Special Section: Maine's Creative Economy

Project GATE: growing Maine through entrepreneurship

Researching results of aid for entrepreneurship leads to added resources for Mainers interested in growing or starting their own business

FREE resources and training for those interested in growing or starting a business in Maine - good news for those in or wanting to take advantage of their creativity to launch into business. For more information, go to www.MaineGATE.org or call 888/457-8883.

Maine was only one of only three states chosen to participate in a multi-year study the federal government has begun to determine the value of business assistance programs are worth their cost. What does this mean for Maine? More funds to help provide free resources and training for those interested in growing or starting a business in Maine - good news for those wanting to take advantage of their creativity to launch into business.

Project GATE (Growing America Through Entrepreneurship) has three goals, according to the US Department of Labor: increase awareness of small-business services through community outreach; offer small-business training and technical assistance; and evaluate whether the approach is effective and efficient. The project is being run in Maine, Pennsylvania and Minnesota.


	Denis Lachman and Alan Holt, of the newly formed Holt and Lachman architects in Portland. Photo: Hannah Brazee Gregory, MaineArtsMag

The program hopes to attract 1,000 entrepreneurs, said Stephen Duval of the Maine Department of Labor, who is working as state coordinator for GATE. Recruiting started in October and is expected to continue until June 2005. A marketing campaign, which began in February, has been implemented to help recruit program participants.

The program will operate from three hubs - state CareerCenters in Portland, Lewiston and Bangor. There, participants will receive an orientation session to explain the program and to hear a realistic portrayal of the challenges and opportunities of owning a business.

Under the GATE project, budding entrepreneurs will receive the initial skills they need through one program, then instead of having to wait for the right advanced classes to open up within the same service organization, they can get the advanced skills they need with a different group.

"Throughout our careers we have both been especially interested in doing community-minded projects - civic buildings, neighborhood master plans, historic preservation, public art and infill housing. Launching a business together is a way of joining our interests and talents to pursue our vision of meaningful work while setting our roots even deeper into our community. It has been a great challenge, a great adventure and very rewarding."
- Alan Holt, of the new Holt and Lachman Architects in Portland, applied for the Project GATE to help them start and grow their creative business.

For more information, go to www.MaineGATE.org or call 888/457-8883.