The Small Business Development Centers

Coffee News would like to introduce you to the Maine Small Business Development Centers (SBDC).  The SBDC is a program of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development and the University of Southern Maine. Accredited by America’s Small Business Development Centers, the Maine SBDC operates a network of service centers. The Maine SBDC office is located at 55 Exeter Street, Portland (207-780-4420).  The Northern and Eastern Maine SBDCs are:  Bangor – Eastern Maine Development Commission (207-780-4420), Ellsworth – (207-780-4420), Lincoln – hosted by Northern Maine Development Commission (207-780-4420), Caribou – Northern Maine Development Commission 11 West Presque Isle Road (207-498-0548), and Eastport, which I’ve just became acquainted with, at 49 Water Street in Eastport hosted by the Northern Maine Development Corporation (207.227.9419).

If you have not discovered this business resource or need a reminder to check out the latest news from the site here are a view things you can do with the SBCE.  They offer monthly webinar hour long courses to help you plan, open, and manage your business.  You can create an account and take online business courses.  There are also a variety of free informational workshop videos available on YouTube (link:  https://www.mainesbdc.org/workshops/online-workshops/ )

The SBDC is only one business resource.  Other places you find support and business information other than the internet are:  your local library, trade and industry gatherings/shows, the U.S. Small Business Administration, professional groups, and business networking groups such as chambers of commerce.  Use this link https://www.mainesbdc.org/about/program-results/ to view the Maine SBDC 2025 annual report and find out what the program does to support small business in Maine.