May Business Pulse

May News for our Business Community

View this email in your browser May 2025 Photo of Downtown Ellsworth by No Umbrella Media LLC. Note from editor: We’re refreshing the Ellsworth Business Pulse to better serve the interests of our readers. Going forward, you’ll see content focused on: Resources & Programs from Heart of Ellsworth and our partners. Downtown Real Estate & Office Space availability. Grants & Funding Opportunities for local businesses. Highlights on Local Businesses doing great work in our community. These changes reflect what you’ve clicked on, read, and shared the most. Our goal is to make every issue a helpful, relevant tool for your success. Thank you for being part of Ellsworth’s business community! — Heart of Ellsworth Jump to: Local Business Highlight | Resources & Programs | Downtown Real Estate & Office Space | Grants & Funding Opportunities Local Business Highlight Morton's Moo Homemade Ice Cream Morton's Moo Homemade Ice Cream May brings with it a burst of spring and a hint to the summer to come: flowers start to bloom, leaves slowly unfurl from tree branches, and the weather fluctuates between rain and sunshine (but luckily no snow). For us in Ellsworth, May also marks the return of something especially sweet – the reopening of Morton’s Moo Homemade Ice Cream. Heart of Ellsworth sat down with Molly Harding, owner of Morton’s Moo, to learn more about her journey owning this beloved ice cream shop – and to hear what wisdom she's gained along the way. This interview has been edited for clarity. Molly Harding, owner of Morton's Moo Homemade Ice Cream. Photo by No Umbrella Media LLC. Heart of Ellsworth: So tell me how you started this shop. Molly: It was started by Sarah Morton back in 2003. . . She started in the small building next door. Then the business grew, so she bought this building and moved it over here. And then at one point, her daughter and husband came back with their really little kids, lived upstairs, and they ran it until 2017. Greg and I bought it in 2017. Heart: What made you decide to buy it? Molly: I don’t remember when we discovered it, but I do have photos of my daughter as a young child right outside with chocolate ice cream. My career was as a pastry chef. I grew up in Trenton and went to MDI, but then I lived in many different cities, doing pastry and then I came back here. . . I had a series of jobs, but the hours are really tough when you have an infant. So we started thinking about buying some real estate, and we were looking at a place in downtown Bangor. We were looking at a building to start our own ice cream place. . . I reached out [to Kirsten Henry] by email . . . she wrote back, and was like, “Actually, we just put Morton’s Moo on the market.” She liked the questions that I was asking, so we got together and we had a discussion about it, and that’s kind of how it happened. We ended up buying this in May of 2017. . . Heart: Wow. Molly: I’ve done a lot in food and restaurants in my life. I’ve run departments, I know a lot about back of house, but the whole rest of it . . . running a business is a whole other level. Heart: Did your husband, Greg, have any experience with ice cream shops? Molly: No, he’s a college professor. A writer and a professor and zero business. I think a lot of couples when they start getting into business, they think, “Oh, this will be my spouse’s job.” And that’s not how it goes. Everybody gets sucked in and it becomes like a family affair. I’m excited because my daughter will be 13 soon. She could actually, like – this could be hers someday. READ THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE Local Resources + Events Business Guide Available for New Businesses Thinking about starting or growing your business in Ellsworth? The City of Ellsworth has published a Business Guide that will help new businesses in Ellsworth connect with local resources and discover the supportive partners ready to help them succeed. There are print copies at the City of Ellsworth and Heart of Ellsworth offices. READ BUSINESS GUIDE HERE Local Workforce Training Resources The Ellsworth Adult & Community Education is partnering with the Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce to bring relevant, responsive, and customized business training to our local community. Here’s what’s currently available to support your workforce: Coming Spring 2025: “Invest in Your Customer Service” A new workshop series designed to elevate customer service skills in your business or organization. WorkReady™ Credential Program A hands-on training designed to prepare participants for the realities of the workplace. It focuses on building discipline, professionalism, and the skills needed to succeed in a structured work environment. Customized Business Training for Your Employees From technology skills like Excel and Google Suite, to industry-specific training in communication and documentation, the team at Ellsworth AEC can design training to meet the exact needs of your business. Past programs have included healthcare charting, reading and writing instructions, and task-specific analysis for effective employee upskilling. Access to Workforce Training Funds Through the Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine’s Workforce, funding is available for pre-hire training, incumbent worker upskilling, and scholarships. Ellsworth AEC can guide your business through accessing these valuable opportunities. Ellsworth