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Loans
CEI provides business loans to farmers. These are generally
loans to cover equipment purchases, working capital, or other direct business
needs. As a general rule, CEI has does not provide loans to purchase farmland.
CEI can provide loan funds from various pools of capital.
But one such pool came to CEI as a bequest, and is targeted specifically at
organic farmers or farmers transitioning to organic production. The Kennedy
Organic Loan Fund provides loans at more affordable rates, often at prime rate
or below. Generally speaking, loan amounts are limited to $15,000.
CEI is a "gap financer," which means that it provides
funding where some or all of what's needed cannot be easily obtained from other
sources (such as banks, Farm Credit, etc.). CEI often partners with other
funders to take a portion of a loan.
There is no specified upper limit for business loans that
CEI makes to farmers, though most loans are below $100,000. With the exception
of the Kennedy Organic Loan Fund, CEI's rates are generally higher than
commercial rates at banks, because CEI is taking on more risk.
 CEI can direct farmers to services that can help develop a
business plan, which is required if a farmer applies for a loan. In addition,
CEI administers Maine's Farms for
the Future program, which provides farmers with team-based services that lead
to the creation of an investment grade business plan.
Grants
CEI does not provide grants to farmers. However, the Farms
for the Future program, which CEI administers on behalf of the Maine Department
of Agriculture, does provide farmers
with "Phase 2 grants" of up to $25,000 to help them implement new business
plans that were completed under Phase 1 of the program.
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Finance Your Business 
