A-Guide-to-Resources-for-Maine-Entrepreneurs-July-2018-

Table of ContentsTraining, Technical Assistance & Mentoring Advanced Manufacturing Center at University of Maine 7Cultivator 7Foster Center for Student Innovation 7Harold Alfond Institut

MAINE ENTREPRENEURS

A Guide to Resources for

Fourth Edition, June 2018 Courtesy of:

A Guide to Resources for

Maine Entrepreneurs

Greetings This guide is a starting point for entrepreneurs seeking resources in the state of Maine It is also designed to help individuals and organizations that support and guide entrepreneurs and startups and are looking for ways to match resources with those in need The following categories of resources are included:

• Training, Technical Assistance & Mentoring

• Financing & Capital

• Incubators & Workspaces

• Libraries

• Networking & Advocacy

• State & Regional Economic Development

• Recurring Conferences & Events in Maine

The Maine Small Business Guide, published by the Small Business Administration (SBA), is another resource of value to entrepreneurs and startups It includes resources for all small businesses, success stories and how-to’s along with additional industry- specific resources

In addition to the listed organizations, the local and regional chambers of commerce and libraries throughout Maine provide a wealth of information relevant to

entrepreneurship Most of Maine’s colleges and universities also have programs relating to entrepreneurship Check their respective websites for more information and updates

If you have suggested edits, additions, or ideas, or you would like additional copies, please contact Susan at susanvmorris@newheightgroup.com The guide PDF is available in the Resources section at www.newheightgroup.com and you are welcome

to place the guide PDF as a resource on your web site

We wish entrepreneurs the very best with your endeavors and hope the resources assembled here assist you in your company’s growth We are grateful to all of the organizations that support entrepreneurship in Maine and hope that this guide helps you “connect the dots.” Onwards!

Susan V Morris

Principal, NewHeight Group

Susanvmorris@newheightgroup.com

Table of Contents

Training, Technical Assistance & Mentoring

Advanced Manufacturing Center at University of Maine 7Cultivator 7Foster Center for Student Innovation 7Harold Alfond Institute for Business Innovation 7Maine Accelerates Growth Initiative (MxG) 8Maine & Company 8

Maine Center for Entrepreneurs (MCE) 8Maine Development Foundation (MDF) 8Maine Downtown Center (MDC) 9Maine International Trade Center (MITC) 9Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) 9Maine PTAC (Procurement Technical Assistance Center) 9Maine Quality Centers at Maine Community College System 9Maine Small Business Development Center (SBDC) 10Manufacturers Association of Maine 10New Ventures Maine 10Next Step Maine Employer’s Initiative (NSMEI) 10SCORE 10Small Business Administration Maine (SBA) 11StartSmart 11Top Gun 11University of Maine’s Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition

and Cooperative Extension 11

Women’s Business Center at CEI 12Women Standing Together (WST) 12

Financing & Capital

Throughout the Guide, organizations that may have funding available are marked with $

Community Concepts Finance Corporation (CCFC) $ 13

Libra Future Fund $ 13

Incubators & Workspaces

CoLab Co-Working Space 17Lewiston-Auburn

Engine Room 18 Fork Food Lab 18

Maine Business Center 19 PelotonLabs 19 Pineland Venture Hub 19

Rockland

Steel House 20South Portland

Creative Portland 22E2Tech 22Envision Maine 22Local Chambers of Commerce 22Maine BioScience/Bioscience Association of Maine (BAM) 22Maine Center for Creativity (MECC) 23Maine Entrepreneurs LinkedIn Group 23Maine Food Strategy 23Maine Women’s Network 23MeetUp 23

Realize Maine Network 23 Cynerggy, Fusion Bangor, KV Connect, Midcoast Edge, Midcoast Magnet, Momentum Aroostock, Propel Portland, Spark, Synergize Sandord, UpliftLA

Startup Portland 24

State & Regional Economic Development

Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments (AVCOG) $ 24Biddeford Saco Area Economic Development Corp (BSAEDC) $ 24

Eastern Maine Development Corporation (EMDC) $ 25Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) $ 25Kennebec Valley Council of Governments (KVCOG) $ 25Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission (LCRPC) 25Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) $ 26

Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority (MRRA) 26

Piscataquis County Economic Development Council 27

Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission (SMPDC) 27

Conferences & Events

Envision Maine Summit 29

GrowSmart Maine Annual Summit 29LaunchPad 29MaineLive 30

PopTech 30

TEDxDirigo 30

Training, Technical Assistance & Mentoring

Advanced Manufacturing Center at University of Maine

www.umaine.edu/amc • amc@maine.edu

The Advanced Manufacturing Center is a world class manufacturing technology research center at UMaine that is available to industry and entrepreneurs AMC assists with research, development, and commercialization of the latest manufacturing products and processes, and provides an advance engineering approach to solve a wide range of manufacturing problems, saving cost and time AMC specializes in the following areas: product development and prototyping, 3D laser scanning and printing, CAD/CAM and CNC machining, product commercialization, process system design and integration, on-going operational support and training, student intern training, and product evaluation and testing

of $500k+ and are looking to grow and scale The program provides participants with hands-on strategic assessments and planning sessions, tailored professional resources, and access to interactive development forums – all at an affordable cost Cultivator is a program of MCE

