Small businesses in Lincoln County are invited to a Business Resource Workshop on Thursday, Oct. 16, from 8 to 10 am at the Water’s Edge Banquet Facility in Edgecomb. Federal, state and local business agencies will discuss a variety of financial resources available to support planning, development and growth of your business. 

On hand will be Diane Sturgeon, Deputy District Director for SBA’s Maine District Office, Jaimie Logan of the Department of Community and Economic Development, Jenn Dobransky of Women, Work and Community, and Brian Dancause of MCEDD, among others. Other agencies participating include Maine Technology Institute, CEI, FAME, Coastal Counties Workforce, Central Maine Community College, and Goodwill Workforce Solutions.

These agencies provide a range of business counseling and financing tools. For example, MTI’s Seed Grant program has assisted Maine Medicinals of Dresden with business and production planning for commercial harvesting of elderberries and eventual development of its top-selling antioxidant-rich nutraceutical.

Other Lincoln County businesses who’ve benefitted from MTI support are Pemaquid Mussel Farm, Hodgdon Yachts, Mook Sea Farm, Plante’s Lobster Escape Vents, and Maine Fresh Sea Farms.

SBA offers assistance to small businesses or individuals starting a business through counseling services, loan guaranty programs offered by lending partners, direct loans offered by Microlenders, and SBA staff also assist small businesses in setting up a contracting relationship with the federal government.

The 441 loans approved in Maine by SBA last fiscal year represent more than $103 million dollars supported through the 7(a) Loan Guaranty Program, the Certified Development Company/504 Loan Program, and SBA Microloan Program.  SBA and its Resource Partners — SCORE,  Maine Small Business Development Centers, and the Women’s Business Centers in Maine — assisted more than 168 small business startups creating and retaining more than 950 jobs in the State.

Are you at the R&D stage or looking to expand to new markets? Whether a start-up or well-known, learning about opportunities in financing and training, and making connections with other regional businesses will give attendees practical tools and a “support team.”

The event is presented by the Midcoast Economic Development District, Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission and the SBA, with support from Lincoln County.

This is open to the public, free of charge. Please register by contacting Scott Benson, Midcoast Economic Development Council at 207-370-6045 (or sbenson@mceddme.org).