Adult & Community Education is your local public adult education resource, committed to helping build a strong, skilled workforce right here in our community. To explore how these programs can support your business, contact: Annie Sargent, Director 📧 asargent@ellsworthschools.org 📞 207.664.7110 (voice) | 📱 207.613.6460 (text) Local Workshop Series Recap  The Union River Center for Innovation, based in Ellsworth, ME., offers entrepreneurs and startups the opportunity to grow their companies by providing the resources necessary to get a business up and running. In April, they hosted a four-series workshop for people interested in entrepreneurship. Did you miss it? Don’t worry— resources are still available! Slides are still accessible on their webpage. Participants explored the traits of successful businesses and business owners, learned strategies for navigating the unique path forward for their proposed ventures, and built skills in financial literacy, business planning, and more. LEARN MORE Downtown Ellsworth Real Estate + Office Rentals Downtown Ellsworth is buzzing with opportunity as vacant storefronts await new tenants to join its thriving community. As Maine’s newest designated Main Street America community, Ellsworth offers an unparalleled environment for businesses to thrive and grow. Interested in investing in Ellsworth? There are nine businesses and buildings for sale right in our vibrant downtown. Click on each image to be directed to the sales listing. Just looking to lease a space? There are several prime options available to you, whether you're looking for a business storefront or an office space: 89-93 Main Street, 102 Main Street, 108 Main Street, 112 Main Street, 192 Main Street, 59 Franklin Street, and 6 State Street.   For more information on leasing opportunities in the downtown district and to learn more about what Ellsworth has to offer, email: cara@heartofellsworth.org and visit www.heartofellsworth.org. Do you have space in downtown Ellsworth that is available to rent or is for sale? Please email us and we'll include it here! Funding Opportunities Apply Now: $10,000 Backing Small Businesses Disaster Recovery Grants The Backing Small Businesses grant program, supported by American Express, is accepting applications for a special round of Disaster Recovery grants. Eligible small business owners who have been impacted by a natural disaster since January 2024 can apply for one of 100 available $10,000 grants to aid in their recovery efforts. Applications are currently open and will close TONIGHT, Wednesday, May 21 at 11:59 p.m. CT. If you or a business you know has been impacted, apply now and help us spread the word by sharing this opportunity with your network. APPLY NOW Now in its fifth year, American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation are once again supporting 50 small or independently owned restaurants across the country through the Backing Historic Small Restaurants grant program. Each restaurant—all places that contribute to their neighborhood's unique history and identity—will receive $50,000 in funding to help them improve their businesses and positively impact their communities. Grant applications and public nominations will be accepted until 11:59 PM ET on May 30, 2025. Since it began, the Backing Historic Small Restaurants grant program has granted nearly $5.7 million to 130 historic restaurants to help restaurants address critical needs amid ongoing economic challenges. This critical financial support helps small restaurant owners better navigate economic challenges, disasters, or other hardships so that their establishments' legacies can continue. LEARN MORE Grants Available for Historic Downtown Properties REvitalizeME Downtown, funded by the National Park Service’s Paul Bruhn Revitalization Grant Program, is now offering historic preservation grants to eligible property owners in 23 Maine Downtown Center communities designated as Main Streets or Downtown Affiliates -- including Ellsworth! These development grants will support the preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation of historic properties that serve as vital community infrastructure—enhancing both the social and economic life of their towns. Eligible properties may include (but are not limited to): Historic theaters, museums, and libraries Community centers and municipal buildings Retail shops, restaurants, and cafes Entrepreneurial hubs, co-working spaces, and shared kitchens Projects may include exterior and interior preservation work, restoration, landscape improvements, or limited HVAC upgrades—provided they align with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. All project plans and specifications must meet these standards and be complete at the time of application. Applications due August 14th @  5:00PM LEARN MORE HERE Elevate your business visibility by sponsoring The Ellsworth Business Pulse, our monthly e-newsletter reaching a wide network of engaged community members and local leaders. Email Us for More Info. Thank you for reading this edition of the Ellsworth Business Pulse! Check out our Business Benefits page for more information on how we can support your business! Support a Vibrant Downtown! DONATE Copyright © 2025 Heart of Ellsworth, All rights reserved. Building & Business Owner List 2016 Work in Progress... Our mailing address is: Heart of Ellsworth PO Box 945 Ellsworth, ME 04605 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.