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Government-funded Loans and Grants

Loans

SBA Loan Programs (Small Business Administration)
Includes General Small Business Loans: 7(a), Microloan Program, Real Estate & Equipment Loans: CDC/504 , Disaster Loans.
CEI Targeted Loan Programs (Coastal Enterprises, Inc.)
Offers information about loans for:
- Energy & Environment
- Agriculture
- Healthy Food Finance Initiative
- Waterfront & Fisheries
- Refugee & Immigrant Businesses
- Child care
FAME Business Loans and Agriculture Loans (Finance Authority of Maine)

These loans are directly administered by Finance Authority of Maine, often in conjunction with partner agencies, such as the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry; the Maine Rural Development Authority; and the Kim Wallace Adaptive Equipment Loan Program board. FAME can help navigate alternative financing options or supplement your existing financing.

MTI Development Loan (Maine Technology Institute)

" The new MTI Investment Process is more fluid than it was before. Clients may apply for funds at any time and we no longer have fixed programs with specific deadlines. Our goal is to provide more tailored support, more customer-centric service, and to maximize MTI’s impact in Maine. MTI offers grants, loans, equity investments, and services to businesses, organizations, and individuals that work within one or more of the seven targeted technology sectors or in building support systems for innovation in Maine" An initial intake form can be found on their website.

Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) & Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (Maine Department of Economic and Community Development)

CDBG Program assists units of local government in various community projects in areas ranging from infrastructure, housing, downtown revitalization to public facilities and economic development. The Economic Development Program provides gap funding in the form of grants and loans for communities to assist businesses in the creation/retention of jobs. Apply through local economic development councils/commissions.

Business Micro Loans and Maine Farms for the Future Program

Small Business Loans up to $200,000, available for new business start-up or to expand an existing small business. They also provide business classes and business advising.

Maine Business Lending Center Loans

Provide loans to existing Maine businesses and Start-up ventures from $5,000 to $500,000. Qualified uses of funds include: inventory & equipment, working capital, real estate acquisition, leasehold improvements, lines of credit and business acquisitions.

Regional Economic Development Revolving Loan Programs

Eastern Maine (Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis Counties as well as portions of Waldo County)

Eastern Maine Development Corporation
- Direct Loans , SBA Community Advantage 7a Loans, SBA 504 Loans
- Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
City of Bangor
- Regional Economic Development Revolving Loan Program (Bangor Airport Civic Development Corporation)
Town of Bucksport
- Micro Loan Program

Androscoggin, Franklin, Oxford Counties

Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments (AVCOG)
- Micro Loan Program and Business Loan Program
- Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG)
Town of Lisbon
- Municipal Revolving Loan (Gap Financing)
City of Auburn
- Small Business Loan

Biddeford-Saco Area, York, Cumberland Counties

Kennebec, Somerset, Western Waldo County

Business Financing Assistance (Kennebec Valley Council of Governments)
Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG)
Brownfields Loan Program

Aroostook County

Northern Maine Development Commission
- Loan Services

Washington County

Grants

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs coordinated by SBA.
For small business applying SBIR or STTR program, more assistance and acceleration programs are available from Maine Technology Institute (MTI):
- MTI Technical Assistance Program - Support from an experienced team of consultants providing start to finish guidance and advice to assist in the preparation of Federal R&D funding proposals including the SBIR/STTR Program.
- Maine Accelerates Growth Program – "MxG will provide financial support for projects, events and programs that
  focus on the growth of entrepreneurial and innovative companies,
  communities and talent (people). Initially funding will be awarded in two
  areas: 1. Programs and events that support increasing Maine companies’ access
  to talent, capital and/or markets; and/or 2. Programs and events that build the community of entrepreneurs and
  culture of innovation in Maine. MxG awards can range from $500 to $50,000" See website for application.
Grant/Match Programs (Portland)
Libra Future Fund
Youth grant program grants up to $5,000 to individuals, to promote economic development or create job opportunities in Maine.
Gorham Savings Bank – LaunchPad
Award up to $50,000 to help fund the growth of a Maine business.
Greenlight Maine
A television series that promotes entrepreneurs to win the top prize of $100,000 in cash.
Slow Money Maine - Business Assistance for Good Food Entrepreneurs
Up to $10,000 toward the cost of business assistance and cover as much as 80 percent of total project cost, making needed services affordable for participating entrepreneurs.
State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Grant (SBA via Maine International Trade Center)
The STEP Financial Assistance Award provides eligible Maine companies with reimbursements up to $8,500 per year toward specified costs associated with business matchmaking services, trade show participation, and export skills and compliance training.
Make it in America Grant (Department of Labor via Coastal Counties Workforce)
Targeted industries include aerospace/aviation, composites/advanced materials, renewable energy and biotechnology manufacturing. Funding should be used to reduce H-1B dependency in the targeted sectors; Eligible businesses are those located in Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Androscoggin, Kennebec and Lincoln counties.
Innovate for Maine Fellows Program (intern subsidy) (University of Maine's Foster Center for Student Innovation)
The program connects interns with Maine companies. Subsidies are awarded based on how well the goals of the company align with the goals of the program. The percentage of the intern fee that the company pays is based on its number of employees.
Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Grant (USDA)
Provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems, or to make energy efficiency improvements.
Repowering Assistance Program (USDA)
Provides funding for up to 50% of the total eligible project costs for biorefineries to install renewable biomass systems for heating and power at their facilities, or to produce new energy from renewable biomass.
Maine Farms for the Future Program
Grants provide selected farms with business planning assistance and investment support.
Maine Quality Centers
Provide grants to help cover costs of customized training.
Put ME to Work
Program offers $500,000 in new grant funding to create & enhance training programs across Maine. It covers 50% of the costs to create new training programs or enhance existing ones at Maine’s community colleges.