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V O L . X X X N O. X X I S E P T E M B E R 1 6 , 2 0 2 4 14 A U G U S TA / WAT E R V I L L E / C E N T R A L M A I N E F O C U S "We aim to expand our internships by pairing youth with mentors, employers, senior peers and educational opportunities," Tompkins says. She continues, "Many employers in Franklin County don't have formal traditional internship pro- grams that yield solid results due to challenges such as transportation, school schedules and liability. is gap is one of the key reasons we created CES." Development costs and financing going forward are still being determined. Tompkins says she's seeking financing through business revenue, philanthropy, gov- ernment grants and foundations. "We hope to break ground in mid- to late 2025," says Tompkins. At Temple Street, a goal is to assist youth and young adults by providing stable affordable housing. Youth planners A key aspect of the program is the participation of CES youth in the planning process. "Part of the organization's goal is that the plan- ning process is not happening in a silo away from the kids in the program," says Nicole Beach. "e kids are involved." She became involved with CES through her high- school-age son Tyler and his buddy José Gutierrez, who wanted to start a business selling a type of crystal they were making from a metal called bismuth. "If you control the temperature as it cools, you can get a rainbow effect," says Beach. "He said, 'If I buy it in bulk, I can melt it and create crystals.'" He took samples to the CES gift shop and emerged after talking with Tompkins. "I pick him up and he's grinning and carrying a toaster," says Beach. "He had a piece of paper with questions about starting a business — 'What's your market? Who is your customer?' He said, 'ey helped us with the company name and logo, they're going to make business cards for us, here's the agreement, the store gets a small profit, they'll cut us a check when the product sells. We can volunteer in the store.' I thought, 'is is really cool.'" e young partners went on to contact other retail- ers and wholesalers and now have additional partners. "All of a sudden, he was so empowered and excited about doing this business, getting online, using e-com- merce," Beach says. "I was floored. I had tried for three years to talk with him about it." e toaster? Tyler had mentioned to Tompkins it was a way to cool the metal more slowly. "And Bonita said, 'Hey, we have a toaster. Here you go!'" Beach says. Beach has a background in marketing and public relations, formerly working with companies like Farmington-based manufacturer Origin and its sister- company, Jocko Fuel, and now as a consultant. She offered to help CES. Leading a strategy session earlier this year, she recalls the youth who participated were just as serious and involved as any executive in a boardroom. "One of them said, 'I feel like the key is for par- ticipants to finally believe that they can take control and create a better life,'" she says. "at was so pro- found and it became a key takeaway — and it came from one of the youth participants." Deep dive e retail storefront, makerspace and tiny house offer great visibility for CES, says Amanda Coolong, who joined the CES board of directors earlier this summer. "Now it's, 'How do we start showing our commu- nity and broader world what we're up to?'" Coolong brings experience from her work with incubators and accelerator programs in California. She grew up in Franklin County and her family has been there for generations. Growing up, local mills were closing, young people's work options were limited and they were encouraged to leave home. "A lot of us were told that, in order to be some- thing, you had to leave and get a degree," Coolong recalls. "It breaks my heart to think about that, and a lot of us did leave." After college in Boston, Coolong worked at tech PR firms, then headed to Los Angeles, where she stayed 20 years working in innovation and technology, including with early-stage startups, then co-founded a media company that championed the startup eco- system that was thriving in the City of Angels. » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E Constructing Central Maine Since 1952 www.nickoday.com | 207-989-7400 | 35 Airport Road, Brewer, Maine 04412 NICKERSON & O'DAY, INC. Constructors – Since 1952 From Training Centers, to Banks, and Fire Stations — We do it all! JOINT FORCE HQ (AUGUSTA) KVCC CAFÉ, FAIRFIELD BAR HARBOR BANK & TRUST (FORMERLY MERRILL BANK) HARTFORD FIRE STATION (AUGUSTA) Mainebiz is my source for business news! They do a great job staying on top of the real issues and connecting me to the right people through Mainebiz events and forums. 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Southern Maine builds on diverse industries S O U T H E R N M A I N E F O C U S Economy motion S O U T H E R N M A I N E F O C U S S TA R T S O N PA G E 1 1 » in $2.00 July 10, 2017 VO L . X X I I I N O. X V www.mainebiz.biz 85% of Mainebiz readers are college graduates STATEWIDE, SUBSCRIPTION-BASED BUSINESS PUBLICATION IN MAINE. WE ARE THE ONLY AUDITED, A Look at Maine's Future Economy REGISTER WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17 We aim to expand our internships by pairing youth with mentors, employers, senior peers and educational opportunities. — Bonita Tompkins Center for Entrepreneurial Studies

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