Washington County Business Conference and Marketplace Set for Calais
Contact: Nick Houtman at (207) 581-3777
ORONO- Tuning up an economic engine means getting under the hood and taking a look at everything from marketing to cash flow management. Business owners and economic development experts will do exactly that during the second annual Washington County Business Conference and Marketplace April 30 and May 1 at the Washington County Community College in Calais.
The two-day event will include workshops on a wide variety of business practices as well as exhibits featuring locally made products and services. It is free and open to the public with workshops scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. A marketplace of exhibits and product demonstrations is open on April 30 from 1 to 5 p.m. and on May 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In addition to workshops offering business advice, the conference will include information about how well the Washington County economic engine is running.
Small businesses are at the heart the region’s economy, says James C. McConnon, Business and Economics Specialist with University of Maine Cooperative Extension in Orono, who has studied small business performance in Maine and New England. “In Washington County small businesses generate employment for about 30% of our workforce. It’s clear that a lot of the Down East economy depends on small businesses,” he says.
“With this in mind, the conference planning committee has chosen as the conference theme, Building Washington County’s Entrepreneurial Spirit,” says Louis V. Bassano, Extension professor in Whitneyville. “The overall goal of the conference is to bring together resources to create new businesses and help existing businesses to expand, become more profitable and create jobs in Washington County”.
Marc Edwards will lead a Friday morning session on how the new Downeast Heritage Center will benefit local businesses. Edwards received his Master’s Degree from the University of Maine in 2002 after conducting research on ecotourism. He served on the committee responsible for the sustainable tourism portion of the Governor’s Conference on Tourism in 2003. In addition to his duties at the Downeast Heritage Center, Edwards teaches a course at Washington County Community College for certification as a Certified Interpretive Guide.
Also offered on Friday are sessions on writing news releases, marketing, managing cash flow and applying for grants.
On Saturday, sessions will focus on pricing strategies, the new Dirigo Health Care plan, business insurance and balancing business with family life. In the afternoon, presentations will be made on business marketing and planning, the Washington County economy, energy conservation and export opportunities.
Throughout the event, business owners and managers will have the chance to meet with representatives of economic development agencies and financial institutions to discuss concerns. Among participants in the Business Assistance Center will be the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Sunrise County Economic Council, the University of Maine and the Maine Small Business Development Center.
Conference sponsors include more than 35 businesses and organizations in eastern Maine. Additional information about the event is available from Bassano, 255-3345 or 800-287-1542. More information is available online at www.wcbcm.com. The Washington County Business Conference and Marketplace are funded, in part, by a grant from the Maine Community Foundation.