Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 11 M AY 1 5 , 2 0 2 3 We'll be there. During her college years, we were there to help navigate student loans, open a credit card, and even purchase her beloved car, "Howie." We're here now as Emma embarks on her career in software engineering. Someday she'll launch her own business. And when that moment arrives, we'll be there. 1-800-447-4559 | bathsavings.bank MEMBER FDIC EQUAL HOUSING LENDER B R I E F SCORE Maine helped launch 225 businesses in 2022 B y R e n e e C o r d e s S CORE Maine mentored more than 4,300 entre- preneurs and small business owners in 2022, helping them start 225 new businesses and creating 1,258 non-owner new jobs. Those were among the accomplishments listed in the nonprofit's latest annual report. SCORE Maine's ranking tier was reached among 232 SCORE organi- zations across the country. "We are committed to providing entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources they need to succeed," said Nancy Strojny, SCORE Maine's assistant district director. "We believe that everyone has the potential to be an entrepreneur, and we are here to help them make their dreams a reality." SCORE Maine offers a variety of services, includ- ing one-on-one mentoring; webinars and workshops; online resources; and local events. Success stories highlighted in the organization's 20-page annual report include Tom Fox of Fox Forestry in Orland, a client of the SCORE Northern Maine chap- ter since 2021. "By sharing challenges openly and working directly with my SCORE mentor, I have brought into focus clearly defined goals on how to transform challenges into solid results," he said in a testimonial published in the report. SCORE Maine was ranked No. 1 nationwide for client impact in 2022 among SCORE chapters. SCORE, a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration, helps clients at all stages of the business cycle, from pre-start through growth to exit. In the Pine Tree State, SCORE Maine is the largest active mentoring organization, with a statewide network of more than 125 volunteers. Those volunteers donated 19,030 hours in 2022 and organized 93 webinars attended by 1,936 people on topics from financial projections to social media marketing. Learn more about what SCORE offers here. Looking back over the year, Strojny pointed to infla- tion as one of the biggest challenges for small busi- nesses and said that hiring in Maine continues to be very challenging. Strojny was honored as a Mainebiz Woman to Watch in 2017. P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F S C O R E Nancy Strojny, assistant district director of SCORE Maine We are committed to providing entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources they need to succeed. — Nancy Strojny SCORE Maine

• Cover