When Colleen and Michael Gross of Verona Island originally came to see Business Advisor Betty Egner, they had owned their business, Verona Wine and Design, for two years. Already successful in their current format, an online business selling items made from repurposed wine barrels, they wanted to expand on their love for wine and wine-inspired items – they wanted to open a retail wine shop and a wine and tapas bar on Main Street in Bucksport.
Posts Categorized: Success Stories
Business Highlight: The Local Variety – Bucksport
The Local Variety is located in the heart of downtown Bucksport, a former mill town with new energy and life. When the current owners decided to put the business up for sale, Jessica Carter jumped at the opportunity to own this downtown café in the town that she loves. Although she had little experience in the restaurant industry, she had a vision for the store and sought out Maine SBDC Business Advisor Betty Egner for help turning that dream into reality.
Business Highlight: Halcyon Yarn – Bath
Halcyon Yarn, a yarn and fiber art retail and catalogue store located in Bath, has been in business for over 45 years, serving the needs of weavers, knitters, spinners and other fiber artists. When the founder Halcyon Blake decided it was time to retire, her daughter Gretchen Jaeger sought to buy the business and keep it in the family.
MaineBiz: Buyer of Portage Lakeside Cabins converting seasonal business into four-season resort
PORTAGE LAKE — An Aroostook County native and former marine said her purchase of Portage Lakeside Cabins, not far from her childhood stomping grounds, fulfills her longtime dream for a business while allowing her to raise her children in a region she loves. In a transaction finalized Sept. 13, Shannon Currier purchased the business for… Read more »
Business Highlight: EterNav – Verona Island
Kasey Smith, founder of EterNav, relied on her Maine SBDC advisors to help her navigate the process of business startup including access to grant funding.
Business Highlight: Aroostook Driving School – Caribou
When Ryan Deprey and Todd Albert, well known teachers and coaches in the local school system, heard that one of the longstanding driving schools in Caribou was closing due to retirement, they saw an opportunity. The pair approached Josh Nadeau, Maine SBDC business advisor at Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC), to take advantage of that… Read more »
Business Highlight: Autotronics – Frenchville & Bangor
Autotronics approached Maine SBDC Business Advisor Josh Nadeau looking for help in restructuring some current loans as well as funds to help build a new state of the art paint facility at their headquarters in Frenchville, Maine.
Business Highlight: Lost Valley – Auburn
Lost Valley, a small ski area located in Auburn, Maine, has been a staple of the area since 1961. The first ski area in Maine to make artificial snow, the business features 15 trails and a terrain park, offering something for skiers of all abilities. It also boasts one of the largest ski schools in Maine…. Read more »
Client News: Vintage Maine Kitchen in Freeport cooks up old-fashion potato chips
Maine SBDC client in the news… “Hang on, I’ve got to pull a rack of chips from the fryer,” says Kelly Brodeur — co-owner with her husband Scott of the startup Vintage Maine Kitchen — before settling into a recent phone interview. Celebrating their first year in business on Aug. 1, it seems the Brodeurs… Read more »
The Milkhouse – Monmouth
Over a year and a half Roderick assisted the couple in making their dream of owning a farm a reality.