Ribbon-cutting Ceremony at Ellsworth's New Makerspace at 16 State St. A huge thank you to everyone who came out for the grand opening of our makerspace, and for our friends at the Ellsworth Chamber of Commerce for their scissors, red tape, and expertise! Check out Ellsworth American’s article about this event here.
Barbara Courchesne, The Bud Connection Flowers & Fine Chocolates' owner, is nothing if not a go-getter. Having owned and run the iconic downtown flower store for nearly twenty years, her business model is, as she says, a "model of figuring it out." Her creative and adaptive energy has made her business succeed and thrive -- through two recessions and a pandemic. In fact, the Bud Connection has only grown every year, with each year busier than the last.
However, Barbara was new to the floral industry when she started the Bud Connection. She had owned and managed a whale watch company, which gave her a lot of experience managing people. She had always loved flowers and often bought them at local greenhouses to arrange, craft, and sell out of her house.
At that time, a local florist was in town – the Ellsworth Florist. Barbara called and said she'd love to learn and come work for them. They never called her back, and soon after, the Ellsworth Florist shop went on the market. The next day? Barbara said, "I think I'm going to buy this business." And she did.
Congratulations to local Ellsworth business entrepreneurs, Jon Stein & Hazel Stark
Local entrepreneurs Jon Stein, owner-founder of Fogtown Brewing Co., and Hazel Stark, co-founder and CEO, Maine Outdoor School L3C and registered Maine guide, were recently recognized by Maine Biz in their 2024 list of 40 Under 40 honorees.
Get ready for the Maine Downtown Conference on November 6 & 7, 2024 in Biddeford and Saco!
The theme this year, “Revitalization in Action,” promises dynamic discussions and groundbreaking initiatives to transform our downtown communities.
Join Maine Downtown Center for:
Innovative Strategies to energize and enhance our downtowns
Success Stories from across the state and beyond
Insights from top economic development professionals
Networking Opportunities with community leaders, municipal staff, elected officials, and passionate residents
Whether you're a community leader, business owner, or enthusiastic local, this is your chance to learn, connect, and be inspired to help shape vibrant and sustainable downtowns for the future. Don’t wait—register now to secure your spot and be part of this transformative event!
EMDC Office
248 State Street, Suite 15A
Ellsworth, ME
October 17, 2 - 6 pm
Join MaineStreet Business Building to learn about resources that can assist you and your business, whether you have a startup or seasoned corporation, and about the basics of contracting.
Tourism Talk with DownEast Acadia Regional Tourism
The Grand
165 Main St
October 21, 10 am - 12 pm
Join DownEast Acadia Regional Tourism (DART) for their first Tourism Talk. The talk will feature Hannah Collins, Deputy Director of The Maine Office of Tourism, and Jeff McCabe, Director of The Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation. The driving mission behind these talks is to connect tourism stakeholders in the DownEast Acadia region with programs, resources, people, and information.
Jen Sala, current president of the Ellsworth Historical Society and member of the City of Ellsworth's Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee and Historic Preservation Commission, is starting a new business — "Revival Interior Design."
She's offering services for downtown businesses and beyond! Learn more and connect to our newest Ellsworth entrepreneur by visiting her website: https://www.revivalinteriorsmaine.com/
The City's Silent Auction Returns in November
The City of Ellsworth will be holding its silent auction in November with all proceeds used to replenish the City’s Christmas for Kids fund.
Each year, the City assists roughly 80-100 children who may not otherwise receive a gift and experience the joy of the holiday. They budget for $60 per child. In recent years, many children have received most of their wish lists thanks to generous donations and proceeds from events such as this.
Do you have an item, service or product you can donate? Please contact the City Clerk’s Office before Oct. 31. Bidding starts Nov. 1!
Ellsworth Adult & Community Education is a program of Ellsworth Schools, a department of the City of Ellsworth, and is generously funded and operated by the school district.
Upcoming Courses
Google Sheets: Keep Track of It! - Oct. 29, 4 pm (runs for 3 weeks) - Learn how to use Microsoft Excel to create a basic spreadsheet, format and reorganize information, and use simple formulas and filters.
Microsoft Excel Intermediate (Oct) - Oct. 31, 8:30 am (runs for 3 weeks) - Learn to navigate multiple worksheets, create formulas, use functions, change the layout of your worksheet, and create practical worksheets. Use Excel to maintain tax info, calculate estimates, create budgets and more.
Ellsworth Adult & Community Education Center
11 Avery Lane
Ellsworth, ME 04605 View all of their business course offeringshere.
Artist Studio for Rent
16 State Street- Large Art Studio For Rent
Create in downtown Ellsworth! A large art studio is available to rent for $700 per month. With heat, electricity, and internet included, you can focus solely on your studio practice. Contact (207) 479 5011 (text only) to schedule a viewing and make downtown Ellsworth your next studio location.
