The Maine Small Business Development Centers (Maine SBDC) has selected Christine Cole as the 2025 State Star. The award, given annually, recognizes a member of the Maine SBDC staff who has shown exemplary performance and a strong commitment to small business success. Christine (Chris) Cole is a senior business advisor at the Maine SBDC at… Read more »
Posts By: Aaron Cohen
Café Luna – Falmouth
After living in Maine nearly 25 years, Juliann Joy identified a gap in the local dining scene and stepped up to fill it. She opened Café Luna on Route 1 in Scarborough in early 2024, creating a cozy spot for healthy breakfast and lunch options.
Commercial Leasing Tips for Small Business Owners
One of the final hurdles in starting your own business is finding a suitable location to hang your shingle. At the SBDC, we often see sole proprietors who have just begun their ventures working from home. However, we also work with micro-entrepreneurs (companies with less than 10 employees) who need to rent enough space to sell… Read more »
Winnie’s Beauty Salon – South Portland
When Winnie Ogweta opened Winnie’s Beauty Salon in South Portland, she set out to do more than style hair. As the first Black-owned salon in South Portland, and one of just a handful across Maine, her business represents an important milestone and a new opportunity. As a licensed hairstylist, Winnie wanted to create a space… Read more »
How Small Businesses Can Strategize During an Economic Downturn
The 2008 financial crisis and the 2020 pandemic recession left lasting marks on the Maine small business community. Yet, in each case, some Maine businesses found ways to not only weather the storm but adapt and grow in new directions.
Owlbear’s Rest – Westbrook
For Patty and Matt, Maine is where they built their family and careers. Now, they are preparing to open their dream business. Owlbear’s Rest brings people together through great games, good food, and a welcoming community. With an extensive library of board and roleplaying games, cozy seating, and a thoughtfully crafted menu featuring local producers,… Read more »
Evergreen Grooming – Hampden
For many years, Veronica Page, a Maine native, worked as a dog groomer for others, but she wanted the opportunity to provide better service on her own terms. She dreamed of opening a place of her own but didn’t know where to start.
Motivating and Managing a Small Team: Strategies for Small Business Success
Team motivation is not just a workplace perk. It plays a critical role in productivity, customer service, employee retention, and innovation. In a recent Maine SBDC webinar, Business Advisor Christina Dodge focused on how small business owners can build a motivated and accountable team with limited time and resources.
Kevin Browne Architecture – Falmouth
Kevin Browne is the founder of Kevin Browne Architecture (KBA), a residential architecture firm based in Falmouth. They focus on thoughtful and lasting designs that cater to their clients’ unique needs.
China Lake Provisions – China
Mike Brown envisioned creating a welcoming space where the community could find high-quality, locally sourced food. That vision became China Lake Provisions, a deli, pizza, and sub shop offering a variety of healthy foods and local goods. When Mike and his team first set out to open their business, they faced a major hurdle: securing… Read more »