The Women’s Business Center at Coastal Enterprises Inc. has launched an entrepreneur-in-residence program designed to connect Maine’s female business owners who have a specific challenge or question with local entrepreneurs who have the knowledge needed to identify solutions.

The program was created to fill a need the Women’s Business Center identified among clients for industry and area- specific guidance, according to Brunswick-based CEI, which focuses on rural economic development. Such programs can function as sounding boards for ideas, shared personal experiences and lessons learned, and can help other business owners navigate the frustrations, challenges and questions that are specific to an industry or area of expertise, it said in a news release.

The connections are made to facilitate very focused one-time meetings, during which a business owner can articulate a specific need, challenge or question that an entrepreneur-in-residence may be able to assist with.

Roughly 20 entrepreneurs representing a variety of industries have volunteered to meet with two to four Women’s Business Center clients a year, CEI said. They include Susan Corbett, CEO of Machias-based Axiom Technologies, and Bill Zolper, owner of b.good in Portland and South Portland.

Business owners interested in joining the program can fill out a request form on CEI’s website, ceimaine.org.