Contact: Elizabeth Sutherland, APR  207-945-9999

esutherland@sutherlandweston.com

New Contract Brings Additional Jobs to Northern and Eastern Maine

David Whitney, president and owner of Whitney Wreath in Machias, announced today that Whitney Wreath has been selected as the provider of balsam products for the 2009 L.L. Bean holiday catalog. Winning this competitive selection process establishes Whitney Wreath as the largest mail-order Christmas wreath company in the United States.

“This is great news for our successful business in Washington County,” said David Whitney today. “Since 1988 we have worked hard to establish Whitney Wreath as the premier wreath company of Maine and this contract with L.L.Bean validates all that we have worked for. We have loyal, hard working employees year round that have helped this happen, and I cannot say enough about our seasonal employees who are committed to producing the finest wreaths and other balsam products for the company.”

“We are pleased to be working with Whitney Wreath to provide quality balsam products to our customers this Christmas  season. We are doubly pleased to be supporting the Maine balsam business in Washington County.” Mark Fasold, Sr VP & Chief Financial Officer.

Whitney Wreath estimates that several full time employees, approximately 20 eight month positions and an additional 250 seasonal workers will be required for the increased production demand throughout the company’s seasonal décor and wreath producing facilities. Whitney Wreath has four facilities in Maine: Machias, Crawford, Indian Township and Presque Isle.

“Adding another 250 jobs this fall is a great boost to the region’s economy,” added Whitney. “I am pleased Whitney Wreath was selected by L.L. Bean to be part of its national sales effort, but most significant to me is the positive economic impact these jobs will have on our rural communities in Washington and Aroostook counties.”

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About L.L.Bean, Inc.

L.L.Bean, Inc. is a leading multi-channel merchant of quality outdoor gear and apparel.  Founded in 1912 by Leon Leonwood Bean, the company began as a one-room operation selling a single product, the Maine Hunting Shoe.  While its business has grown substantially, the company remains committed to the same honest principles upon which it was built - a focus on the customer, continuous product improvement and innovation, respect for people, preservation of the natural environment and a 100% satisfaction guarantee.  The 220,000 sq. ft. flagship campus of stores in Freeport, Maine is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and welcomes more than three million visitors each year. L.L.Bean can be found worldwide on www.llbean.com

About Whitney Wreath

Whitney Wreath is one of the largest producers of fresh holiday wreaths and home decorations in the nation. Started in 1984 on the back of owner’s, David Whitney, pick-up truck; Whitney’s has been providing fresh, full balsam wreaths to families throughout the United States for more than 25 years. In 2007 Whitney was awarded the U.S. Small Business Administration Jeffrey H. Butland Family-Owned Business of the Year in Maine. More about Whitney Wreath can be found at www.whitneywreath.com.

TOP GUN Accepting Applications for 2009 Program

 The Maine Center for Enterprise Development (MCED) is recruiting dynamic technology entrepreneurs to participate in its Applied Entrepreneurship Program aka ‘Top Gun’.  With the support of the Maine Technology Institute, MCED will test a new model for identifying and developing Maine’s future technology business leaders through a network of experienced mentors who will provide continuous learning opportunities.

“Top Gun is the first of its kind in Maine,” states Steve Bazinet, MCED President. “This program will be visionary, just as Idea Lab and other technology incubators helped create the foundation of the information economy, Top Gun will support entrepreneurs seeking to establish and build their business here in Maine.”

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Top Gun’s mission is to identify and nurture talented and entrepreneurial Mainers, match them with targeted training and mentors, and provide the resources to succeed as innovative/technology entrepreneurs in Maine. With generous support of sponsors, MCED is able to offer the program at an affordable fee of $275.

The three-month long program trains entrepreneurs in areas vital to the management and profitability of their growth-oriented businesses.  Each week, 1-2 hour long evening presentations led by top professionals and serial entrepreneurs, will provide valuable tools to the participants.  In addition to the weekly presentations, participants will spend time working side-by-side with their mentor(s) at their mutual discretion. A team of seasoned entrepreneurs and respected business professionals with “real-world” experience will be instructors in the program — combining street smarts with academic/business intellect to deliver accelerated learning to early-stage entrepreneurs.

Top Gun is highly selective with a simple criteria:  Find the technology business leaders of the future who are willing to establish their business in Maine. Top Gun aims to differentiate its offering to business talent by investing in developing future business leaders.

Apply Now

Applications for the Top Gun Program are now being accepted online at Top Gun Application. An advisory board made up of private sector professionals and leading technology entrepreneurs will carefully consider each application looking to indentify the state’s “best of the best” technology entrepreneurs and partner them with Maine’s most seasoned professionals. The application deadline is July 31, 2009; acceptance notices will be sent on a rolling basis.

We welcome your involvement with Top Gun as an entrepreneur, presenter, mentor, service provider or sponsor. Additional information about The Applied Entrepreneurship Program, including a complete list of guidelines and online application is available at Top Gun . For additional information contact Steve Bazinet sbazinet@mced.biz or 207.228.8525.

