Business in Uncertain Times:

Conversations with Maine's Island & Coastal Small Businesses

In this episode, we talk with Liz Lovell of North Haven Brewing Company on North Haven Island. She talks about how they’ve rewritten their business plan and are doing whatever they can do keep the lights on—but also to be safe and help keep the community healthy. And along the lines of staying open, we also chat with Rebecca Falzano, co-founder of Helm Digital, the marketing firm that started Maine Open Online, a website database that any Maine business who sells online can and should join for free.

For further information on pieces mentioned in this episode, visit the following links:

Island Institute Business Resilience Grants: http://www.islandinstitute.org/tom-glenn-community-impact-fund

Island Institute Small Business Support: http://www.islandinstitute.org/smallbusiness

Subscribe to our Commercial Currents newsletter and small business news: http://eepurl.com/b4RMfb

Business in Uncertain Times:Conversations with Maine's Island & Coastal Small BusinessesIn this episode, we talk with Liz Lovell of North Haven Brewing Company on North Haven Island. She talks about how they’ve rewritten their business plan and are...

Business in Uncertain Times:Conversations with Maine's Island & Coastal Small BusinessesSmall businesses everywhere are struggling to make sense of the current world. To understand how our local businesses are doing, we are making a series of...

Business in Uncertain Times:

Conversations with Maine's Island & Coastal Small Businesses

Small businesses everywhere are struggling to make sense of the current world. To understand how our local businesses are doing, we are making a series of recorded interviews. These are pre-recorded, short conversations are to help us understand how local business are doing in this time of global pandemic.

In the fourth episode, Senior Community Development Officer, Craig Olson, chats with Shannon Byers the Center Director for the Maine Small Business Development Center at Coastal Enterprises. As a business advisor Shannon has been quick to respond to the covid-19 crisis. Not only has she been helping business owners navigate federal aid, but she’s been working hard to help businesses owners innovate and think creatively right now.

Business in Uncertain Times: Conversations with Maine's Island & Coastal Small Businesses

Small businesses everywhere are struggling to make sense of the current world. These short conversations with Maine's island and coastal small businesses provide an opportunity to check in with local businesses and find out what's working well and where the bright spots are in this confusing world.

This week’s episode is in two parts. The first part is a conversation with Craig Olson, Senior Community Development Officer and head of the Small Business team at the Island Institute, about the nuts and bolts of the CARES Act.

The second part is a conversation with Alison Thibault of WindHorse Arts, a jeweler of 20 years who owns a brick-and-mortar shop in downtown Vinalhaven and has been working to stay on top of Small Business Administration's various disaster relief programs. She takes us through her application to the Paycheck Protection Program and shares her concerns for the future of brick-and-mortar shopping.

Business in Uncertain Times: Conversations with Maine's Island & Coastal Small BusinessesSmall businesses everywhere are struggling to make sense of the current world. These short conversations with Maine's island and coastal small businesses...

Business in Uncertain Times: Conversations with Maine's Island & Coastal Small Businesses

Small businesses everywhere are struggling to make sense of the current world. These short conversations with Maine's island and coastal small businesses provide an opportunity to check in with local businesses and find out what's working well and where the bright spots are in this confusing world.

In Episode 2, we speak with Gabe Pendleton of Pendleton Yacht Yard on Islesboro as he navigates the SBA relief loans and the recent CARES Act.

Business in Uncertain Times: Conversations with Maine's Island & Coastal Small BusinessesSmall businesses everywhere are struggling to make sense of the current world. These short conversations with Maine's island and coastal small businesses...

Business in Uncertain Times: Conversations with Maine's Island & Coastal Small BusinessesSmall businesses everywhere are struggling to make sense of the current world. These short conversations with Maine's island and coastal small businesses...

Business in Uncertain Times: Conversations with Maine's Island & Coastal Small Businesses

Small businesses everywhere are struggling to make sense of the current world. These short conversations with Maine's island and coastal small businesses provide an opportunity to check in with local businesses and find out what's working well and where the bright spots are in this confusing world.

In this first interview with Deer Isle-Stonington's 44 North Coffee, owners Melissa Raftery and Megan Wood talk about the changes they've made to keep business going.