LEWISTON – Laurie-Anne Ouellette plans to open a flower shop, Sweet Pea Designs, at 940 Lisbon St. on May 1. She will be offering wedding planning services.

Ouellette recently completed several workshops with SCORE at Central Maine Community College and New Ventures Entrepreneurship Training at Lewiston-Auburn College on how to start and operate a small business. She also attended several seminars on legal, accounting, banking and marketing aspects of a business.

She attended a selling assistance workshop through the Center for Entrepreneurship School of Business from the University of Southern Maine.

TV ‘Business Magazine’ to air

AUGUSTA – Maine Light Productions announces a new spring/summer series of “Maine View Business Magazine,” the television forum for Maine business, with Mary Mayo-Wescott.

The public affairs program began production in 1988. The spring line-up begins with three interviews, featuring House Speaker Patrick Colwell, state Rep. Nancy Sullivan of Biddeford and businessman Peter Martin of Waterville.

The show airs on Thursday, March 25, at 8:30 p.m.

“Maine View Business Magazine” is broadcast on Adelphia 9.

Meeting features development panel

AUBURN – A panel of experts on trade and economic development issues will address attendees of the Auburn Business Development Corporation’s Annual Meeting this Thursday, March 25, at the Hilton Garden Inn Auburn Riverwatch.

Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Jack Cashman will discuss Gov. John Baldacci’s new Pine Tree Zone initiative, and how it will benefit the Lewiston-Auburn area. Ben Hayes, economic development specialist for the Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council, will provide an overview of how a pending Foreign Trade Zone designation for the Port of Auburn – if approved – would be a powerful marketing tool for business attraction. Also part of the panel, a U.S. Customs representative will address the implications of Auburn’s recent designation as a U.S. Customs Port of Entry.

The breakfast meeting, which will be held at 7:30 a.m., will also include a report of ABDC’s recent accomplishments and future projects. A slate of officers will also be elected/re-elected.

ABDC is a nonprofit economic development corporation serving the City of Auburn.

The cost of attending the breakfast is $12, and can be paid at the door. For more information on the breakfast, contact Stephanie Lewis at 784-0161.