News from APP/NMDC

Notes from APP and NMDC

Volume 1, Issue 48

May 10, 2013

In This Issue

Free Entrepreneurial Training

Aroostook Entrepreneur of the Year

Tourism Summit

Free tuition for Top Gun Prep entrepreneurial course offered

CARIBOU - Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC) is offering just starting out entrepreneurs in Aroostook and Washington counties free tuition in the Top Gun Prep course from the Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development, but the deadline for submitting an application is rapidly approaching.

Top Gun Prep is a series of nine online classes that will cover products, business models and companies, innovation engineering for entrepreneurs, customer development, startup market research, entrepreneurial marketing, revenue streams and business model innovation, financials for entrepreneurs, financing your business and final pitch night to potential investors. There will also be networking opportunities and other assistance available to participants.

"Anyone with a true desire to own and operate their own business should apply," said Duane Walton, NMDC finance. "Money to invest into your own business is not necessarily an issue since we will work hard to find someone to listen to your reasons for wanting to own and operate your own business based on a sound business model that you will be presenting."

In addition to tuition, all books and materials will also be free.

Funding for the program was secured from USDA Rural Development and the Northern Border Regional Commission. Last year the entrepreneur project was launched in the Caribou area as a pilot and this year has expanded to cover both Aroostook and Washington counties.

"Sound business planning and financing options are extremely important to startup businesses," said Jennifer Peters, Sunrise County Economic Council (SCEC) assistant director. "SCEC is happy to help make this opportunity available for Washington County entrepreneurs."

"Entrepreneurs are very important to both counties especially when we consider that it is difficult in the economic climate to keep people of all ages needing to work to stay in our communities," added Walton. "We need to have those that have been successful to help those that have the spirit to also be an asset to the community and build it back to what it was or could be."

Walton is hopeful this program may convince some, who long to return home, to do so.

"In addition to being open to anyone, I really hope this will also entice some people to take a second look at their hometown and invest their time and come back and have a good life which we offer here," he said.

There is a $25 application fee, which will be refunded at the successful completion of the course. Applications can be found on the NMDC website, www.nmdc.org or by contacting Walton at 498-8736 or dwalton@nmdc.org. Applications are also available from Peters at SCEC, 255-0983 or scec@sunrisecounty.org. Acceptance into the program will be determined after a review of the applications.

The application deadline is May 24 and the start day for the Top Gun Prep course is June 4.

More information about the course is available at www.mced.biz/programs-services/top-gun-program.

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Finalists named in entrepreneur contest; deadline to register for the awards ceremony and dinner this week

AROOSTOOK COUNTY - Three finalists have been selected for the 2013 Aroostook Entrepreneur of the Year contest sponsored by LEADers Encouraging Aroostook Development, Momentum Arooostook, University of Maine Fort Kent, Northern Maine Community College, University of Maine Presque Isle and Husson University.

"We started with eight very good nominees and whittled it down to the top three," said LEAD Executive Director Ryan Pelletier. "The finalists represent Southern Aroostook and the St. John Valley and show the entrepreneurial spirit is alive in The County."

The finalists, in alphabetical order, are Bison Pumps in Houlton, owner David Harbison; Fiddlehead Focus in Fort Kent, owner/publisher Andrew Birden; and Northern Maine Media WHOU in Houlton, owner Fred Grant.

To register for May 23 event click here

"Innovation was the theme to this year's contest and the three finalists have all used innovation to grow their market and reach out to the world beyond the Aroostook County lines," said LEAD President Jon McLaughlin.

Bison Pumps was established in 1999, after the "Great Ice Storm" of 1998, which was the genesis of an idea. Harbison and his crew at Harbison Plumbing and Heating developed a hand pump for wells that can be used when power goes out. The product and eventually other models were developed and are now sold around the world. Harbison currently employs 12 people and sells more than 800 pumps a year and his business has been growing by 20 to 30 percent annually for the past several years.

Andrew Birden at Fiddlehead Focus, with only $500 and an idea, started a community newspaper and news website at a time when traditional newspapers were struggling. The first issue, June 23, 2010, was only 11x17 one page black and white, but the web presence is where the venture found it voice. Page views of the web version, 2000 a month in the early days, have risen to more than two million per month now. Print distribution is now more than 2,000 a week and a portion of the newsstand price goes to charity. From a one-man operation, with some family volunteers, Fiddlehead Focus now employs four full-time and two part-time workers.

