BETHEL - The office of U.S. Sen. Olympia J. Snowe is presenting a Western Maine Small Business Forum on Oct. 22 at Sunday River Ski Resort.

Featured speaker will be Sandy Blitz, New England regional administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Sponsored by the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce and the resort, the forum will be held from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Grand Summit Hotel. Topics include custom training, business lending, business plan development, startup counseling, peer networks, computer training, cash flow planning, tax credit packaging, marketing and tourism, and site selection.

The topics are geared to be helpful for those already in business or aspiring to start one. There is no cost and a continental breakfast will be offered. Registration deadline is Oct. 19. Call 824-2282 or go to info@bethelmaine.com

Featured speaker will be Sandy Blitz, New England regional administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The event is held in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration; Western Maine and Oxford Hills chapters of SCORE; USDA-Rural Development; AVCOG's Small Business Development Center; FAME; Maine Department of Economic and Community Development; Coastal Enterprises Inc.; Efficiency Maine; Maine PTAC; the Rumford and South Paris CareerCenters; Community Concepts; River Valley Growth Council; Maine Centers for Women, Work and Community; Western Maine University Center; Adult Education-SAD 17/Buckfield and SAD 44; and lenders KeyBank, Northeast Bank, Norway Savings Bank, TD Bank N.A., Franklin Savings and Bangor Savings (Rumford branches), and Androscoggin Bank.