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V O L . X X V I I I N O. X I I J U N E 1 3 , 2 0 2 2 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 Get started today at efficiencymaine.com/at-work/small-business-initiative Special opportunity for Lewiston/Auburn small businesses: Lewiston/Auburn region has until June 30th to request a heat pump or lighting project through the Small Business initiative (SBI). After long wait, Rumford has hotel Six years after it was first proposed, a newly constructed Best Western hotel has opened in Rumford, bringing the town a lodging option that hasn't existed since fire ravaged a motel in 2015. e Best Western Plus Rumford Falls, at 50 Prospect Ave., is owned by Pennacook Falls Investments Ltd. and has 63 guest rooms, 12 of which are deluxe suites. e hotel has 12 workers and will employ as many as 25 when fully staffed, accord- ing to General Manager John Gessner. Construction funding included a $4.1 million loan by First National Bank and partially insured by the Finance Authority of Maine. N O T E W O R T H Y N O R T H E R N & E A S T E R N Northern Light Acadia Hospital in Bangor received a $500,000 gift in support of its Acadia For All Campaign from Camilla Cochrane to support and name the Robert C. Strauss Neurocognitive Research Program in memory of her late husband. A S K AC E A n s w e r e d b y T e r r y J o h n s o n , a n i n d e p e n d e n t c o n s u l t a n t a n d A C E p r e s i d e n t 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. Q: Are there any grants available in Maine specifically geared toward funding technical assistance? ACE Advises: Technical assistance and consulting are allow- able expenses in many grants for businesses, including most of the current American Rescue Plan Act-funded project grants. There is also a recently launched technical assistance grant available through the Maine Technology Institute. The Maine Entrepreneurial Resource Corps grant program addresses a well-recognized hurdle for start-up and scaling businesses, which need professional assistance at critical junctures, but not always when they can afford it. MERC is a vet- ted database of Maine consultants in over twenty disciplines. MTI President Brian Whitney explains the process: "When MTI, or one of its partner organizations, identifies that a startup has a particular project need that has the potential to add significantly to its productivity and growth, MTI will determine eligibility and, if qualified, provide the client company with a list of two to three consultants from the database that might be a fit. The client company will then decide which consultant they want to use based on fit and cost." While many Maine consul- tants have been generous in their support of the business community, they still need to make a living. Some are reluctant to work with early- stage businesses out of fear they will not be paid. MTI Entrepreneur in Residence Matt Hoffner says "This is a 50/50 funding match for projects up to $20,000; on a $20,000 project, the grant would pay $10,000. The business and the contracting expert will develop a straightforward agree- ment covering the project, the scope of services, deliverables, cost, timing, and reporting." The expert will wait until comple- tion for to receive grant funds, but projects are intended to be short-term and well-defined, and the funds are guaranteed. Information on MERC for both clients and consultants is available on the MTI website. ACE President Terry Johnson an independent consultant with Practical Decisions. He also manages the Maine Mentor Network, a group of independent consul- tants and business people supporting Maine Center for Entrepreneurs programs. He can be reached at terry@practicaldecisions.com To learn more about MERC, register for ACE's June 17, 2022, program with Matthew Hoffner and Emily Braley, MERC Coordinator, "MTI's New MERC Program." consultexpertise.com/event-4824534 @ N O R T H E R N & E A S T E R N

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