63 Federal St, Suite 7, Portland, Maine 04101

Foster Center for Student Innovation

www.umaine.edu/innovation • uminnovation@maine.edu

The Foster Center for Student Innovation at the University of Maine was created as an incubator for knowledge-based business ventures that will lead to the creation of new Maine-based industries through University research and development The Center pro-vides free business coaching, incubator space for students, a minor and a certificate in Innovation Engineering, and manages the Innovate for Maine Fellows Program

of entrepreneurship and innovation

Thomas College, 180 West River Rd, Waterville, ME 04901

Maine Accelerates Growth Initiative (MxG)

www.maineacceleratesgrowth.com • info@maineacceleratesgrowth.com

The Maine Accelerates Growth Initiative accelerates the growth of companies, nities, and talent by funding, creating, and leveraging high impact entrepreneurship and innovation programs and events through a collaborative and complementary network of organizations and individuals propelling prosperity across Maine

commu-8 Venture Ave., Brunswick Landing, Brunswick, ME 04011 • (207) 582-4790

Maine & Company

www.maineco.org

A private, non-profit corporation that provides free and confidential consulting services

to businesses looking to locate in Maine or grow in Maine Assists in identifying and packaging together programs for business expansion and relocation activities These programs include state, regional, and local tax reimbursements, tax credits, sales tax exemptions, training, and financing resources

193 Clarks Cove Road, Walpole, ME 04573 •(207) 832-1075

Maine Center for Entrepreneurs (MCE)

www.mced.biz • info@mced.biz

MCE helps entrepreneurs reinvent the Maine economy by providing them with resources

to build innovative world-class companies Over the past 20 years, MCE has accelerated the growth of hundreds of companies, established the largest community of mentors in Maine, and offers training, advice, and connections MCE’s programs include Top Gun (training & mentorship), Cultivator (food, beverage, and agriculture accelerator), work-shop series, networking, and the Maine Mentor Network

Cloudport, 63 Federal St., Portland, ME 04101

Maine Development Foundation (MDF)

www.mdf.org • mdf@mdf.org

The Maine Development Foundation (MDF) is a private, non-partisan membership nization that drives sustainable, long-term economic growth for the State of Maine MDF stimulates new ideas, develops leaders, and provides common ground for solving prob-lems and advancing issues Programs include Leadership Maine and the ICL Leadership Intensive

orga-295 Water St., Suite 5, Augusta, ME 04330 • (207) 622-6345

Maine Downtown Center (MDC)

www.mdf.org/mdc_overview.php

The Maine Development Foundation’s Downtown Center serves as the state coordinator for the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street program The Center’s mis-sion is to advance preservation-based economic development in Maine downtowns

to leverage a vast array of public and private resources and services that are available to every manufacturing enterprise in Maine

Cen-to assist clients Cen-to market Cen-to government agencies and government prime contracCen-tors.EMDC Southwest, 403 Hallowell Rd., Pownal, ME 04069 • (207) 653-8625

323 State St., Augusta, ME 04330 • (207) 629-4030

Maine Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

www.mainesbdc.org • mainesbdc@usm.maine.edu

Maine SBDC helps build and strengthen Maine’s small businesses Professional certified advisors offer a wide range of free workshops throughout the state Advisors also provide free individualized, confidential assistance on a variety of topics to entrepreneurs at all stages to help start, manage, and grow Maine businesses Offices across the state

55 Exeter St., PO Box 9300, Portland, ME 04104 • (207) 780-4949

Manufacturers Association of Maine

www.mainemfg.com • info@mainemfg.com

Comprised of over 300 companies and 100 students in Maine, Manufacturers Association

of Maine serves its membership by providing education and workforce training, business growth services, cluster initiatives, legislative advocacy, scholarship programs, network-ing opportunities and industry partnerships

100 Middle St., Portland, ME 04101 • (207) 772-1147

Small Business Administration Maine (SBA)

www.sba.gov/me

The Maine District Office is responsible for the delivery of SBA’s many programs and vices, including financial assistance for new or existing businesses through guaranteed loans made by area bank and non-bank lenders, and free counseling, advice and informa-tion on starting, better operating or expanding a small business through SCORE, Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) and Women’s Business Centers (WBC) Training.Bangor has been selected as the first location in Maine to deliver a U.S Small Business Administration program geared to meet the needs of executives of small business poised for growth in emerging markets The Emerging Leaders Initiative is an intensive exec-utive-level series intended to accelerate the growth of high-potential small businesses

ser-in America’s underserved cities Small busser-iness owners selected for the free ser-intensive program will receive up to 100 hours of classroom time and have opportunities to work with experienced coaches and mentors, attend workshops and develop connections with peers, local leaders and the financial community

Cloudport, 63 Federal St., Portland, ME 04101

University of Maine’s Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition and Cooperative Extension

