News from APP/NMDC

Notes from APP and NMDC

Volume 2, Issue 72

Nov. 8, 2013

In This Issue

NEG Award

Grand Opening

Small Business Help

NEG awarded to assist laid off MMA workers

LIMESTONE - Additional funding has been allocated to assist workers laid off from the Maine Military Authority's vehicle refurbishment facility at the Loring Commerce Centre.

The U.S Department of Labor (DOL) Monday awarded a National Emergency Grant (NEG) to the Maine Department of Labor for $305,714 to continue re-employment and training services for additional workers affected by layoffs at MMA in Limestone. According to the DOL, the state was initially approved May 10, 2011 for a $463,083 grant and $100,485 in supplemental funding June 25, 2012. The supplement brings the total funds awarded for this project to $869,282.

MDOL will contract with the Local Workforce Investment Board to administer the funds. The Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC) will serve as the fiscal agent and subcontract with the Aroostook County Workforce Investment Act Service Provider, ACAP, to provide the employment and training services to eligible participants.

"Our plan is to serve at least 50 laid off workers from MMA," said NMDC Director of Economic and Workforce Development Ryan Pelletier. "Funding will be used to provide tuition assistance for retraining, supportive services and job counseling."

In late August the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency management announced the layoff of up to 140 people at the military authority effective in October.

The drawdown of troops and equipment in Iraq and Afghanistan was blamed for the job loss at the authority, which employed 210 people before the layoffs.

Quick Links

Non Discrimination Statement

Ameridial celebrates grand opening

Governor LePage, third from the left, helps Ameridial officials cut the ceremonial ribbon at the Fort Kent facility's grand opening Friday afternoon.

SBDC helps entrepreneurs make some dough

MARS HILL - Creating a quality pizza requires quality ingredients. The right dough, robust sauce and fresh cheese are the building blocks. Starting a restaurant, like the Mars Hill House of Pizza, also requires quality ingredients like a solid business plan, up to date marketing information and access to financing. That's where the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC) can help.

Small Business Development Center Director Rod Thompson helped Aaron Howlett translate his love to cook into a successful business.

Rod Thompson and Aaron Howlett at Howlett's business, Mars Hill House of Pizza

"I worked with him for several months to develop a feasibility analysis and a business plan, which he used to gain financing from his family and the Northern Maine Development Commission business finance division," said Thompson. "After receiving the financing he remodeled real estate and opened a sandwich and pizza restaurant in downtown Mars Hill. He has continued to use the SBDC for additional assistance to increase his market share."

Howlett said he know appreciates who difficult it is to start a business, but he added the assistance he received from Thompson and NMDC made the process a little easier.

"We started from the ground up and now are working to grow the business," said Howlett. "We try to vary our menu and promote the daily specials. We have also added a breakfast menu and now are open on Sundays."

Thompson has helped small business startups ranging from auto repair shops, restaurants, home based businesses and more. He said the SBDC can offer assistance to anyone.

"The nice thing about the Small Business Development Center is there are several of us around the state and in some cases, like recently with a software developer, I can call on other people around the state to see if my counterparts have done any work with software," said Thompson. "I also get calls from others around the state on agri-business development. So, it works both ways."

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.