| Next Creative Conversations: Wednesday, April
26, 7 p.m. Business Resources for ArtistsApril 2006 Creative ConversationsCity of Portland Economic DevelopmentSee booklet “Doing Business in Portland” Coastal Enterprises IncorporatedCEI has always been interested in the role of arts and culture in Maine’s community and economic development. We believe that the arts have intrinsic value to humans, and also enrich community life and provide meaningful livelihoods. We look for opportunities to invest in arts businesses and nonprofits and to use the arts as a community development strategy. Examples of CEI’s arts financing role: Beehive Design Collective, our use of art in community/policy development: Mapping the Working Coasts; Community Development Programs MicroEnterprise Develoment Financing Assistance Supporting the Cultural Economy Department of Economic and Community Development59 State House Station, Augusta 04333-0059 DECD serves as the umbrella organization to the offices of Tourism, Business Development, the International Trade Center, Community Development, Film and Innovation and Science. In addition, we are proud of our Made in Maine program, which is recognized worldwide for its quality and integrity. Most applicable program: The Maine Microenterprise Initiative,
with funding of up to $250,000 for for self-employed entrepreneurs
or "microenterprises" (defined as Maine businesses
with ten or fewer employees) that lack access to business training
and technical assistance resources. Contact: Brian Dancause,
207.624.7498; fax: 207.287.8461, The Maine Arts Commission193 State Street Good Idea Grants: Designed to assist in supporting and fostering the growth of Maine’s artists. The parameters of the grant are purposefully broad. They include any “good idea” that furthers an individual artist’s creative endeavor(s). Maine Center for Enterprise DevelopmentThree Adams Street The Maine Center for Enterprise Development runs several programs
aimed at supporting business development in the state. For example,
it runs a series of seminars for business owners and managers
during the academic year. It also operates the Center for Maine Centers for Women Work and Communitywww.womenworkandcommunity.org • Workforce
development, including career planning, employment, retention
and advancement in jobs that pay a living wage; and access
to education and skills training; Maine Crafts Association188 State Street Annually offers “Your Craft, Your Business” Seminars Maine Patent Program400 Commercial St. Suite 405 Portland ME 04101 Through its service unit, the Maine Patent Program, the Center
offers technology transfer and patent assistance to scientists,
inventors and entrepreneurs throughout Maine. We are meeting
the state’s growing demand for technology transfer infrastructure,
providing Maine Technology Institute2E Mechanic Street The Maine Technology Institute “shall encourage, promote, stimulate and support research and development activity leading to the commercialization of new products and services in the State’s technology intensive industrial sectors to enhance the competitive position of those sectors and increase the likelihood that one or more of the sectors will support clusters of industrial activity and to create jobs for Maine people.” Maine Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts Portland’s Downtown District549 Congress Street SCORE100 Middle Street The SCORE Association (Service Corps of Retired Executives) is a nonprofit association dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth, and success of small business nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration. SCORE Chapter 53 in Portland, Maine, offers counseling services and workshops. Small Business Technology Development Center The SBDC concept is a simple but effective one: assist small business operators and nascent entrepreneurs through business counseling, training services, information transfer, and resource linkages. Our objective is clear: create and save jobs throughout Maine. To that end, the Maine SBDC provides a variety of services for Maine’s existing and prospective small business owners, covering such issues as business feasibility, business plan development, capital acquisition, financial management, marketing and sales, e-commerce, customer service, personnel management, and small business strategic planning. Our Maine SBTDC covers similar issues, although with a concentration on companies commercializing technology to launch or grow their business. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Creative Conversations was initiated nationally by Americans for the Arts as a way to engage creative leaders in cities all across America. Here in Portland, Maine, we decided not to focus on leaders, but to instead invite everyone interested in our local creative community. We had our first meeting in October, 2004 (sponsored by the Portland Arts and Cultural Alliance, or PACA), and have since met roughly once each month to connect with each other and discuss ways of improving the creative landscape. You can download a pdf file of the minutes from the six meetings here. Adobe Reader available here. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Creative Conversations Notes from meeting October 10, 2005 EXHIBITIONS New Gallery opening in November to sell fine art photography New Exhibition opening in November Maine Historical Society's current exhibition: A City Awakes Discussion at 7 p.m. Oct. 20 about the past, present and future
of the Public Art installations MEETINGS SEA Meeting: Holiday Sale December 10 at 58 Fore Street MUSE OPPORTUNITY EVENTS WMPG begins their begathon this week. Photo-a-go-go Fundraiser for the Bakery Photo Collective Sacred and Profane First Friday Artwalk Angioplastymedia.com USM Art Students League cups sale OTHER PACA has begun their Discovery Research project which will create
an At a recent City Council meeting, Doug Green requested that
the developers MECA will once again design a poster with details about holiday
sales
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