PRESQUE ISLE - In a little more than two years The Cubby Thrift Store has grown to include two locations, the original store in Caribou and now a new location in Presque Isle, and owners Cindy and Chris Johnson are looking to expand further.

   The Cubby is more than just business; it's also a philosophy of caring and that's why The Cubby Fund was also created.

   "There is a lot of need and we work hard with our foundation to help children with life threatening illnesses," said Chris Johnson, who owns The Cubby with his wife Cindy.

Owners of The Cubby Thrift Store, from left, Chris and Cindy Johnson discuss the recent move of their Presque Isle location with NMDC's Rod Thompson.

   Before the foundation or the stores there was a plan, which benefited from assistance of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC). Rod Thompson is the director of the SBDC.

   "Initially they came in with a business plan about half complete," said Thompson. "We worked on completing their business plan, going through checklists and reworking their mission statement because I thought it was so great."

   "They were a good coaching tool for us. We had a definitive goal in mind and they provided a great sounding board for us," Mr. Johnson said.

   "It was also nice to have someone review our plan to let us know if we were on the right track," added Mrs. Johnson.

   Once the business plan and mission statement were completed, Thompson focused on marketing and inventory access and control.

   "Within a few weeks I also gathered a list of possible donors and forwarded it to Cindy and Chris," said Thompson.

   Starting a small business can be a daunting task and the SBDC can be a valuable resource for entrepreneurs, but that is only a first step. The Johnsons said the potential business owner also needs drive.

   "When you make a decision and you decide to step through your businesses door, it no longer becomes I hope, but I will," Mr. Johnson said.

   The Cubby's newest location on Main Street in Presque Isle, near Big Cheese Pizza, more than doubles the square footage of the previous location on State Street. Mr. Johnson said the expansion is a bonus, not just for the business but also the foundation. Since it was started more than $18,000 has been donated.

   In addition to the stores at 40 Sweden Street in Caribou and 240 Main Street in Presque Isle, the Johnsons hope to expand to the St. John Valley and Houlton area.

   More information about The Cubby Thrift Store and The Cubby Fund can be found on their Facebook page.  

   Thompson encourages anyone who is thinking about starting a business or an ongoing business that may need some assistance in a specific area, like market research, marketing or operations, to get in touch with the SBDC.

   More information is available at www.mainesbdc.org, www.nmdc.org or by contacting Thompson at (800) 427-8736.

   SBDC is a partnership program of the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, the University of Southern Maine and NMDC.

St. Pierre hired as DEI business outreach coordinator

   CARIBOU - Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC) has announced the hiring of Natalie St. Pierre as a part-time business outreach coordinator for the Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) program.

   St. Pierre is based at the Presque Isle Career Center with disability resource coordinator Kent DeMerchant.

Natalie St. Pierre

   In addition to working with businesses to promote the hiring of people with a disability, St. Pierre will also help to expand the Ticket to Work program in Aroostook and Washington counties.

   Ticket to Work is an employment program for people with disabilities who are interested in going to work. The Ticket Program is part of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999- legislation designed to remove many of the barriers that previously influenced people's decisions about going to work because of the concerns over losing healthcare and coverage.

   "Being a person with a disability I know how frustrating it can sometimes be to navigate and work through a system that is not always the easiest to understand from either an individual or potential employer point of view," said St. Pierre. "I'd like to be able to help businesses to view disability as ability versus liability or risk. Not only would this help individuals in our region with disability or limitation become more independent it also helps promote both business and community."

   "Natalie possesses drive and determination," said Ryan Pelletier, director of economic and workforce development at NMDC. "She will be a terrific advocate for people with disabilities and a valuable resource for our business communities in Aroostook and Washington counties.

   St. Pierre, of Presque Isle, is currently obtaining her MBA from Husson University and has a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Maine Presque Isle.