By Dave Dyer

Staff Writer

In a cramped room at the corner of the Scarborough Public Library, small business owners used an old time solution for a recent problem.

The Scarborough Small Business Town Hall Meeting and Resource Fair took place at the library Monday afternoon. Town Councilor Karen D’Andrea said the idea of the meeting was for small business owners in town to brainstorm ideas of strengths and needs for the town as they weather the country’s current economic crisis.

“It came to me one day, in the past when there was a problem with a town, [residents] would come together to solve it,” she said. “I felt it would be a good idea to get people together.”

D’Andrea, who owns a consulting business, said she was looking forward to listening to ideas from others.

“It’s a great way to connect with other businesses to find ways to work through the recession,” she said.  

Susan deGrandpre of Collaboration Consultants facilitated the meeting, and asked business owners what the town’s strengths are  attracting business. 

D’Andrea some of Scarborough’s strengths are a positive business image, meaning when people think of businesses in town, they have positive thoughts, D’Andrea  said. She said Scarborough also has business diversity, having a variety of businesses located in town. At the meeting, D’Andrea said many different businesses attended, from photography businesses to non-profits.

Business owners said Scarborough’s proximity to the Maine Turnpike, Scarborough Marsh, town beaches, a “good” school system, emergency services and medical facilities were strengths of the town.

For ideas about how small business owners can help one another, ideas offered included encouraging cross promotion, a “buy local” campaign and connecting with other small business owners through social media, such as Facebook and Twitter.

“We all know that we’re having tough times,” deGrandpre said. “I’m so excited we have lots of people. Hopefully the small businesses that attend find what’s surrounding our community.”

The meeting also included a resource fair, giving business owners the opportunity to speak with small business aid organizations, including the Small Business Administration, Finance Authority of Maine, and Maine Coastal Business. 

State Reps. Sean Flaherty (D-Scarborough) and Peggy Pendleton (D-Scarborough) were on hand to inform people of the proposed 2009 Tax Reform and Relief Package designed to cut the state income tax rate. Flaherty said the package would help change the state’s perception as a high taxed state, dropping Maine from the 15th ranked state in the country in tax burden, to 25th. Flaherty said the package would also help small businesses, as owners pay taxes through individual income tax.

Pendleton said she was happy to see small business owners meeting.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Pendleton said. “I think the more information we gather [from business owners], the more we can legislate.”

After the meeting, business owners stayed around for a “networking” session, where they could mingle and exchange business information with others.

David Hopkinson, proprietor of Henry VIII Carvary, said he was impressed with how the meeting stayed positive amongst owners, instead of a shouting match about how the economic crisis is affecting their work. He said he hopes more town meetings will happen at later points.

“We shouldn’t be doing this during a recession, we should be doing this all the time,” Hopkinson said. “I hope we remember this for the future.”

D’Andrea said she received positive feedback from owners, and will talk with the Scarborough Economic Development Corporation and the Scarborough Chamber of Commerce about hosting similar meetings in the future.

“I thought [the meeting] was wonderful, astounding and great, and those were words I heard from others,” D’Andrea said. 

Staff writer Dave Dyer can be reached at 282-4337 ext. 219.