Basic Business Startup

When: Thursday, January 28, 2:30pm-4:30pm
Register: HERE

Are you thinking about starting a new business or purchasing one but do not have the knowledge or experience? The U.S. Small Business Administration can help you start, grow, expand, and recover your business.

Many people consider business ownership as an alternative to employment. Do you have a great idea to fill a need? Are you a subject matter expert in your field? Have you been working in your industry and are now interested in branching out on your own? Do you need to know more about the ins and outs of operating a business?

This workshop will help you start out on the right path! This two (2) hour workshop will provide an overview of SBA programs and service, and cover the basics of starting a business.

New Funding and Information Session with KVCOG

When: Tuesday, February 2nd, 8:30am-10:00am
Register: HERE

KVCOG is proud to announce a new Business Financing opportunity through the CARES Act; $670,000 to expand KVCOG’s Revolving Loan Fund (RLF). These funds will allow KVCOG to make significant new investments in our regional economy by supporting small businesses, employment, and entrepreneurship in the Kennebec Valley.

New to this CARES Act RLF is the availability of extremely favorable terms including interest rates as low as 0% and waiver of typical RLF requirements, such as providing leveraged capital or proving credit unavailability. To be eligible for this new Revolving Loan Fund, businesses must be located in Kennebec, Somerset, or western Waldo Counties. More information, including the application for funding, can be found at http://www.kvcog.org/rlf

In conjunction with this new RLF program, KVCOG is pleased to partner with the SBA to offer the first in our new Resiliency Series! This series is designed to highlight different aspects of Resiliency throughout our region and is the product of additional funding from the EDA focused on helping our region respond to, and recover from, the COVID-19 pandemic.

This first free virtual session is titled “Help My Business Now!” and will provide an overview of this new funding opportunity including guidance on how these funds can best be utilized. This session will feature William Card, Economic Development Specialist, SBA, who will inform new and existing small businesses about SBA’s free and confidential Technical Assistance programs, as well as information about SBA’s own loan programs. 

Virtual Boots to Business

When: February 24th and 25th, 8:30am-4:00pm
Register: HERE and select "Online Portsmouth, NS, ME"

Boots to Business is a two-step training program developed to introduce Veterans and transitioning service members to business ownership. This 2-day workshop helps ensure that every participant has access to a standardized entrepreneurship training track and the small business resources in their local communities.  Any veteran, spouse and/or dependent children over 18 are welcome to participate!

After completing the 2-day Boots to Business session, participants will have the tools and knowledge they need to identify a business opportunity, draft a business plan, connect with local small business resources, and launch their small business.  If you have any questions, please contact William Card at 207-751-7379 or email william.card@sba.gov