LITTLETON, Maine — Registration is underway for a free business planning and farm ownership loan workshop for agriculture producers and would be-producers in Littleton, Wednesday, Dec. 6.
Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC) staff and representatives from Maine’s USDA Farm Service Agency will present on how to improve your business skills. The two and one half-hour workshop will explore the importance of developing an effective and useful ‘Producer Business Plan.’ FSA officials will also be on hand to explain federal programs and services designed to help producers in farm ownership.
This is the second of five different business training workshops, but attendance at the other workshops is not required. Others are scheduled for Fort Fairfield on Jan. 11, Caribou Feb. 13, and the St. John Valley March 22.
Alain Ouellette, Planning and Development Division Director at NMDC, said the first workshop in Island Falls was a success with one participant saying, “We found today’s training to be exactly what we were hoping for and then some,” and another noting, “It was so great to have these training opportunities closest to the people who will benefit from it.”
“We at NMDC and FSA believe our collaborative effort is on track to continue to help ensure small producer business growth and prosperity in The County,” said Ouellette.
Earlier this year the USDA announced cooperative agreements with partners to educate producers, including those who have been historically underserved by USDA programs, about FSA programs that provide financial, disaster or technical support. Under a cooperative agreement with FSA, NMDC received funding to provide educational services to agricultural producers in Aroostook County.
The workshop will be from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum in Littleton Wednesday, Dec. 6. Register by visiting www.nmdc.org.
For more information, contact Ouellette at 551-5837, or by email at aouellette@nmdc.org.
