Main Menu
Home
About CEI
Philosophy and Programs
Finance Your Business
Business Advice and Training
Affordable Housing
Policy Research and Development
Subsidiaries
Workshop Calendar
Invest in CEI
Contact Us
Advanced Search

What is Development Finance? PDF Print E-mail

Development Finance refers to using capital in flexible and often unconventional ways to spur economic opportunity.

While Maine has a culture and history of ingenuity, a strong work ethic and entrepreneurship, the lack of flexible capital has prevented many businesses from starting up or expanding. Further, with one of the nation's oldest housing stocks, the state is challenged now by a lack of affordable housing for low-income and working families. It is within this context that CEI exists as an agent of change.

CEI serves as a financial intermediary in the management of public and private funds to make loans and equity investments in small enterprises and emerging industry sectors, social services and housing. Recognized as one of the nation's top community development corporations and community development financial institutions, CEI provides gap financing, typically in concert with banks, owner equity and other sources of capital. Overall, CEI has mobilized over $516 million for financing of 1,500 business ventures and housing projects, created or sustained over 16,130 jobs, and provided business counseling to over 17,600 aspiring and existing entrepreneurs.

CEI's funding comes from private and public sources, including the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Lilly Endowment, Kellogg Foundation, Surdna Foundation, Heron Foundation, Betterment Fund, and federal agencies, such as the Small Business Administration, United States Department of Agriculture, Department of Health and Human Services, and the United States Treasury's CDFI Fund. In addition, businesses, banks, religious institutions and individuals also contribute to CEI's support,. For more information and a complete list of funders, see our annual report.

 

CEI IN THE NEWS!

The results are in! Learn what the evaluation of the Farms for the Future disclosed ... 

Ron Phillips, President of CEI, speaks on public television’s “Conversations with Maine.” 

ImageMaine Legislature Passes Model Anti-Predatory Lending Bill.

Review LD 1869 here.

Predatory Mortgages in Maine Recent Trends and the Persistence of Abusive Lending Practices. A joint report issued by Coastal Enterprises, Inc. and the Center for Responsible Lending, 2006.

CEI receives SCED award for CED excellence. 

Announcing the publication, Telling Their Stories: Women Business Owners in Western Maine 

Read about NMTC's $120 million allocation to CEI.

CEI worked with a broad coalition to get the Office of Consumer Credit Regulations to study the impacts of payday lending.   

The Maine Working Waterfront Coalition works to help save commercial fishing access properties.

3E Investing at CEI
» Learn more here!

Why Invest in Natural Resources?

CEI has been investing in farms, forests and fisheries for nearly thirty years - it's part of our roots. In the fisheries industry alone, we have mobilized over $40 million for 160 enterprises.

We invest because we value the resources and because, as a society, we have a lot to lose if we don't. Entire communities, industries, family incomes, and even cultural diversity will wither without targeted investment and preservation. Skyrocketing land values are forcing farmers, fisherman and small woodlot owners to sell. Meanwhile, depleted resources, regulation and foreign competition can drive many out of business.

36 Water Street, PO Box 268, Wiscasset, ME 04578; Telephone: 207/882-7552; FAX: 207/882-7308; E-mail: cei@ceimaine.org