Another media success story is Northern Maine Media, Inc. in Houlton. In 2011, Fred Grant formed the company and purchased WHOU 101.1 FM. Knowing the radio station faced multiple competitors from multiple fronts including television, print media and other radio stations, Grant looked to technology and innovation in his strategic plan. In 2011, shortly after purchasing WHOU, the company began video streaming of high school basketball games. This past winter WHOU streamed the Eastern Maine Quarterfinal games and reached more than 80,000 viewers in all 50 states and more than 25 countries. WHOU also streamed the Maine State Instrumental Jazz Festival, with great success as well. Northern Maine Media, Inc. employs 9 people.

Other nominees included: Michael and Emily Carpenter, owners of Carriages of Acadia, Inc. based in Houlton; William Tasker, director of Caribou Chamber of Commerce; Dale and Mark Chamberland, Aroostook Woodsmiths and R.F. Chamberland Inc. St. Agatha; Cathy Duffy Collins, owner Progressive Realty in Caribou; and Shawn Pelletier owner C.S. Management, Pelletier Property Services, Salar Storage North and Washburn Street Storage.

A panel of six judges, one representing each of the sponsors, LEAD and Momentum Aroostook, and the supporting organizations, Husson University, Northern Maine Community College, the University of Maine at Fort Kent, and the University of Maine at Presque Isle, selected the 2013 finalists.

The nominees, finalists and winner will be celebrated May 23 at Reed Commons at the Northern Maine Community College. The Aroostook Entrepreneur of the Year dinner will be a traditional New England Lobster Bake, complete with raw bar, hors d'oeuvres, mussels, corn on the cob and potatoes. There will also be a steak or vegetarian option. The price per person is $30. Pre-registration is required by 4 p.m. May 16. To register, contact Judy Dinsmore at Northern Maine Development Commission, 498-8736 or by email, jdinsmore@nmdc.org.

Tourism network announced at annual Tourism Summit

CARIBOU - Nearly 50 people in the tourism industry and others who want to see the industry grow in the region gathered at the Caribou Inn and Convention Center May 8 for the second Aroostook County Tourism (ACT) Summit.

ACT, a standing committee of the Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC), is dedicated to improving the economy of northern Maine through its tourism efforts. ACT promotes some of the region's greatest assets like its pristine beauty, diverse culture, storied history and wonderful people to potential visitors from around the world.

"The summit is a good opportunity to see one another face to face and we want to encourage networking as a way to grow tourism in the region," said Leslie Jackson, regional tourism developer at NMDC. "The summit was a huge success with a diverse group representing all areas of The County. People who work in the tourism industry understand the role tourism plays in our area, so events like this are important to keep the flow of communication going."

Jackson also announced the creation of the Northern Maine Tourism Network, which will connect the hundreds of people working in and with the tourism industry. She said having the network will allow for the easy exchange of information, solicitation of volunteers and enables feedback on marketing efforts.

Those marketing efforts and tourism strategies were discussed during the first hour of the summit. Board member Michael Fawcett said there has been a shift in efforts lately to utilize social media and more data based marketing. He also said traditional marketing efforts, like trade shows, are in the mix but it is about utilizing limited funds in the most productive way.

"We'd like to think we are on the right path and we have some enthusiasm and energy," added ACT chairman Jim Bennett.

During a session on improving customer service, Al Cowperthwaite, executive director of the North Maine Woods, talked about the importance of proper training for people on the front lines of customer service. He said many on his staff have taken Welcome ME, the University of Maine's online hospitality training.

"If you have customers, it is important that you keep them," he said.

Also on the agenda were sessions on border crossing issues, the 2014 World Acadian Congress, the 2014 IBU Youth /Junior Biathlon World Championships set for the Nordic Heritage Center in Presque Isle and Ride Aroostook.

The summit also was interactive with a roundtable brainstorming discussion during lunch.

"The brainstorming session was an opportunity for people to let us (ACT) know how they think we are doing promoting The County and to offer any suggestions or ideas on how we can do things better or differently," said Jackson. "By including the people 'on the ground' in the decisions we make for our marketing plan, it provides them the opportunity to take ownership and ultimately encourages partnerships and collaboration throughout the region."

Jackson said, although not part of the formal agenda, the opportunity to thank and recognize the hundreds of hours put in by the unpaid tourism volunteers, was important.

For more information on ACT or to join the Northern Maine Tourism Network, contact Jackson at 498-8736 or by email at ljackson@nmdc.org.