Microenterprise Development for Refugees and Immigrants at CEI
StartSmart is a free business development program at CEI that provides refugees, immigrants and naturalized citizens with literacy sensitive, one-on-one business coaching, business classes and access to capital if they are interested in exploring, starting or expanding a small business throughout Maine.
Self-employment is often the best way for refugees and immigrants to use their skills and experience to generate income. Finding full-time jobs with sustainable wages in Maine has proven difficult due to language barriers, cultural issues, lack of transportation, and difficulty transferring education and skills from their native countries to the United States. Starting a business also has its difficulties, including the lack of financial resources and formal credit history, unfamiliarity with the American economy and, in some cases, prejudice and discrimination. We created StartSmart to help clients overcome these barriers. Recognizing the challenges and frustrations of navigating the American business environment, we provide literacy-sensitive assistance with:
Writing business plans and understanding the American business system through ESL business classes or one-on-one business coaching.
Acquiring permits and licenses, identifying locations, and/or developing bookkeeping systems for tracking income and expenses.
Developing marketing plans.
Expanding marketing opportunities by creating joint advertising opportunities with other StartSmart businesses.
Accessing loan resources for start-up and expanding businesses.
Working with complementary businesses to share business costs, ideas, and support through ongoing networking with other refugee and immigrant businesses.
We have helped numerous entrepreneurs begin or improve their businesses, including: caterers, restaurants, hair salons, specialty grocery stores, home improvement enterprises, and gas stations. Our Business Directory contains a complete listing of businesses assisted by the StartSmart program. Please help us encourage the skills, talents and enthusiasm of these new American entrepreneurs by supporting their businesses as they grow, strengthen and enhance our community.
Click here for our brochure, including directions and a map.
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.
Osman Hersi, Maine State Interpreters - Bridging Many Worlds
Osman Hersi has an impressive resume. An orthopedic surgeon who
practiced for 24 years, he was educated in Austria and Russia and
speaks Arabic, English, Russian and Somali. As a newly arrived refugee
from Somalia, he had few choices, and his first job in the US was in a
laundromat. Now five years later, Osman is a Certified Medical
Interpreter and the founder and co-owner of Maine State Interpreters
(MSI), an interpreting service that specializes in medical
interpretation. MSI interprets in hospitals, private doctors' offices,
courts, and other places where new Americans need help navigating the
system. As a physician, Osman understands the language of medicine, and
has credibility with the medical community. As a refugee, he empathizes
with his clients and is a vital bridge between patients and caregivers.
When Osman decided to start Maine State Interpreters, he
turned to StartSmart, CEI's business assistance program for refugees
and immigrants. With help from his business counselor, Osman
concentrated on bookkeeping, designing forms, negotiating leases and
developing contracts with hospitals. With a strong foundation in place,
Osman plans to grow MSI by adding more languages, including Spanish and
Vietnamese. Osman and StartSmart are also partnering with Catholic
Charities Maine, the State of Maine and the United Way of Greater
Portland to develop standards and eventually licensure for all spoken
language interpreters within the state. This will help to ensure
quality interpreting and benefit both companies and the individuals who
are trained and licensed.
36 Water Street, PO Box 268, Wiscasset, ME 04578; Telephone: 207/882-7552; FAX: 207/882-7308; E-mail: cei@ceimaine.org
Philosophy and Programs 
StartSmart is a free business development program at 
We have helped numerous entrepreneurs begin or improve their businesses, including: caterers, restaurants, hair salons, specialty grocery stores, home improvement enterprises, and gas stations. Our 
Maine Legislature Passes Model Anti-Predatory Lending Bill.