Show to focus on small, home-based businesses

The sixth annual Home-based Business Conference April 5 and 6 in Belfast will feature a slate of more than 40 workshops and a business-to-business trade show. The conference is sponsored this year by KeyBank, Computer Info Tech, WERU-FM and Eastern Maine Economic Development.

Anyone providing products or services for home-based and very small businesses who wishes to have a booth at the trade show needs to reserve space immediately by calling (800) 287-1426. The trade show will run all day Saturday, April 6, at the Troy Howard Middle School.

The conference draws more than 250 people each year from all over the state, with three-fourths of the attendees coming from Hancock, Waldo, Kennebec and Lincoln counties. Sixty-five percent of attendees during the past three years had been in business three years or less. Many were start-ups.

State and federal agencies such as the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, the Service Corps of Retired Executives, the Finance Authority of Maine and the Small Business Administration, also will be part of the trade show. Cost per table is $60, which includes conference registration for one person. Internet access is available at an additional charge.

For a list of workshops, check the conference Web site at www.umce.org.