Unitarian Universalist Church of Ellsworth is looking for new tenants
121 Bucksport Road
Do you, or someone you know, have a need for rental space?
The building is approximately 1100 square feet (40 X 40). The back half is garage/warehouse space. The front half, which includes a half bath, could be used for an office or many other uses. The building is located on the property of the UU Church of Ellsworth at 121 Bucksport Road. The estimated rental fee will be $1100/month.
If you have an interest in the rental, please contact Tori Bell at toribell14@gmail.com 781-856-0701.
Do you have space in downtown Ellsworth that is available to rent or is for sale?
Please email us and we'll include it here!
SCORE Maine hosts affordable small business workshops -- both online webinars and live, in-person. Find everything you need to know to start a business and discover tools to help your small business grow.
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
Marketing Channels: Advertising Your Business - October 16, 12 pm - Join this dynamic virtual marketing workshop designed specifically for small business owners eager to amplify their reach.
Funding Your Business Q&A - October 22, 10 am - Whether you seek funding to launch a new business or grow an existing one, this Question & Answer session is for you!
For a list of all upcoming events and workshops, click here.
The CEI Women’s Business Center is a home for women who want to start or grow their own business in Maine. They offer courses, cohorts, workshops, and events which encourage peer-to-peer learning and community building, as well as 1:1 business advising support.
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
Boundaries for a Thriving Business - Thursdays, starting October 17, 11:30 am - 1 pm - This 6-week cohort, led by Hannah Curtis, will combine structured discussions and skill-building instruction to help you learn to say no, set limits, prioritize your work, and build and grow a business that really works for you.
Self-Worth Club: A Skills-Building Discussion Group For Female Business Owners - Tuesdays starting October 29, 12 - 1 pm - Join CEI for an 8-week journey with Hannah Curtis, to build a stronger foundation of self-worth, through facilitated discussions, new skills and resources, and get support for this area that will elevate yourself and your business.
For a list of all upcoming events and workshops, click here.
The Maine SBDC program helps build and strengthen small businesses through business advising, training and educational resources.
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
Exploring Business Ownership for People with Disabilities - October 29, 10 - 11 am - In this free session, Maine SBDC will discuss specific resources available to entrepreneurs with disabilities to help them on their journey to business ownership.
New Ventures Maine creates an empowering environment for Maine people to define and achieve their career, financial, and small business goals. Through tuition-free classes and individual coaching, they help people find good jobs, start or return to college, launch small businesses, manage their money and build their assets.
Your Marketing Strategy - October 17, 12 - 1 PM - Learn marketing strategies for your small business
Build Your Business Website - October 23-December 4, 6 - 7:30 pm - Learn tools to create a professional business website
Pricing Strategies - October 24, 12 - 1 pm - Learn about breakeven analysis and explore different pricing strategies for your business.
Bookkeeping Solutions - October 31, 12 - 1 pm - Understand the basics of keeping accurate financial records, and learn about several systems that you can choose from that will work best for your business. .
For a list of all New Ventures upcoming events and workshops, click here.
Free Workshops Series: Enroll Now to Boost Your Small Business
This fall, Main St. America Small Biz Digital Trainers are hosting a special 4-part webinar series designed to help Main Street business owners build their digital skills to grow their businesses.
Building Your Digital Footprint/. Learn how to enhance your online visibility with Google Search & SEO tips. View On-Demand
Managing Your Online Presence & Developing a Marketing Plan. Discover how to keep your profiles updated and create a winning marketing strategy. View On-Demand
Cultivating the Entrepreneurial Mindset. Thursday, October 17 | 4 p.m. EST Cultivate a growth mindset to better handle challenges and seize opportunities. Register Now
How to Master Soft Skills for Small Business Success. Thursday, November 21 | 4 p.m. EST. Boost your productivity with essential tools and skills like Google Workspace, AI, and more. Register Now.
New England Venture Summit
December 10-11, 2024
Hilton | Boston Dedham
Whether you’re a startup seeking capital and exposure, or an investor seeking new deals, the New England Venture Summit, presented by youngStartup Ventures, is one event you won’t want to miss.
CALL FOR TOP INNOVATORS!
A select group of more than 100 Top Innovators will be chosen to present their breakthrough investment opportunities to an exclusive audience of Venture Capitalists, Corporate Investors, Private Investors, Investment Bankers, and Strategic Partners.
Apply to Present / Nominate a company: For more information or to be considered for one of the Top Innovator slots visit the New England Venture Summit website here.
Thank you for reading this edition of the Ellsworth Business Pulse!
Check out our Business Benefits page for more information on how we can support your business!
