Laurie Murphy and her husband Bart launched Crawford Farm Weddings & Events in Warren as an ambitious new chapter in retirement, combining their love of old architecture, Maine barns, and meaningful gatherings. Laurie retired last year after a lifelong career as a special educator, while Bart continues to work as a highly skilled contractor. Together, they bring their experience, energy, and vision to Crawford Farm, transforming the property into a wedding and event venue where they can share its beauty while helping guests create lasting memories.Read More
Blog
Fallen Oak Farms – Lebanon
When MacKenzie Cayford and Josh Bowker found themselves standing on a 20-acre Christmas tree farm in Lebanon, Maine, it felt like every conversation they had ever shared about their future was suddenly within reach. The property that would become Fallen Oak Farms was not part of their original plan, but it quickly became an obvious next chapter in both their love story and their shared vision for community.Read More
Maine Names 2026 State Star
The Maine Small Business Development Centers (Maine SBDC) has selected Christina Oddleifson as the 2026 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.
Christina (Tina) Oddleifson is a senior business advisor at the Maine SBDC at University of Southern Maine. She works with entrepreneurs and small business owners in Southern Maine to start, sustain, and grow their businesses. In the five years she has been with the Maine SBDC, she has spent over 4,500 hours advising almost 900 clients. She’s helped to start 65 businesses, create and save 222 jobs, and generate almost $10 million in capital. Read More
Saylor DesJardin – Flexit Cafe
After several years working in the coffee shop industry, Saylor DesJardin knew she enjoyed the fast pace, the customer relationships, and the sense of community that comes from serving familiar faces each day. She also had a clear vision to open her own brick-and-mortar coffee and bagel business.Read More
Aroostook Animal Emergency Services – Mars Hill
For decades, Aroostook County residents had to travel several hours to central Maine for their emergency veterinary needs, putting a significant financial strain on pet owners who are already struggling with high veterinary bills.Read More
Proactive Reliability Services – Livermore Falls
After more than 25 years working in heavy industrial maintenance and reliability, Chris Brochu launched Proactive Reliability Services in Livermore Falls to help manufacturers prevent equipment failures and improve operational performance.Read More
Fishnet Cafe – Bailey Island
For Ashley and Ray DeSilva, opening a restaurant was never a given. Ashley, an experienced chef, often joked that her number one rule was never to own the restaurant. But when a small cafe on Bailey Island became available, the opportunity felt too right to pass up. They had found the perfect size, the perfect setting, and the perfect moment to bring their long-simmering vision to life.Read More
Aura & Hue – Turner
Katie Prestridge opened Aura & Hue in Turner to build the kind of salon experience she felt was missing: a calm, private studio where clients can decompress while receiving vivid color work and nail services. Located inside the Skin Hub, Aura & Hue operates as a personal suite within a larger beauty collective, giving clients the option to pair salon services with other self-care appointments in the same building.Read More
New Tool: Mini Business Plan Generator
🚀 Pilot Program
Help us test this tool and shape Maine SBDC resources!
Welcome to the Startup Spark!
Getting a business idea out of your head and onto paper can be the hardest part of the journey. This easy-to-use interactive AI tool helps you translate your vision into a clear blueprint using the Maine SBDC’s startup framework. This tool can be used in as little as 10 minutes to generate a solid roadmap for your business idea.
⚠️ Privacy & Safety: Do not enter personal sensitive information (SSNs, private addresses). Information entered may be used to train AI models. For confidential business advising, visit mainesbdc.org/advising.
Choose your preferred AI platform to begin:
Option A: Gemini
Requires a Google Account.
Best for clean, guided text chat.
Option B: ChatGPT
Requires a ChatGPT Account.
Best for GPT Plus or Free users.
Who is this for?
This tool is for Maine entrepreneurs ready to pressure-test a business idea. It is designed to help you move from “I have an idea” to a Startup Roadmap by identifying exactly what you need to move forward.
The 3-Phase Journey
- 🟢 Phase 1: The Spark – Your core idea, mission, and pricing logic.
- 🟡 Phase 2: The Reality – Your customers, competitors, and location.
- 🔵 Phase 3: The Engine – Your team, startup costs, and risks.
📋 Your Result: After completing Phase 3, you will receive a Startup Roadmap—a concise summary you can use to jumpstart your full business plan or share with a Maine SBDC advisor. Note: This roadmap is a starting point for planning.
📢 We Need Your Feedback
Which version did you prefer? Your input is vital for this pilot. Please let us know how we can make this tool more helpful for Maine’s small business community.
Sand Island Marine Construction – Friendship
Douglas Blasius launched Sand Island Marine Construction in Friendship to deliver pile driving and marine construction services across Midcoast Maine, including dock and pier construction, shoreline stabilization, and barge-based crane support. A Maine Maritime Academy graduate with an engineering background, Blasius spotted the opportunity after building his own wharf and realizing there was demand for a locally based operator that could respond quickly and reliably on the water.Read More