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Mission Driven Beef
Why I Stand Behind SelectBEEFWhy its mission matters for communities. In innovation work—especially in urban and regional ecosystems—it’s easy for decisions to become overly abstract. Metrics, margins, and projections matter, but they are never the whole story. The...
Small Business as Community Building
Small Business as Community BuildingLessons from bagels, entrepreneurship, and Maine’s business ecosystem I am one of the lucky ones. While not originally from Maine, my love of this state was forged over twenty years ago, and a bit farther out than most. Way down...
How do I Start a Food Waste Tracking Project?
Editor’s Note: While URCI is known for supporting new and growing entrepreneurs, we are equally committed to helping established businesses improve efficiency and increase profits. As we expand our involvement in the regional food system, we emphasize that waste...
Why Coworking is Economic Development
Why Coworking is Economic Development By Lauren Walker, CMO Coworks In a city like Ellsworth, Maine, community has always been the heartbeat. But as industries evolve and work becomes increasingly decentralized, economic development starts to look a little different....
URCI 2025 Year in Review + A Look Ahead to 2026
URCI 2025 Year in Review + A Look Ahead to 2026 I feel like I blinked twice since previewing 2025 at the Union River Center for Innovation, and suddenly it’s time to recap the year and share what’s coming in 2026. It’s been a busy and exciting period as we continue...
Managing Winter Cash Flow
Employee Retention, Spring Start-Up Cash, and Staying Sane in the Deep Freeze It feels like the perfect day to talk about winter cash flow - snow is falling here in Maine, the temperatures are dropping, and unless you’re lucky enough to be next to a ski resort, you...