ORONO – Four of the State’s Applied Technology Development Center directors have completed training to become authorized associate business counselors for the Maine Small Business & Technology Development Centers.

The training and certification is key to a collaboration among Maine’s seven applied technology centers – administered by the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development and the tech-focus group of the Maine Small Business Development Centers – to strengthen technical and business support for Maine’s emerging technology-based businesses.

Completing the year-long training are:

. Deb Neuman, director of the Target Technology Center in Orono.

. Norman L. MacIntyre, director of the River Valley Technology Center in Rumford.

. Michael M. Hastings, executive director of the Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center in Orono.

. John Ferland, president of the Maine Center for Enterprise Development in South Portland.

. Philip A. Helgerson, director of Applied Technology Centers at Maine Department of Economic and Community Development.

. Edrick Larkin, finance manager for the Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center.

Helgerson said that emerging businesses that are served by Maine’s seven Applied Technology Development Centers will benefit because center directors now offer a powerful combination of technical and business know-how.

The Applied Technology Development Centers also will continue to call on full-time, certified Maine Small Business Development Centers and Maine Small Business & Technology Development Centers business counselors as needed.

“The combination of the Maine STDC technology commercialization assistance and Maine ATDC incubator resources provides exceptional support to Maine’s emerging technology businesses,” said John R. Massaua, director of the Maine Small Business Development Centers and Maine Small Business & Technology Development Centers.

In January, Maine Small Business Development Centers became only the fourth center in the nation to be granted a prestigious national accreditation authorizing it to provide technology support services under the Maine Small Business & Technology Development Centers banner.

“Future joint efforts will continue to enhance services to technology businesses in Maine and to improve rates of technological commercialization,” said Massaua.

Maine Small Business Development Centers and its tech-focus group, Maine Small Business & Technology Development Centers, provide comprehensive business management assistance, training, resource and information services to Maine’s micro, small and technology-based business communities.

Business assistance is provided at no cost to business owners by professional certified business counselors who meet rigorous education and business experience standards.

Maine SBDC/SBTDC is a partnership program of the U.S. Small Business Administration in association with the Small Business Administration-Small Business Development Centers, Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, the University of Southern Maine, and leading economic or community development hosting organizations.

Accredited by the Association of Small Business Development Centers and administered by USM’s School of Business, Maine SBDC-SBTDC operates a network of 11 service centers and 25 outreach offices located conveniently throughout the state. Maine SBDC-SBTDC provides comprehensive business management assistance, training, resource and information services to Maine’s micro, small, and technology-based business communities.