Women, Work and Community is pleased to announce the graduation of five Aroostook business owners who recently completed the New Ventures Entrepreneurship Training. New Ventures is a 12-week course in business planning that guides new business owners and start-up entrepreneurs in developing a written business plan and a financial road map for their first year in business.
Graduates include: Carol Ayoob of Castle Hill, who plans to open The Hot Potato Café and Commons in Presque Isle; Peter Bosworth, owner of P & A Services in Blaine, providing oil and waste oil heating service, installation and repair throughout central Aroostook County; Annette Brown, who will open Ann’s Home & Gift Shop at 692 Houlton Road in Easton in May 2012; Michael Lewis of Caribou, owner of St. Michael’s Woodworking, offering handcrafted jewelry, keepsake and cremation boxes, and cribbage boards; and Kathy Miskelly of Houlton, owner of Aroostook Transcriptions, providing typing, transcription and virtual office assistance for customers in Aroostook County and across the country.
Legislators, community leaders and past graduates of the New Ventures program attended the business plan presentations and graduation program held at the Presque Isle Career Center on Dec. 5.
Erica Quin-Easter, Microenterprise Coordinator for Women, Work and Community and the trainer for the New Ventures class, noted, “We’re proud to welcome five new businesses to our Aroostook community. Our New Ventures entrepreneurs have researched their market, identified their customers and set strong projections for their business start-up. Thanks to the New Ventures program, they have a plan of action and are ready to build their business for success.”
Women, Work and Community offers business, career and personal finance trainings for women and men in Aroostook county and throughout the state, and programs and services are provided at no cost to participants. For information on upcoming programs, visit www.womenworkandcommunity.org or call 764-0050 (Presque Isle office) or 800-442-2092 (statewide).
