SBA highlights turnaround at Lost Valley Ski Area
Courtesy / Travis Dow
Amy Bassett, the U.S. Small Business Administration's district director for Maine is joined by Wendell Davis, SBA regional director; Lost Valley owners April and Scott Shanaman; Jane Mickeriz of the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments; Ben Tucker of U.S. Sen. Angus King's office; Amy Landry, exectuive director of AVCOG; Erin Doughty of U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin's office; and Ryan Angelo of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins office.
Wendell Davis, New England regional administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration, and Amy Bassett, SBA District Director for Maine, visited the Lost Valley Ski Area in Auburn on Wednesday to highlight its turnaround over the past three years under its current ownership.
They presented owners Scott and April Shanaman with a commemorative sign and used the occasion to showcase SBA resources that are available to help small businesses start and grow.
When the Shanamans purchased the ski area in late 2015 it was on the verge of closure, they said in a news release. Since then, they’ve made various improvements to its lodge and lifts and have seen a resurgence in race programs, lift tickets and season pass sales its ski lesson programs.
Under the Shanaman family’s ownership, the SBA Maine office reported that Lost Valley has added three new trails, two new ground lifts and the Maine Family Snow Tube Park.
“When we took over Lost Valley in 2015 our opening season was the worst ski weather season in over 30 years,” the Shanamans said in SBA’s news release. “We somehow managed to survive that first season and were able to secure guidance from Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments, which was instrumental in our development. With help from Mechanics Savings Bank, AVCOG and Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council, we were able to secure financing to purchase and make much-needed improvements. In this, now our third season, we are on an upward trend and continuously hear from folks how they pleased they are with the changes at Lost Valley and that we have been able to resurrect it.”
Davis said local SBA offices assisted the Shanamans’ efforts to improve the ski area.
“The SBA applauds you for your continued efforts and commitment to Lost Valley and the communities you serve,” he said.
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