David Jacobson has worked with Maine SBDC Business Advisor David Hill since 2004. Jacobson, a successful cartoonist and glass blower, had just moved to Maine from New York City and wanted to establish his own studio in Montville.Read More
David Jacobson Glass – Montville, Maine
Village Market – Carmel, Maine
The Village Market has stood in the heart of the Town of Carmel for over 70 years. After being closed for five years, Jamey Brown and his wife Raquel came to Business Advisor Ann McAlhany with a dream to purchase and re-open a local market. Read More
Katahdin Communications – Millinocket, Maine
Kata
hdin Communications is a locally owned radio broadcasting company. It’s main station WSYY AM and FM broadcasts in a sports format and serves Northern and Downeast Maine. It features programming from CBS Radio and CBS Radio News as well as covering local school sporting events.
Business owner James Talbot has big plans for the business. He wanted to expand his business, but was struggling to secure the funding needed to do so. His lender recommended he connect with Maine SBDC’s Ann McAlhany for assistance in mid-2015, and the pair have been working together regularly since. McAlhany listened to his plans. She helped him to organize his vision into manageable and executable phases.Read More
The Francis – Portland, Maine
When Jeff Harder and Nate Delois had an opportunity to purchase the historic Mellen E Bolster House at 747 Congress Street in Portland they had a vision of what it could become. The home was built in 1881 and had beautiful features and design. That vision has become The Francis hotel, a 15 room boutique hotel in Portland’s West end.Read More
Cityside by E&S Auto Repair – Scarborough, Maine
After two years in business, Sukhi Singh, co-owner of E&S Auto Repair in Scarborough, came to the Maine SBDC looking for help to grow his business. Him and his business partner Edwin Zukic had been working out of a leased three bay garage and were quickly running into two main problems – rent was relatively high and the business was quickly outgrowing the three bays. This prompted Singh to sit down with Business Adviser Peter Harriman to discuss how to finance the purchase of a larger garage.
Singh was able to locate a six bay garage for sale relatively close to his current business. With English as his second language and not having much experience in financing, Singh needed help putting together a comprehensive business plan to obtain a loan for the purchase. Harriman explained the various types of financing available, and that multiple sources would likely be necessary. The pair worked back and forth over several months to ensure that Singh had a thorough business plan narrative as well as a realistic set of financials to present to his potential funders.
Singh worked to negotiate with the seller, checking in regularly with Harriman for advice. With the agreement in place, Singh was able to successfully obtained $500,000 from Gorham Savings Bank. In addition, he secured an additional $85,000 from Greater Portland Council of Governments and Community Concepts. was able to close on the loan, successfully obtaining $500,000 from Gorham Savings Bank.
In October 2017, Cityside by E&S Auto Repair moved to its new, larger space at 42 Holmes Road in Scaborough. Known for its professional and trustworthy service, Singh reports that the business is busier than ever.
Follow this growing business on Facebook.
Integrity Services of Maine – Poland, Maine
Bill Bouchard of Poland has 20 years experience in the HVAC industry. After years as a technician, supervisor and project manager with the largest HVAC service company in Southern Maine, Bouchard wanted to start his own business. While he had all the necessary licensing and experience, he needed assistance in getting his business started and turned to Larry Giroux, a certified business advisor with the Maine SBDC at AVCOG in Auburn.Read More
Custom Composite Technologies, Inc. – Bath, Maine
Since 2005, Custom Composite Technologies, Inc. (CCTI) has been developing lightweight, durable carbon fiber and fiberglass solutions for its customers around the world. A pioneer in advance composite technology and application, the company creates customized, high-performance solutions for industries and individuals with unique challenges. Their innovative techniques and advance composite materials are fabricated from their facility in Bath, Maine.
Pictured: CCTI Customer, MIT Solar Electric Vehicle Team
While CCTI’s specializes in making high-performance boats, they’ve seen significant diversification in their products in recent years, expanding into the transportation, art/architectural, renewable energy, robotics and defense industries. Their parts, tooling and molds have been used in a racing sailboat used by the America’s Cup champions, in art exhibits featured in prominent US cities, in a solar vehicle that is being developed by students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that will be raced at the 2017 Formula Sun Grand Prix, and in a robotic arm being designed as part of an exhibit by the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, just to name a few.
Since the beginning, business owners Steve and Maureen Hassett have sought the advice of Brad Swanson, Maine SBDC Business Advisor located at Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI). Swanson helped the pair create a vision for the company. This vision sustained them through extremely tough economic times and the diversification of their products and services. His encouragement helped them to believe in their success. Swanson has spent nearly 300 hours working to help the Hassett’s start and grow their business, working with them on a range of issues to ensure their business ran profitably and smoothly.
With a goal of reaching $1 million in sales in the coming year, Swanson helped develop strategies and goals to achieve this. The company recently received an award from the Institute for Family-Owned Business for excellence in family involvement, business success and commitment to employees, customers and community. They company also won an Innovation award in 2016 from the Manufacturers Association of Maine for their diversification of products. CCTI is in a prime position to achieve their goals, as many manufactures look to get away from heavier materials such as metal and invest in durable, lightweight and easily malleable composites.
For more on this unique Maine company, visit their website or follow them on Facebook!
Quality Saw & Supply • 105 Restaurant & Lounge – West Enfield, Maine
Michael Brasslett, owner of Quality Saw & Supply in West Enfield, was sent to Business Advisor Tom Gallant by his banker in 2008. Specializing in the repair of saw blades and catering to Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, Quality Saw was struggling financially – sawmills were closings, sales were down, business was slow, debts were mounting up and there was no cash. Four employees relied on him, and his business.
Crooked Face Creamery – Norridgewock
Amy Rowbottom has had her share of ups and downs as a business owner. She first opened Crooked Face Creamery located in Norridgewock in 2012 making specialty whole milk cheese with milk from the farm that she grew up on. But even the best written business plan can prepare us for some of life’s challenges. After weathering these challenges, she turned to Business Advisor Janet Roderick for assistance in re-booting her business.Read More
International Resource Center – Portland, Maine
Paul Okot’s International Resource Center (IRC) in Portland offers high quality, timely language services such as translation, interpretation and tutoring. The services help people with things like job applications, medical appointments, immigration documents and more. His business has provided interpretation in places such as courtrooms, in hospitals, home visits, and group sessions.
Okot came to the Maine SBDC for business advising on marketing and promoting his business, and was paired with Business Advisor Tom Leach. Together, they’ve worked for two years, meeting regularly to discuss marketing IRC and continually developing his business to increase his sales.Read More