Bangor

Cooperative development conference

BANGOR – The Maine Cooperative Development Conference is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 21, at the Bangor Motor Inn, Hogan Road, and is sponsored by USDA Rural Development, the Maine Department of Agriculture, the Cooperative Fund of New England, and the Cooperative Development Institute.

The one-day symposium will focus on assisting cooperatively structured businesses to advance economic and community development in the state of Maine. A wide range of knowledgeable speakers from across the country and the state will share their expertise on the benefits of forming cooperatives and will empower participants to assist the entrepreneurs of small businesses in Maine in the formation cooperatives.

Cooperatives play an important role in Maine’s economy. They are especially beneficial for the small business or entrepreneur who may be able to merge costs and efforts with similar businesses for increased efficiency. Cooperatives have been successfully meeting people’s needs for food, housing, energy, financial services, health care and other basics for generations. They enable farmers, fishermen, artists, builders, care providers, wood lot owners, business consultants and independent entrepreneurs of all types to own successful companies. In addition, they recycle capital back into the local economy and aim to generate high quality, stable employment.

To obtain information, or to register for the conference, visit www.maine.gov/agriculture/mpd/business/coop.html.

Maine business, economic, and community development professionals, and groups seriously considering or embarking on starting a cooperative are encouraged to register without delay, as seating is limited.

Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting www.rurdev.usda.gov, or call 990-9160.

Bangor

New president

Eastern Maine’s largest electric utility has a new president and chief operating officer, the company announced recently.

Bangor Hydro-Electric Co.’s board of directors last week appointed Rob Bennett of Hampden to serve in the two positions, the company indicated in a written statement.

Bennett most recently served as vice president and general manager of the company, which he joined in 2002. Prior to working for Bangor Hydro, Bennett held various positions at Nova Scotia Power Inc., including northeastern regional manager, staff engineer, protection engineer and superintendent of Annapolis Hydro. Bangor Hydro is an electric utility wholly owned by Emera Inc. of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Symposium, business owners

The National Association of Women Business Owners will hold its Fall Education Symposium and Luncheon 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, at the Richard E. Dyke Center for Family Business on the Husson College campus. The event is open to professionals, both men and women, in all areas of business.

Registration opens at 7:30 a.m. and workshops begin at 8. The cost, which includes lunch, is $20 for association members and $40 for others.

Keynote speaker Laura Posey, author of “Six Secrets of Sales Magnets” and co-founder of Dancing Elephants Achievement Group, will offer tips for attracting business and increasing sales by working smarter, not harder.

Symposium participants may also attend two of four morning workshops – Business Entities and Tax Matters, Employment Law: Hiring and Firing, The Art of Negotiation and How Should You Spend Your Advertising Dollars?. Presenters include Rudman & Winchell, LLC; Veeder & Longtin LLP, CPAs; and J Group Advertising.

For more information, call 862-2952, or visit www.nawbobangor.com to download a registration form.

Business workshop

The Maine Technology Institute, in partnership with the Maine Procurement Technical Assistance Center, will present Business Opportunities in the Government Market, 9 a.m.-noon Tuesday, Sept. 27, at the Maine Procurement Technical Assistance Center, One Cumberland Place, Bangor.

At the workshops, entrepreneurs and business owners can learn how to do business effectively with federal, state and local governments.

The workshop will focus on identifying sales opportunities in the government sector, building marketing strategies to approach prime government contractors, and identifying and securing sources of federal funding for innovative research and development.

The cost for the workshop is $15 and includes refreshments. To register, call Simon Varney, MTI external program manager at 582-4790 x6, or e-mail svarney@mainetechnology.org.

Child-care business training

The Penquis CAP Resource Development Center will offer 30 hours of Maine Roads to Quality training, Developing Your Family Child Care Business, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Sept. 21-Nov. 30, at Penquis CAP, 262 Harlow St., Bangor.

The curriculum, developed by the Marion Ewing Kauffman Foundation, helps individuals merge the desire to provide care for children with the need to become a viable business. The training program will help providers to think and act as business owners and build sustainable businesses.

The registration fee for the training is $15 and nonrefundable. Current child-care providers may apply for reimbursement of the fee. To obtain more information or to register for the training session, call 973-3533.

Area-wide

Area representative

Tim Donovan of Newport has been hired as a technical representative for central and southern Maine by United Agri Products Northeast, based in Colorado. He will be responsible for expanding the company’s line of agriculture crop protection, seed and fertilizer products relating to the production of potatoes, corn, forage and blueberries.