Mainebiz

V O L . X X V N O. V I I I A P R I L 1 5 , 2 0 1 9 8 B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S N E W S F RO M A RO U N D T H E S TAT E Transit Administration in support of GPCOG's grant application. Zoe Miller, senior project man- ager and public health specialist at GPCOG, said the pilot program seeks to remove transportation barriers for older adults and people with disabilities. She said free and low-cost door-to-door transporta- tion would be introduced for those who need it most via a partnership with the Regional Transportation Program and stakeholders in South Portland. e project is the culmi- nation of several years of partner- ship-building and goal-setting between the Maine Department of Transportation and stakeholder organizations that work on plan- ning, human services, aging and disability, health care, public health, transportation and housing issues. N O T E W O R T H Y S O U T H E R N Pro Search Inc., a contract staffing firm in Portland, announced a col- laboration with Interaction Agility Inc., a boutique organization develop- ment firm based in Maine, to bring the Scrum Academy to Maine busi- nesses. Scrum, an agile framework for managing product development that grew out of the software devel- opment field, can enable an organi- zation to reduce risk, make better decisions and deliver more value in less time. York Beach Beer Co. opened at 33 Railroad Ave. in York Beach. Sweetser, a nonprofit community mental health provider based in Saco with a statewide network of care, said that the United Way of York County awarded the organization a two-year community investment grant totaling $24,300 to support underinsured and uninsured children and their families in York County. Edison Press in Sanford installed a Fujifilm J Press 750S, an inkjet press that offers the best of both digital and offset printing – the quality and durability of traditional offset and the digital ability to print shorter runs and variable data, at a variety of sizes. Becker Structural Engineers Inc., a Portland firm specializing in mass timber, parking structures and highway bridge projects, has been acquired by Q: I hate looking at a blank computer screen, wondering how to start my email or memo. Once I get started, what comes next? I always seem to ramble. ACE advises: You're not alone. First, ask yourself who you're writing for. How much do they know already and how much do they need to know? That will help you organize your thinking. Then, always assuming that your readers are busy, get to the point or BLUF (bottom line up front). Give them a reason to keep reading. Develop a firm grasp on the "why" element. What's your intent, your purpose? Do you want to inquire, inform, or instruct? What outcome of this particularly business communication will tell you your message is clear? As to rambling, that's OK in the first draft. But, knowing that length alienates, you have to cut back as you edit yourself. Look for redundancies, wordiness, mushy thinking. Effective writers have to be tough on themselves. Believe me, "leaning out" your final version can be a gratifying exercise in clarity. And remember, your job as a writer is to edify, not impress. If you construct a lot of dense paragraphs saturated with big words when smaller ones will do, you're trying to impress. Your audience will appreciate shorter paragraphs and, where practical, bul- let lists that make your points or spell out your instructions in concise fashion. They will be edified, and all that white space between paragraphs and bullets will prevent reader fatigue. A S K AC E A n s w e r e d b y D a v e G r i f f i t h s o f D a v e G r i f f i t h s C o m m u n i c a t i o n s The Association for Consulting Expertise (ACE) is a non-profit association of independent consultants who value "Success through Collaboration." The public is welcome to attend its regular meetings to share best practices and engage with industry experts. For more information go to www.consultexpertise.com. Dave Griffiths can be contacted at davegriffithscommunications.com. www.patcocommercial.com (207) 324-5574 Steel isn't always shiny and plain. PATCO makes steel interesting and beautiful. The proof is our 53 Hall of Fame Awards from Varco Pruden. PATCO works where creative design meets functionality. Build with Integrity. Build with PATCO. Plus: Personal Assistance in moving any existing accounts to Kennebec Savings Bank Business Loans • Lines of Credit • Operating Accounts • Business Savings Accounts Cash Management Services • Bill Pay • Online Banking • Remote Deposit Capture for more information, visit us at www.KennebecSavings.Bank or call us at (207) 865-1550 You have goals. We have solutions. Whether you're starting to grow your business or your business has been growing for the last 100 years, we have solutions to help you succeed! Financial Support For Any Size Business

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