None of this happened alone.
CES runs on a coalition — federal partners, local businesses, foundations, families and volunteers who show up with materials, trucks, time and belief. Here are the people and organizations behind the work.
The NBRC grant.
Our largest institutional backer — a federal investment in rural youth entrepreneurship, right here in Franklin County.
CES has been awarded a federal Northern Border Regional Commission grant to expand rural youth entrepreneurship, workforce development, mentoring and hands-on skill-building in Franklin County.
This three-year investment will support 48 youth entrepreneurs ages 14–18 through paid work-based learning, business education, leadership development, mentorship, community service and real-world projects connected to CES's retail store, makerspace, gardens, farm stand and future Entrepreneurial Center.
The grant also strengthens CES's ability to build pathways between youth, local employers, mentors and regional partners — creating meaningful opportunities for young people to earn, learn, lead and contribute to their community.
The Tiny Home project
Thirty-three businesses, families and partners built a home for a young adult with nowhere to go — led by Kennebec Cabin Company of Maine Cabin Masters.
33 partners- The Bjorn Foundation
- Boyker's Landscaping & Snow Removal
- Buggy's Plumbing
- Central Maine Power
- CES Changemakers & Families
- Coldwell Banker Sandy River Realty
- Dave's World
- E.L. Vining & Son
- The FarmHouse
- Folsom Custom Fabrications
- Fred Electric
- Going's Electric Supply
- Goodfellow
- The Granite Group
- IEC Electrical & Data Services
- Irving
- J.D. Irving, Limited Woodlands Division
- Jackson Pitcher Excavation & Landscape
- Kathy Meronek-Beauchamp
- Kennebec Cabin Company
- Lowe's
- Maine Community Foundation
- Maine Retirement Annuities
- Mainely Handrails, LLC
- Matthews Brothers
- MEMCO
- Mills & Mills
- OP Box
- Paris Farmers Union
- Poland Spring
- Steve's Appliance & Furniture
- The Panther Group
- Ware-Butler Building Supply
Raised beds & firepit project
The gardens at the Changemaker campus went in with hands, materials and time from these neighbors, families and volunteers.
13 partners- Aubuchon Hardware
- Bessa Axelrod
- CES Youth Changemakers & Families
- Community Volunteers
- E.L. Vining & Sons
- Farmington Baptist Church
- Farmington Compost Cooperative with Sustainable Campus Coalition at UMF
- Gagne & Son
- Goings Electric Supply
- Hammond Lumber
- The Bryant Family
- Andrew Moffitt
- The Hennessy Family
Add your name to this list.
Businesses, families and volunteers make every CES project possible. There's room for yours.