Oct 24, 2025
3 min read
After a successful trial in Yumbou, the road network offers the opportunity to provide future business plans to other important areas.
Ten year-old small businesses from Northeastern University's Ruhke Institute at Northeastern University in Portland have successfully completed a new small business development initiative.
From coffee farmers to primary caregivers, 13 entrepreneurs representing 10 businesses learn how to transform and grow their work.Over eight weeks, business owners will attend training and workshops, and they will meet as a group business coach and business practitioner.
Bonnie Freitas and Danielle Gaglini opened River’s Edge Acupuncture in May and heard about the launch of the program a few months later.
"We are a new company. We want to be open to anything and everything and see how we can work with local businesses in our community," Gaglini said.
Business partners and acupuncturists said the program gave them confidence in their business plans and allowed them to slow down and focus on their vision.
"We started with a small gift, we started to travel," Fritas said.
On Oct. 22 at the Roux Institute campus in Portland, Yarmouth entrepreneurs presented their business strategies and key points of the program, followed by a luncheon at Maggie Mae's, a takeout restaurant that developed its dining strategy through the Roux Institute program.
A more established company that participated in Venture Forward Yarmouth was Estabrook's Farms and Greenhouses Inc. A giant of Yarmouth's relatively small business sector, the garden center and nursery, which operates a second location in Kennebunk, is about to celebrate its 75th anniversary next year.The company's success also motivated President Tom Estabrook to participate in this insightful program.
"If you're not growing, you're dying," said Estabrook, the third generation to run the company.
During the eight-week cycle, Estabrook developed plans to expand the company's online sales and consumer education, and hopes to launch an AI-powered chatbot offering gardening tips next year.
Other partners in the program include SNCK's Disclune Security Guards, Financial Consultants Financial Consultants Financial, Restaurant Collection, Oyster Farm, and Oyster Farm.
Venture Forward Yarmouth is sponsored by the Yarmouth Economic Development Advisory Council, which uses $40,000 in tax funds from the Roux Institute to provide free training to Yarmouth business owners.
Tori Hill, executive director of community and economic development, said the Roux Institute's partnership has increased the city's ability to support the state's economy.Unlike similar business development in small towns, the work before YYY Yarmouth was not directed at a new business setting up shop in the area, Hill said.
“This program has been really exciting because it takes care of the businesses that are already here and says, ‘We’re here for you, we support you and we’re excited for you to grow here,’” she said.
Local meat jupiter is also a reminder of collaborative work, thinking about how to promote services or offer special products.
"It is driven by the small business community," he said.
"The city at the center of the project makes the collaboration even more interesting, project manager at the Roux organization.
Both Hill and Ackerman have heard from other counties about the events while running the business.Yamaouth may be able to take the program to their cities.Ackerman said 15 cities, such as Falmouth and Bath, have confirmed, and six cities are in serious discussions about continuing the program through the company next year.
Although the Roux Institute has been offering entrepreneurship programs in Maine since 2020, the focus has been on climate and health technology startups rather than small, established companies.
"Maine is a small business state and we think we just want to build on the program that the Roux organization has put forth."Axerman said.
With a passion for the outdoors and the outdoors, crimefighter Byan Bywester began sewing wet gear as a hobby.After selling some of his creations in oetsy participation, duhwester in the program led him to see Royal cooperation as a real business.Website selling gloves, cut and Ditutn in Armouth, distred the day of the event.
"I'm a very conservative person, I'm not a big risk taker. I needed a push to get over this," Deerwester said.
"Now I'm at the point where it feels like the real thing, it's a great show," he said.
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