How Do I....Access Management and Technical Assistance?

• Business Management Counseling
  • The Maine Small Business Development Centers (MSBDC) provide no-cost, one-on-one counseling and other services to emerging and existing small businesses throughout Maine.
  • The U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) mission is to help America’s entrepreneurs form successful small enterprises through training, financing and advocacy.
    • The Maine Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) is a volunteer counseling arm of the SBA that matches retired and active business people with small businesses that seek business advice. Find the chapter nearest you.
    • The Business Information Center of Maine is a reference and resource facility located in Lewiston that is available to assist persons who are in business or who are planning to start a business.
  • The City of Portland Resource Hub is a business help center created to support and promote greater Portland businesses.

• Business Training, Recruitment and Education
  • Business Training and Recruitment
    • The Maine Department of Labor offers various programs to help you find, train and/or retain employees. For programs available through Maine’s Career Centers.
    • The department’s Bureau of Labor Standards offers programs and information on such topics as worker safety, child labor laws and labor research and statistics.
  • Education
    • The Maine Community College System offers customized worker education and training at no cost to your business or the trainees through its Maine Quality Centers.
    • University of Maine System
      • The University of Maine Department of Industrial Cooperation offers assistance and information for Inventors. Patent information, product development and several other topics of interest to inventors are available from this agency.
      • Staff at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension provides small business education to home based and micro-enterprise businesses at 16 locations throughout Maine.

• Business Services
  • Small Business Advocacy for help resolving problems you may be experiencing with state regulatory agencies.
  • In addition to Business Answers and Small Business Advocacy, DECD and its affiliate agencies offer the following assistance to Maine businesses:
    • Business Development Specialists for the DECD staff located at a regional development organization nearest you, click on the above link or call 624-9804.
    • Maine Technology Institute for research and technology (R&D) funding to commercialize new technologies.
    • Applied Technology Development Centers for technology business incubator facilities and complementary services.
  • The Maine Department of Human Services funds 11 Resource Development Centers to help Child Care Providers. The Centers services include technical assistance, training, and resource materials.
  • Trade Associations can be very helpful for your company. To find a trade organization for your industry, contact Business Answers at business.answers@maine.gov

• International Commerce
  • The Maine International Trade Center provides technical assistance and trade counseling, import and export leads, and other services to help Maine companies succeed in international markets.
  • The Small Business Administration’s Office of International Trade helps small businesses enter and succeed in the global marketplace through counseling, training, publications and other services.
  • The U.S. Department of Commerce’s BuyUSA.com brings together suppliers of U.S. products and services with international companies outside the United States.

• Marketing
  • The Market & Production Development Division of the Maine Department of Agriculture provides agricultural businesses with assistance in several areas including market development and promotion.
  • The Department of Economic & Community Development’s Maine Products Marketing Program builds recognition for Maine made products through a web presence, point of purchase materials, kiosk display, and other opportunities.
  • The Maine Department of Marine Resources’ Marketing division offers many items including posters, videos and recipes.

• Procurement
  • The Maine Procurement Technical Assistance Center helps Maine’s small businesses win government contracts, find sub-contracting opportunities, and obtain research and development grants.
  • The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Pro-Net program provides access and links to federal agency home pages and other sources of procurement opportunities.

• Research
  • The Maine Department of Labor provides general information, data and analysis about Maine’s labor market.
  • The Maine State Library provides several online catalogs and general information resources.
  • The State Planning Office provides information on Maine’s economy as well as census data.