Women, Work and Community to host small business celebration event Dec. 8

    HOULTON — On Tuesday, Dec. 8, Women, Work & Community will host a day of networking, education, and celebration of small businesses at the Houlton Higher Education Center. From 10-11 a.m., stop by for food and great conversation with other local business owners at the Aroostook Network of Entrepreneurial Women (ANEW) Business Networking Brunch.
    Hosted by Women, Work & Community’s 2009 New Ventures class participants, the networking hour will include light refreshments and plenty of time to connect with other local business owners and community leaders.
    At the networking session, Women, Work & Community will also discuss the ANEW collaborative marketing mini-grant program and invite applications for the upcoming round of grants in southern Aroostook. The ANEW event and mini-grants program is supported by the Maine Women’s Fund and the Aroostook County Fund of the Maine Community Foundation.
    From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., learn how to build better credit for your business and how to put your best business foot forward for financing. Rod Thompson, Center Director and Small Business Counselor for Maine SB DC, will present the workshop, “Know Your Score: Credit Management and Repair.” The workshop will focus on how you can build and maintain a strong credit history for yourself and your business, understand your credit report, deal with creditors and debt repayment, and avoid common credit pitfalls.
    The workshop will also explain how banks, vendors, and other creditors review your request for financing and assess your credit worthiness and risk. At noon, members of the local business lending community will join the workshop for a panel discussion on business financing in Aroostook County. If you have a business plan for which you’re seeking financing, or if you just want to understand what factors will help you or hurt you in securing financing for your business start-up or expansion, this workshop is for you.
    Finally, from 1-3 p.m., members of Women, Work & Community’s 2009 New Ventures Entrepreneurship Training class will present their business plans to the community. Participants in the class represent a wide variety of industries: sled dog adventures and guide services; green homes; a retail boutique; mobile veterinary services; a fabric and sewing store; dog breeding, kenneling, and grooming; and lodging and recreation businesses. Their new businesses stretch from Stockholm to Sherman, and all are exciting new ventures in the start-up stage.
    Pre-registration is encouraged to ensure that seating and handouts are available for all who attend. Men, women, and all with an enthusiasm for Aroostook small business are welcome to attend. For more information or to register for this free event, contact Erica Quin-Easter at 764-0050 or email erica.quineaster@maine.edu.