Youth Entrepreneurial Center in Rural Maine: Empowering Youth and Building Community

Join us in supporting The Center for Entrepreneurial Studies (CES) as we embark on a transformative initiative to create an Entrepreneurial Center on a scenic 6-acre parcel on Whittier Road in Farmington, Maine. This center will serve as a vibrant hub for social enterprises, driven by a dedicated team of youth, community resources, and adult mentors.

Currently, CES operates a 3,000 sq. ft. retail store and makerspace on Main Street in Farmington. However, we have outgrown our space and are transitioning to the 6-acre parcel to expand our entrepreneurial programs and offerings. This new location will allow us to extend our programs beyond retail, including Agriculture, Outdoor Home Repairs and Maintenance (such as landscaping and gardening), Culinary Arts, and Outdoor Recreation. We will also be able to host community events. We are currently working to place a 14' x 48' modular building that will house our makerspace and commercial kitchen, allowing for more space, offerings, visibility, and accessibility to youth during school hours, after school, and during summer vacations. Additionally, we will be building a farmstand in collaboration with youth, the American Legion, local veterans, and community members.

CES is in the process of transitioning from owner-financing to traditional financing for the parcel, thanks to support from the Genesis Fund—marking a proud milestone in our journey.

In Spring and Summer 2024, we launched a community engagement initiative, which included land cleanup, construction of a patio and firepit, and the installation of six raised garden beds with arbors. We’ve connected water and sewer services to the parcel, creating inviting outdoor spaces for gardening, seating, and community gatherings. Youth, volunteers, and mentors have been instrumental in managing vegetable gardens and creating spaces that will host innovative pop-up businesses in 2025.

In 2023-24, CES partnered with 28 Maine-based businesses to build the first tiny home on wheels for homeless youth. Featured on the Maine Cabin Masters episode "Great Things in Small Packages" (Episode 910), the home now sits on the property and provides stable housing for a young adult who faced years of housing insecurity. These business relationships continue, with the intent to eventually build a large-scale mixed-use marketplace featuring Maine-made products, food incubators, greenhouses and gardens, and an Innovation & Manufacturing Center, where modular home construction and trade skill enterprises will be built. The site will also feature recreational trails and outdoor learning and wellness opportunities.

Why focus on youth? Franklin County, Maine, faces significant challenges, including low workforce participation, low secondary school graduation rates, and high chronic absenteeism among students. By prioritizing student well-being and entrepreneurial education, CES aims to create positive outcomes and cultivate a resilient workforce for the future.

This project was born out of the memory of Joshua Hennessey, a young man whose life was tragically lost to addiction. The raised garden beds and arbors were dedicated to his memory, representing a space of healing and growth. Despite the hardships Joshua faced, he found solace in gardening with his grandfather—a memory that continues to inspire our work today.

Joshua’s journey serves as a reminder of the urgent need for initiatives that foster youth resilience, well-being, and hope. Through our business education and prevention initiatives, we aim to build a community where every young person can thrive.

Your support will help us continue this vital work. Together, we are sowing the seeds of change and creating a brighter future for our youth, their families, and our community. By investing in CES Changemakers, we are nurturing the leaders of tomorrow.

Thank you in advance for considering our organization. We greatly appreciate your help and support. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Bonita Tompkins, CEO at bonitatompkins@cesmaine.org. Thank you, again.