November 26, 2022! The day is dedicated to supporting and buying from small local businesses. It’s become a holiday shopping tradition over the past twelve years and continues to grow in both sales and participation. But it takes preparation to make the best of the day! Below you’ll find… Read more »

Black Bear Mobile Maintenance – Harrison

Two white people standing in front of a red tractor in rural Maine, leaves and grass on ground with pine trees in the background.

 Jonathan Daggett of Black Bear Mobile Maintenance is a military veteran with the ability to repair everything from small engines to helicopters! Through his years of working experience at a tractor repair shop, he saw an opportunity to (quite literally) serve customers where they are at.

Breggia Sanitation – Portland

Gino Breggia approached the Maine SBDC in July of 2021 seeking financial advice to be able to open his own sanitation business. A Portland native, Gino moved out of state to explore career opportunities. He spent time in New York, where he got his introduction to the world’s largest sanitation department, before spending many years… Read more »

Maine Adventure Co. – Brunswick

Trevar & David Haefele are a father/son team with a passion for the outdoors and a desire to increase sustainable accessibility to the natural beauty Maine has to offer. With diverse life experience in leadership, personal development, and coaching, both Trevar & David are in an excellent position to bring their passion to others.