Small Business Really Does Matter
Chamber kicks off new program with over 100 business leaders talking with Les Otten. And what about a business asking for $100,000,000 of public support?

Les Otten at Small Business Matters on January 24, 2012.

Thanks to the generous support of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and media support from the Press Herald and the Forecaster we have launched a new series called Small Business Matters. SBA Administrator Karen Mills recently told our Eggs and Issues audience that in Maine 97% of all businesses are "small". Its surely true, of our Chamber members over 80% have fewer than 20 employees.  

Recognizing that small businesses are the most fragile as well as the major creator of new jobs, it is our goal to lend them every possible resource, training and support that we can muster.

Small Business Matters had out first program last Tuesday morning, and it featured noted Maine entrepreneur Les Otten talking to over 100 in attendance about entrepreneurship, disruptive (creative and innovative) thinking, failure ("its just a data point") preparedness for success, and about perseverance. Les was as expected, charismatic, provocative and challenging, and his experiences and advice were of great value, based on the significant note taking, great conversations and voices. Listen to or download audio recordings of Les Otten at Small Business Matters.

We surveyed those in attendance and got a 20% response rate, with all but 1 calling the event #5 (tops in value and benefit). Our second of these 6 per year programs will be March 21^st, featuring Allan Labos, founder of Akari, a Portland small business employing 50 people in a renovated 25,00 SF building, a clientele of 20,000, and an internationally known line of products.

And speaking of small business, it is my view and not that of the chamber that we are making much too much about Kestrel Aviation's decision to base their manufacturing in Wisconsin. Given Maine's much too high energy costs, coupled with Kestrel's history in Wisconsin, I was not surprised by their decision.  Frankly, anytime a company is looking for so much "public investment" I think of the thousands of small employers who struggle each week to make payroll, pay bank loans, add jobs, and grow their businesses, all on their own, with only private funding, and usually after putting all their personal assets at risk. Let's focus on hitting a lot of singles and doubles, that's how we win the job creation contests. 

Sincerely,

Godfrey Wood, CEO