Old Orchard Beach, ME – Seaside Pavilion, a state-of-the-art, family-friendly, outdoor performing arts center, presents Maine’s own 195th Army Band during a free patriotic concert on Saturday, July 4, at 7 p.m.
Based in Bangor, Maine, the 195th Army Band is under the command and control of the 52nd Troop Command headquarters and is a team of musicians from across the state dedicated to supporting parades, providing morale, and community event support.
“What better way to celebrate our nation’s birth and exhibit our gratitude and patriotism than to share a free concert showcasing our service members,” said Seaside Pavilion director Cheryl Poulopoulos. “The band’s tribute to American music, along with their big band swing and jazz medleys integrated with blues and rock, are sure to bring audiences to their feet.”
In addition to honoring the nation and its troops through music, Seaside Pavilion is teaming up with Hugs of Love to collect cards, letters, and care package items (such as DVDs, phone cards, books, hygiene items, etc.) to send to soldiers stationed overseas.
“We will have a collection area set up at the Pavilion, and we encourage the community to participate by donating a special item for a soldier,” said Poulopoulos. “A hand written note or small token makes a world of difference to a lonely soldier.”
For more information about Hugs of Love, founded by a couple whose son died in Iraq, visit www.hugs-of-love.org. To learn more about Seaside Pavilion or to reserve tickets in advance, call 207.934.2024 or visit www.seasidepavilion.org.
The Salvation Army built Seaside Pavilion in 1998 as a place for its camp meetings and as a gift to the community to enrich lives, lift spirits, and build community through the performing arts. Seaside Pavilion offers a state-of-the-art sound system and 1,400 stadium style seats with views of the professional stage and breath-taking natural setting.
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Rite As Reign @ Genos Rock Club.

625 Congress St.

Portland,Me.

July 9th

www.riteasreign.com

The 2009 entreverge Award Winners

Atayne Inc:

Atayne designs and sells high performance athletic apparel that is made from trash and other recycled materials. The company is distinctly committed to inspiring environmental and social change by creating sustainable products that promote sports and active lifestyles. As a registered B Corporation, their ‘triple bottom line’ approach to business and high quality products has garnered them national recognition in several major publications and positioned them to emerge as a major player in the sustainable apparel industry. Their products are currently sold 39 states and 6 countries. www.atayne.com

Emilie Inc.

Emilie Inc. is a multifaceted wedding photography business founded and operated by Emilie Sommer. Emilie is a graduate of the prestigious Newhouse School of Photography at Syracuse University. Before moving to Maine to start here business in 2004 she worked as a photographer for USA Today in Washington DC. Since then the company has grown to team of six photography professionals and has served customers locally, nationally and internationally. Emilie Ink, a subsidiary company, designs and sells photo card templates. Emilie is an active contributor to a national wedding planning blog (www.weddingbeepro.com), created and manages an online forum for wedding photographers (www.newsweddingphotographers.com), is hosting a national workshop for wedding photographers in July 2009 and recently formed the Pink Initiative, a non-profit to support breast cancer research (www.pinkinitative.org). www.emilieinc.com

Pemaquid Communications

Pemaquid Communications is a web design studio based in Portland, Maine. The core business of the company is to provide web design, programming, search engine marketing and strategic consulting services to their clients. Rob Laundry, Pemaquid’s founder, is at the forefront the progressive ‘co-working’ movement in Southern Maine. Co-working is a work environment concept that brings together independent contractors on a project by project basis and leverages each participant’s particular skills and insight to complete a project. Rob has recently created a workspace in Portland that is solely dedicated to this concept. The result is a highly creative, fluid and productive work environment that has allowed Pemaquid to emerge as a distinctive company is the highly competitive web design marketplace. The high quality work produced by Pemaquid has landed several major customers including Camden National Corporation and Qakhurst Dairy. www.pemaquid.com

Turtle Love Committee

Turtle Love Committee is a forward thinking internet based wedding jewelry company that sells unconventional wedding and engagement rings. The company believes the value of a wedding or engagement ring should be based on the love and commitment it symbolizes, not the financial expense its represents. Turtle Love markets and sell wedding jewelry from local and national artisans that support their mission. Their willingness to defy the conventional has enabled them to achieve explosive growth since the company was founded in mid-2008. They are one of the first wedding jewelry retailers to exclusively focus on this market niche. Turtle Love’s foresight and the rapid market acceptance leaves the company well positioned for future growth. www.turtlelovecommittee.com

Topline Marketing

Topline Marketing is South Portland based marketing company that exclusively markets natural food and life products. They currently represent 20 different brands and product lines which are sold to retailers throughout the East Coast. Topline is distinctly committed to expanding the natural products industry in the North East and works promote the ideal to keep natural stores “natural”. The company is passionate about the products they market and believe the can effect positive change through their commitment to this rapidly growing niche. www.toplinemarketinginc.com

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Contact:

entreverge Communications Director Will Thomas

Phone (207) 523-0519

Email: will@tri-maine.com

www.entreverge.com