15 months ago
PORTLAND (NEWS CENTER) -- When Jill Dewitt lost her job two years ago she went to a mandatory unemployment workshop at the state's career center in Portland. She didn't want to go and didn't think she belonged there. But that workshop changed her life.
It's hard to resist Jill Dewitt's bubbly enthusiasm. And even harder to say no to the glorious desserts in her Good Eats Boutique. Chocolate brownie ganache tortes, coconut cupcakes, exquisitely decorated cakes. For most of her life, jill dreamed about opening her own pastry shop. She had the passion. But not the confidence. "I heard so many reasons not to start my own business." It wasn't until she lost her job two years ago and ended up at a workshop at one of the department of labor's career ceters that she found the support she needed. "The words that i heard that day changed my life." They were the words of career consultant Cindy Edwards. Jill realized that with help from Cindy she could do it. She could start her own business. Cindy Edwards says a program called Maine Enterprise Option helps a lot of people turn a lost job into a new opportunity. "It's an opportunity for maine residents to really go into business for themselves with the assistance of the state, making sure they have all the information, licensing, insurance, everything." Jill began making a profit after four months. Jill Dewitt says she builds her business by being part of the neighborhood and listening to her customers. Starting a business isn't for everybody. But Cindy Edwards says it's one of many options to be explored. "This is an opportunity when you're on unemployment to really take a minute and look at yourself and where you've been and where you'd like to go." Jill says if you have a dream and some support anything is possible. She also says the hot cross buns are especially good this week. The Good Eats Boutique is located on Stevens Avenue in Portland's North Deering neighborhood.
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