5741 Libby Hall, Orono, ME 04469 • (207) 581-3188

UpStart Maine

www.upstartmaine.org • innovation@upstartmaine.org

UpStart Maine is a non-profit bringing together all of the Bangor region’s entrepreneurial programs to support entrepreneurship from the earliest networking and idea formation stage through incubation and acceleration It serves as a unified voice in promoting inno-vation-driven enterprise in the Greater Bangor Region, and does joint outreach, recruit-ing, and fundraising Founding programs include Big Gig, a business pitch competition, Top Gun (Bangor), an entrepreneurial accelerator, ScratchPad, a smaller, more intensive seed accelerator, and the UpStart Center for Entrepreneurship, a business incubator for scaleable start-up companies

WST is a supportive community for women entrepreneurs and leaders who are

interest-ed in growing professionally and finding a bolder voice Women entrepreneurs can nect with a community who will support them in the growth of their business Bi-month-

con-ly round table sessions provide feedback and referrals on an entrepreneur’s challenge

PO Box 10926, Portland, ME 04101 • (207) 415-5168

Financing & Capital

Black Point Group $

www.blackpointgroup.com • info@blackpointgroup.com

A private investment partnership focused on long term value creation via active volvement in public and private growth companies The partnership seeks to leverage it’s operational and investment expertise in life science, technology, and other domains, including significant involvement in public service

in-7 Custom House St., Suite 500, Portland, ME 04101

Blue Heron Capital $

www.blueheroncap.com • info@blueheroncap.com

Blue Heron Capital invests in small-cap growth equity companies in health care and tech-enabled business services It includes a talented group of operating professionals with decades of experience building and managing companies

8730 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 280, Richmond, VA 23235 • (804) 212-3400

CEI (Coastal Enterprises, Inc.) $

www.ceimaine.org • info@ceimaine.org

CEI provides loans and investments for small and medium sized businesses in Maine CEI’s business advisors, located throughout the state, offer support and technical advis-ing with targeted programs for women, refugees or immigrants, fishermen and sustain-able agriculture

to empower entrepreneurs and businesses by providing access to capital and business development services that include counseling and educational programming They invest

in existing, as well as startup businesses, based on the quality of ideas and the capacity

of the people behind those ideas Capital is provided based on the strength of business plans, community impact, and the character of the individual in addition to conventional credit worthiness

17 Market Square, South Paris, ME 04281 • (207) 333-6419

Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) $

www.famemaine.com/business • business@famemaine.com

The Finance Authority of Maine provides direct loans to businesses and access to vative financial solutions to help Maine citizens pursue business and higher educational opportunities FAME’s Maine Seed Capital Tax Credit Program is designed to encourage equity and near-equity investments in eligible Maine businesses, directly and through private venture capital funds FAME may authorize state income tax credits to investors for up to 50% of the cash equity they provide to eligible Maine businesses Investments may be used for fixed assets, research or working capital

sound investments in promising New England entrepreneurs with an emphasis on Maine businesses Bangor Angels is associated with Maine Angels but also raises its own funds

Maine Community Foundation (MCF) $

www.mainecf.org/default.aspx • info@mainecf.org

Maine Community Foundation is a statewide nonprofit that helps people invest ble resources in the future of Maine Given its place-based focus and commitment to ac-tivate resources to meet its mission, the Maine Community Foundation has added impact investments to its philanthropic toolbox Impact investments are intended to generate targeted social benefit and a financial return

follow-Two City Center, 5th Floor, Portland, ME 04101 • (207) 772-4470

Slow Money Maine $

www.slowmoneymaine.org/nsp • info@slowmoneymaine.org

Slow Money Maine’s mission is to build a diverse network of individuals, philanthropists, businesses, nonprofits and government entities that are focused on investing in farms and fisheries, and the ecosystems that sustain them as a means of growing our local food systems, economies and communities statewide Slow Money Maine is a chapter of Slow Money National No Small Potatoes Investment Club strengthens Maine’s local food economy by making small loans to farms, fishermen and the food businesses they supply

to help them thrive

USDA Rural Development – Maine $

www.rd.usda.gov/me

USDA Rural Development is a federal agency that invests between $350 million and

$450 million dollars each year in the state of Maine through its Housing, Community, and Business Programs Through its Business Programs, the agency works with local lenders

to provide loans for rural businesses and offers a variety of loan and grant programs for business development, renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, value-added ag-ricultural projects, community economic development and more, leading to job creation

in Maine’s rural communities

busi-a lobusi-ading dock busi-and four overhebusi-ad doors Bbusi-angor Innovbusi-ation Center is operbusi-ated by Bbusi-anAir Corporation, a non-profit development corporation whose mission is to encourage and manage development at Bangor International Airport and in the City of Bangor

BanAir Corporation, 73 Harlow St., Bangor, ME 04401 • (207) 735-4059

www.scratchpadaccelerator.com • lisa@scratchpadaccelerator.com

Scratchpad Accelerator is a University of Maine initiative in collaboration with Maine Technology Institute (MTI) and is a full-time seed accelerator for startup companies focused exclusively on female founders The 6 month program guides entrepreneurs through the early stages of business development to help women improve their chance of success Located at Bangor’s CoVort Coworking

133 Main St., Damariscotta, ME 04543 • (207) 563-2224