HOULTON, Maine – Houlton entrepreneurs want more networking options, business growth opportunities and ways to enhance their small and sometimes home-based initiatives, according to a nearly year-long analysis of the town’s entrepreneurial climate by national consultants.
Houlton, one of 10 Maine towns taking part in the national Main Street America 2022-23 Entrepreneur Ecosystem Project, joins Ellsworth, Augusta, Bath, Belfast, Biddeford, Saco, Gardiner, Rockland and Westbrook, in the effort to nurture small businesses.
As home-based businesses blossom in rural areas, towns need supportive environments for entrepreneurs and that’s why Houlton and the other towns listened before planning programs.
And through Main Street America’s guidance with detailed surveys, focus groups, town meetings and personalized visits Houlton came up with their new Business RISE (Resources & Information for Successful Entrepreneurs) Program, said Nancy Ketch, Houlton director of community development.
“We reviewed and evaluated the findings and recommendations in a report prepared by Matthew Wagner, Chief Program Officer with Main Street America,” Ketch said. “This review led to the identification of several of the gaps.”
The ecosystem project is a partnership of the Maine Development Foundation, Maine Downtown Center and Main Street America, which aims to help towns develop better relationships with local business owners and, in doing so, revitalize their local economies.
A town ecosystem is basically a support system and Houlton is exploring how they can best support businesses at all levels, new, existing and transitioning, Ketch said.
Initially, the Maine Development Foundation, Maine Downtown Center and Main Street America completed an entrepreneur ecosystem pilot project with Skowhegan, Lisbon and Monson.
Because of the success of the pilot programs, the ecosystem project received congressional funds through the U.S. Sens. Angus King and Susan Collins. Each participating town received $10,000 for planning and $50,000 for project implementation.
The congressionally-directed spending paid for Wagner’s services to work with the Maine towns to evaluate their current small business climate.
As part of the initiative, Wagner came to Houlton, visited several businesses, took a walking tour of the town to get a flavor of the community, held a focus group, led a series of meetings with organizations like Small Business Administration, banks, the code enforcement officer to get a full understanding of what services were available in the community.
He identified what already exists and gaps, or things entrepreneurs said they needed, like meeting other business owners, small business education regarding their business, and promotion.
“We also learned that there are a lot of services available in the town,” said Ketch. “ But people are not aware of them.”
For example, she said they may not know that the Southern Aroostook Development Corporation has teams that will meet with a business and offer guidance.
The new Houlton RISE program focuses on what they have dubbed the Four Ps: Pollinating (networking); preparation (start-up and growing learning opportunities); polishing (finance and business planning); and pizazz (promotion), Ketch said.
“We will bring our steering committee back together for part of the implementation and also work with the Greater Houlton Area Chamber of Commerce for educational pieces because they already offer some programs along with the SADC,” she said.
According to the grant guidelines, Houlton must get the RISE program off the ground within the next several months.
The other towns in the Ecosystem Project are also just starting to implement their plans with a March 2024 completion deadline.
