Maine
New Ventures Maine Free Online 60-Hour Business Planning Class Starts April 1; Apply by March 21
AUGUSTA – New Ventures Maine (NVME) has an open call for Venturing Forth, a free, online comprehensive business planning class for entrepreneurs.
For new entrepreneurs or current business owners, Venturing Forth helps participants create a written business plan from start to finish with feedback from facilitators and fellow entrepreneurs. The 60-hour course covers topics including the customer, competition, marketing, recordkeeping, taxes, financing, legal aspects, and more. In-class activities, guest speakers, and homework assignments lead to the completed business plan and road map for success. This comprehensive course also includes follow-up networking sessions.
Individuals complete an online application and attend an orientation and individual interview to participate in the class. The application is accessible online and is due by noon on Friday, March 21. Class size is limited to 15.
“This class supports small business owners in all aspects of creating their business plan,” said NVME Microenterprise Program Manager Alicia LaFosse. “Participants will not only learn through the class content, but they’ll also learn from their peers and from entrepreneurs in the community as they hone their vision and create their plan.”
The Venturing Forth class will meet via Zoom on Tuesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., April 1 through June 24, 2025.
Anyone with a business idea or current business is welcome to apply.
The class also qualifies for three pass/fail credits from the University of Maine at Augusta upon approval of a completed business plan.
To request or complete an application, register for the orientation, or learn more, contact Alicia LaFosse at 207-621-7457 or alicia.lafosse@maine.edu or visit the New Ventures Maine website.
The Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition says over the past two weeks its immigrant defense hotline has seen an uptick in reported ICE detentions.
They say this corresponds with a national shift in ICE activity, including bids for local businesses to cooperate with ICE.
In Maine, the arrests follow a broader trend of targeting Black and brown immigrants, including people navigating immigration proceedings.
The coalition, which represents more than 100 organizations, says it’s ready to protect civil and human rights and is urging immigrants to prepare themselves and their families.
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They suggest having the defense hotline ready in case you witness ICE activity, making sure you have important personal documents in case of detention, and reviewing rights around judicial warrants in private spaces, like your home or workplace.
It wouldn’t be Mother’s Day without a stop at the florist.
According to Fox Business, about 154 million flowers are sold during the week of Mother’s Day. So it’s safe to say it was a busy day for stores like Estabrook’s Maine Garden Center and Nursery.
Plenty of families stopped by to pick out flowers on Sunday, looking to choose the perfect bouquet for their moms.
“I think Mother’s Day is tradition, you know, and so it’s great to see families here. We have a lot of new families that have come today for the first time with their young children and their mother. Watching the young kids and seeing how excited they are—their eyes light up at all the beautiful flowers,” Tom Estabrook, president of Estabrook’s, said.
Estabrook says Mother’s Day tends to be a great kickoff to the spring season.
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