The Center for Entrepreneurial Studies (CES), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Farmington, Maine, empowers youth to develop skills, remove barriers, and cultivate business ideas through hands-on training and mentorship. Founded in 2018 by Bonita Tompkins and her Entrepreneurial Program students, CES serves youth ages 10-24—particularly those facing poverty, housing insecurity, and workforce barriers—by providing paid work experiences, business education, and small business incubation.Situated in Western Maine, a region rooted in agriculture, wellness, and sustainability, CES fosters entrepreneurship in farming, culinary arts, and health-focused industries. CES collaborates with local schools, employers, and industry partners to provide real-world opportunities.  Through hands-on experiences, students learn to grow, harvest, and market fresh produce, develop farm-to-table culinary skills, and explore careers in nutrition and community health.CES operates from a 3,000-square-foot makerspace and retail incubator in downtown Farmington and is expanding to a six-acre Whittier Road campus. This future hub will feature a commercial test kitchen for healthy food preparation, a garden center with greenhouses, retail operations, and on-site housing to support youth workforce development. CES is building sustainable career pathways in agriculture, culinary arts, and health and wellness, strengthening Maine’s local food system and improving community well-being.