New Ventures Maine

NVME helps people all over Maine venture in new directions with their careers, businesses, and personal finances through tuition-free trainings.  Our mission is the economic empowerment of Maine people and their families.

Money Management Classes

• My Money Works

This class can help you gain the skills and confidence you need to stretch your money, pay your bills, reduce debt, find money for savings, plan for retirement, and set personal financial goals. At the end of the class you will have a plan to achieve greater financial stability. A follow-up session is scheduled to provide additional networking and support. Successful completion of this class meets one of the requirements for the Family Development Account (FDA) and Rainy Day Savings (RDS) matched savings programs. Find a class near you. 

• Budgeting Basics

In this workshop, you will learn the basic components for building a budget. We will discuss money tracking, goal setting, and how having a sense of your overall financial situation can assist you in the process of building a budget. Find a class near you. 

 

Build Your Career

• My Next Career Move

Four to six hour class, four sessions, 1 ½ hours each. A version is offered as a self-paced Brightspace workshop. Using our career development model, participants review skills, interests and experiences and relate them to career options. Identify high-growth job fields and explore education and training options. Participants strengthen their resume for a targeted job search. Find a class near you. 

• Build Your Confidence

Four and a half hours; four classes, 1 ½ hours each. Participants learn to navigate recent changes, look for a job, start a business, or simply become more confident. This workshop assesses confidence and teaches concrete tools to help build confidence and keep it strong. Find a class near you. 

• Resume Strategies

One hour workshop. This interactive workshop teaches participants how to write an effective resume that highlights their skills and experience. Find a class near you. 

• Interview Strategies

One hour workshop. Participants learn skills to interview with confidence. Different types of interviews, tips for answering difficult questions and the next steps after the interview are all explored. Find a class near you. 

• Job Search Strategies

One hour workshop. This workshop is for job seekers of all backgrounds who are unemployed, underemployed, or looking for a new job. Resources available are reviewed to help participants find a job, including online job search and networking. Participants will create their own job search plan. Find a class near you. 

 

Start a Business

• Venturing Forth: Business Planning for Entrepreneurs

A 60-hour course in business planning. The following topics are covered in depth: your customer, competition, marketing, record keeping, taxes, financing, legal aspects, and more. At the end of the class, you will have a completed business plan. There are also 3 monthly follow-up networking sessions at the completion of the class. Class size is limited to 15. You must complete an application, come to the orientation, have an individual interview, and be accepted into the class.  Find a class near you.  

• Business Basics

This class covers the basics of a business plan, marketing, cash planning and is suitable for those thinking about or in the early start-up phase of a new business. It will help you assess the feasibility, desirability, and viability of your business idea and get you started with your plan.  Find a class near you. 

• Exploring Self-Employment

This one-session workshop will help you decide if self-employment is the right choice for you. The class covers the pros and cons of owning your own business, the steps needed for start-up, the major elements of a business plan, and the many resources available to help you succeed.  Find a class near you. 

 

Maine hoMEworks 

Maine hoMEworks offers a ten-hour homebuyer education course to prospective homebuyers year-round through its HUD-approved, participating counseling agencies located across the state. The ten-hour course is valuable to anyone considering a home purchase and is required for many down payment assistance and other lending programs for first-time homebuyers.  The course will help you make good choices about becoming a homeowner and selecting a home that meets your needs and matches your financial resources.  The course provides step-by-step instruction on all aspects of the home buying process from application to closing, as well determining how much home you can afford; budgeting for homeownership expenses; how credit affects home buying; resources for down payment assistance; mortgage financing options; real estate contracts; and home inspections.   Learn more about Maine hoMEworks.

York Community Action

Safe and affordable housing is a basic need for every individual and family. Living in inadequate or substandard housing affects your health, your sense of wellbeing, and the ability of you and your family to learn, grow and thrive. Moreover, owning your own home is arguably one of the most important assets a family can have. Our staff will work with you, one-on-one, to give you the tools and resources you need to in order to address an immediate housing need, build or repair your credit, purchase or maintain your home, and avoid or mitigate foreclosure or default.  Learn more about York Community Action.