The Rural Maine Small Business Conference and Business to Business Show will be held October 29 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Penquis Higher Education Center, 50 Mayo Street, Dover-Foxcroft. Morning seminars include Cash Flow Management; Rural Connectivity and Ecommerce; Time Management; and Access to Capital in Tough Times. Downeast Magazine Publisher John Viehman and Marketing Manager Laurence Hollins will deliver the afternoon keynote address on the topic of "Creating A 'Surround Sound' Effect for Your Marketing Message." Afternoon seminars include Hiring and Keeping Employees; Starting A Business—What I Should Know; Health Insurance and Options; and Free Resources for Businesses. The Business to Business Show will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and offer entrepreneurs access to business products and services. Visit www.RuralMaineBiz.org. for details.

Registration is $45. Lunch is included. For conference or scholarship information, contact James Macomber at MaineStream Finance, 564-7116, 1-800-215-4942 ext. 210 or jmacomber@penquis.org.

The conference is sponsored by The William and Joan Alfond Foundation, MaineStream Finance, Piscataquis County Economic Development Council, Penquis Higher Education Center, The Piscataquis Observer, Maine's Best Web and Media Design, Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce, The Piscataquis Observer and Penquis Child Care Resource Development Center.