Mainebiz

V O L . X X V I I I N O. X X S E P T E M B E R 1 9 , 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 Administration's State Trade Expansion Program grant program to help provide small businesses with the informa- tion and tools they need to succeed in export-related activities. Maine Grains plans expansion Maine Grains in Skowhegan unveiled architectural plans for its proposed new location, at 24 Court St., to be built in the adjacent lot. e new proposed location will be 17,000 square feet. e new site will have Maine Grains' offices. ere will be a blending and packaging of grains for value-added products, online order fulfillment, administrative offices and rental space for other entrepreneurs. It will have an expanded dry good shop with a demonstration area, and a large social hall which can accommo- date the winter farmers market and community gatherings, said Amber Lambke, co-founder and CEO at Maine Grains. AAAENERGY.COM S c arb orough, ME. // Pittsseld, ME // Auburn, NH Contact us to learn about customized HVAC-R service plans for your facility. SERVING CLIENTS SINCE 1948 DESIGN/BUILD SERVICES COMMERCIAL REFRIGERATION BUILDING CONTROLS HVAC, PLUMBING & ELECTRICAL MAINTENANCE PLANS Building efficiency. It's what we do. A S K AC E A n s w e r e d b y H o l l y S m e v o g o f H M S C a r e e r C o a c h i n g 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: Why aren't my usual hiring strategies working? ACE Advises: Maine employers face a short supply of work- ers, in part because of Maine's aging workforce. Most people have felt the impact. A local grocery announced a new closing time of 6 p.m. because of staffing shortages. That is the time when many people shop for dinner supplies. Gov. Janet Mills' "Welcome Home Talent Attraction Program" and initiatives like Live + Work in Maine hope to attract out-of-state workers. Maine's unique issues are compounded by national trends like the so-called Great Resignation and "quiet quitting." Opinions about what makes a job worthwhile have shifted and employees are taking a closer look at wages, culture, flexibility and growth potential. It's an employee's market and job seekers are holding out for the best offer. Employers need to assess the implications of this shift. Rachel Knight from Destination Occupation helps employers reposition themselves and design a culture to attract, develop and retain workers. She advises companies to "sell yourself like you sell your product or service. Use your mar- keting muscle to recruit.'" Knight acknowledges it's hard for human resources to take on more of a mar- keting role or to ask the two departments to col- laborate more. But she has evidence that apply- ing a marketing model to the development of teams attracts candidates. So, what is the best advice for more successful hiring? Re-evaluate wages and develop a workforce plan that adds marketing to the budget. Create awareness about your brand as an employer. Let available workers know what you do, what you stand for and why it matters. Holly Smevog is an ACE member and independent consultant with HMS Career Coaching. She can be reached at holly@hmscareercoaching.com or hmscareercoaching.com For more about successful hiring strategies, check out the video of Rachel Knight's ACE presentation, "Attracting Employees: How to Help Your Clients Find the Right Help" on the ACE website ACEelevates.org. @ C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N

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