Black Bear Consulting Corps

This program provides support to Maine companies that are bringing new innovations to market and that faced challenges and delays due to the pandemic, and it gives students much-needed professional experience to build their résumés. BBCC pairs each company with a small team of vetted college students who can assist with key business projects for five weeks during the academic year. The Corps is designed for rapid response on short-term project opportunities. Students are assigned to project teams based on how well their skills and experience align with project needs. The Black Bear Consulting Corps is funded through the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan and is intended to support the recovery and long-term growth of the many Maine startups and small businesses (fewer than 250 employees) that faced pandemic challenges. Services are offered at no cost to the company.