Washington County Community College’s Workforce and Professional Development Division, in partnership with the MaineStreet Business Building (a program of Sunrise County Economic Council), launched a new and exciting program series called Partners in Entrepreneurial Pathways in October of 2020. To promote entrepreneurship and small business ownership as a viable and attractive career pathway for students across all concentrations, as well as provide on-the-spot training to the overall small business community, WCCC and MaineStreet Business Building offer the following courses:
Partners in Entrepreneurial Pathways 1.0 – Venture Exploration
an accredited 10-week virtual asynchronous start-up incubator course covering the nuts and bolts of small business start-up. Each session is led by a different guest lecturer who is a subject matter expert in the field. Completion of the entire series and a final project assignment result in 3 credits and Entrepreneurship Digital Badges – and is currently available at no cost!
Each individual session, across Pathways programs, is open to current or aspiring entrepreneurs, also at no cost. Individuals can choose any one session, or multiple sessions, to attend. This creates a rich learning environment—joining students with the local community.
Class & workshop topics include:
- Introduction to Self-Employment
- Business Venture Exploration – Where do I start?
- Business Model Canvas
- Business Building Blocks – Exploring Mission & Vision
- All Things Legal – Structure, tax obligations, and business law basics
- Management Strategy & Opportunities
- Intentional Culture, from the Start
- Marketing Strategy
- Best Practices for Startup Success
- SWOT Analysis
- Making Your Business Bankable
- Startup Expenses
- Accounting & Cash Flow Considerations
- Financial Projections
- Pulling It All Together – Business support network panel
In partnership with the Maine Community College System,
Pathways 1.0 offers ACCREDITED…
Here’s a snapshot from our first 1.0 cohort in Fall 2020!
This would not be possible without the amazing network of partners, funders, and entrepreneurs coming together to provide top-notch content and a dynamic learning environment to Eastern Maine, and beyond!
1.0 Partners:
- Sunrise County Economic Council
- Washington County Community College
- SCORE Downeast Maine
- Four Directions Development Corporation
- Maine Small Business Development Centers
- New Ventures Maine
- Machias Savings Bank
- Bangor Savings Bank
- National Digital Equity Center
- MaineStream Finance
- OnCourse Business Services
- Godlight Photography
- Community Clicks
- Sew Fetch Dog Co.
- Eaton Peabody
- Tortoise Labs
- Northern Maine Development Commission
- Community Caring Collaborative
- Maine Made
- Maine Dept. of Economic & Community Development
- Coastal Enterprises, Inc. – Women’s Business Center
- Cooperative Development Institute
- Rudman & Winchell
- Maine PTAC
1.0 Funders:
Partners in Entrepreneurial Pathways 2.0 – Beyond the Business Plan
an accredited 11-week virtual asynchronous start-up accelerator course focusing on the practical application of business acumen and providing insight into what makes our markets and ecosystem tick. The sessions are led by a variety of guest lecturers who are subject matter experts in their fields. Completion of the entire series and a final portfolio project results in 3 college credits – currently available at no cost!
Each individual session, across Pathways programs, is open to current or aspiring entrepreneurs, also at no cost. Individuals can choose any one session, or multiple sessions, to attend. This creates a rich learning environment—joining students with the local community.
Class & workshop topics include:
- Building Your Branding
- Graphic Design Basics
- Business Website Basics
- Assessing Markets & Visibility Strategy
- Online Marketing
- Cyber Security
- E-Commerce Essentials
- Building Relationships
- Networking 101
- Building Efficiencies
- Tax Time & Planning Ahead
- Monitoring the Financial Health of Your Business
- Risk Management
- Becoming an Employer
- Planning for Transition/Exit
- Economic & Regulatory Landscape Impacts on Business
- Meet YOUR Resources – Business support network panel
In partnership with the Maine Community College System,
Pathways 2.0 offers ACCREDITED…
Here’s a snapshot from our first 2.0 cohort in Spring 2021!
This would not be possible without the amazing network of partners, funders, and entrepreneurs coming together to provide top-notch content and a dynamic learning environment to Eastern Maine, and beyond!
2.0 Partners:
- Sunrise County Economic Council
- Washington County Community College
- SCORE Downeast Maine
- Four Directions Development Corporation
- DownEast Acadia Regional Tourism
- Internal Revenue Service
- Maine Small Business Development Centers
- New Ventures Maine
- Northern Maine Development Commission
- Machias Savings Bank
- Bangor Savings Bank
- Community Clicks
- MaineStream Finance
- OnCourse Business Services
- Eaton Peabody
- Community Caring Collaborative
- AHD Design
- The WanderWeb
- Coastal Enterprises, Inc. – Women’s Business Center
- Cooperative Development Institute
- Rudman & Winchell
- Maine Procurement Technical Assistance Center
2.0 Funders:
These accredited courses are developed and facilitated by the MaineStreet Business Building in collaboration with 35+ regional and statewide technical assistance providers and entrepreneurs. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to learn about small business start-up, development, and strategic planning while plugging into an expansive network of mentors, programs, and resources!