Business news

MTI seed grants

The Maine Technology Institute board of directors approved 23 seed grants to technology companies across Maine.

MTI seed grants range from $1,000 to $10,000 per project and are offered on a competitive basis to support early activities for product development, commercialization or business planning and development. A company only may be awarded up to $25,000 in seed grants for a specific project.

Each seed grant requires a one-to-one match consisting of actual cash, salaries, staff time or equipment directly attributable to the proposed project. Seed grants are awarded six times each year. The application deadline for the next round of grants is Oct. 19. Information about seed grants is available at www.mainetechnology.org.

Local awardees are:

. Advanced Technologies for Forestry and Agriculture – Yo Bon Inc. in Orono will conduct market testing of its dark chocolate covered, blueberry frozen yogurt novelty product.

. Environmental Technology – Zeomatrix in Orono is developing an environmental technology product which can be used to control odors from both animal waste lagoons and sanitary landfills.

. Information Technology- IntelliSearch in Orono will use MTI funds for market research and analysis of its BSA/eStore, an innovative procurement/e-Commerce system for sourcing of technology products.

Organization ambassadors

BANGOR – U.S. Cellular recently named Katina Burrows of Brewer, Bob Gil of Charleston, Kristi Kelshaw of Dedham and Tabatha McKay of Milford as the company’s Dynamic Organization Ambassadors. They will work with new associates to help them learn the business and complete their training.

Burrows has worked at U.S. Cellular for two years. Gil has worked for the company for four years. Kelshaw is a six-year veteran of the company and will mentor associates in northern Maine.

McKay, who has worked for U.S. Cellular for four years, provides training and support to associates on selling skills, customer service and training on new products and services.

Customer service manager

BANGOR – Kendra J. Speed of Hampden has joined TD Banknorth Maine as the customer sales and service manager in the branch at 77 Exchange St.

Speed is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations, managing sales, developing professional relationships in the community and strategic sales planning for the branch serving customers throughout the region.

Speed, who volunteers with the March of Dimes, is a 1993 graduate of Bangor High School.

Maine’s credit unions

Remembering and Helping People again was the theme for the fourth annual 9-11 tribute by Maine’s credit unions to the five Red Cross Chapters of Maine. At the ceremony, Maine’s credit unions paid tribute to the victims of 9-11 and their families and presented checks to five food pantries and to the Emergency Food Relief Fund of each Red Cross Chapter. A total of $7,055 was contributed to the organizations.

Since 2001, through the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger, Maine’s credit unions have contributed over $21,000 to the Emergency Food Relief Funds of Maine’s Red Cross Chapters in memory of 9-11. This was the first year that a Maine food pantry located in each of the chapter regions also was included in the special ceremony.

The five Red Cross chapters in Maine receiving donations are the Pine Tree Chapter in Bangor, Pine Tree-Aroostook Chapter, Mid-Coast Chapter, Southern Maine Chapter and United Valley Chapter.

The five food pantries in Maine receiving donations are the Preble Street Resource Center of Portland, Mid-Coast Hunger Prevention Food Pantry of Brunswick, Manna Ministries of Bangor, Sisters of Charity Food Pantry of Lewiston and Aroostook Home Supplies and Food Bank of Caribou.

Founded in 1938, the Maine Credit Union League is the State Trade Association for Maine’s 72 affiliated credit unions, providing a variety of services and products to assist credit unions in meeting the needs of their membership. Visit www.mainecul.org for more information.

Career placement program

BANGOR – Beal College students now have additional resources available to assist them in their career pursuits. Manpower has partnered with the college to offer an enriched career placement program that includes job training, assessment and placement assistance to students and graduates.

“With easy access to Manpower’s on-campus presence and the Bangor Manpower office, we expect high traffic and utilization of the free services available to students seeking employment and job training,” said April Clark, vice president of Manpower’s Maine operation. “Beal College is a rich source of job-ready talent, and Manpower is prepared to connect employers with the qualified professionals the college produces.”

The mission of Beal College is to become partners with students to improve their career opportunities through contemporary academic programs offered at the College.

“Our partnership with Manpower is another way Beal College can support our students as they transition from career training to career employment,” said Allen Stehle, president of Beal College.