Welcome to the Maine Small Business Development Center at NMDC

Maine Small Business Development Centers (Maine SBDC) are dedicated to helping the state’s small businesses succeed. Through a network of Service Centers, SBDC counselors engage small business owners and micro business owners in development activities that help improve their chances for success, as well improve the economic climate throughout Maine. The focus of the Maine SBDC is to assist in the creation and the maintenance of viable micro and small businesses and the jobs they provide. NMDC hosts the Service Center in northern Maine, and serves Aroostook County as well as the towns and unorganized territories that border Aroostook in Penobscott, Piscataquis, and Washington counties.

SBDC is a partnership program of the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) through support given by the SBA/SBDC, the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), the University of Southern Maine (USM), and Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC) [i].

What do the Maine Small Business Development Centers do?

Maine Small Business Development Centers (Maine SBDC) provide comprehensive business assistance and information services to Maine's small business community through a network of Service Centers and Outreach Offices, conveniently located through out the state.

What do the Maine Small Business Development Centers offer?
Business Counseling Services: One-on-one management assistance is provided at no cost to potential and existing business owners and managers. Maine SBDC counselors are qualified business professionals with diverse educational and business experience. They provide assistance in the following areas.

• Accounting
• Business liquidation/sale
• Business start-up/acquisition
• Government procurement
• Financial Management
• International trade
• Loan packaging
• Market research
• Marketing and sales
• Operations
• Personnel management
• Record keeping and cash flow analysis
• Sources of credit and financing
• Other business-related issues

Online Counseling Request Form

Training Programs: The Maine SBDC offers training seminars and conferences on business-related topics. Training events are held at key locations around the state; minimal fees are sometimes charged. Programs are geared to local and regional needs as well as to fundamental business subjects.

Technical Assistance: Depending on client need, Maine SBDC counselor can provide focused expertise on a project basis in the areas of marketing and financial management. This service is available on a no cost.

Research and Information: Maine SBDC counselors can aid access to information, resources, technology, markets, and research that assists business owners in the profitable operation of their businesses.

What is the role of NMDC in the Maine SBDC Program?
NMDC is the host organization for the Maine SBDC Service Center in northern Maine and provides a number of locations to access assistance.

Service Center: Caribou

Outreach Offices:
Fort Kent
Houlton
Patten
Loring Applied Technology Center

NMDC is the link between Maine's statewide network of Small Business Development Centers and a regional framework of additional federal, state, and local economic and community development services that are based at NMDC. These include business financing programs, tourism promotion, land use planning, business development, advocacy and attraction, manufacturing technical assistance, comprehensive economic development strategy oversight, and environmental and community policy education.

How does one find out more about the Maine SBDC Program at NMDC?
Please visit the Maine SBDC state website at www.mainesbdc.org or contact the Maine SBDC at NMDC: Center Director/Business Counselor Rod Thompson or Business Counselor David Spooner by e-mail; or call (800) 427 – 8736 to schedule an appointment.

What the Small Business Development Center at NMDC Offers!