PORTLAND — For the second year in a row, U.S. Cellular is hosting casting calls for the hit ABC show “Shark Tank”, providing small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs from Maine and across the country an opportunity to achieve their business aspirations in the upcoming seventh season of the Emmy Award-winning show. The casting call in Portland will take place on Wednesday, July 29 at The Italian Heritage Center, 40 Westland Avenue in Portland.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with ‘Shark Tank’ for our second casting call tour and give our customers and people from across the country the chance to get their businesses off of the ground,” said Matt Kasper, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in New England. “We know that people’s jobs can take them from coast to coast, so our national coverage keeps them connected wherever they are. We look forward to bringing the casting call to Portland later this summer.”

The first 500 entrepreneurs who show up at the open casting call are guaranteed to be seen and will pitch the “Shark Tank” casting team with their breakthrough concepts, products, properties or services. For further casting call information and to fill out an application, please visit www.SharkTankOpenCall.com.

In addition to the casting call in Portland, this year’s events also took place in the following U.S. Cellular markets: Oklahoma City on April 27 Knoxville, Tenn., on April 30

“We are always excited to visit areas that we haven’t been before in our quest to find the best entrepreneurs with the best ideas, so we look forward to traveling to Portland, one of three new U.S. Cellular cities this year,” said Clay Newbill, “Shark Tank” Executive Producer.

U.S. Cellular is bringing unique amenities to the Portland casting call, including a lounge area where entrepreneurs can relax and go over their pitches, free Wi-Fi, charging stations for their wireless devices and designated “Rehearsal Rooms” where attendees can practice their presentations in front of mirrors.

Last year was the first year that U.S. Cellular brought “Shark Tank” casting calls to three cities it had never been before: Des Moines, Iowa, Greenville, N.C., and Milwaukee. Across the three markets, nearly 700 pitches were made. It was the first time ABC’s “Shark Tank” had partnered with a company to bring casting calls directly to consumers in their targeted markets.