CEI uses its revolving loan funds to provide financing to new and existing refugee and immigrant business owners in Maine. CEI's loan department works closely with StartSmart, CEI's training and management assistance program for New Americans.
If you want to start or expand a business, our StartSmart counselors will work with you to gather the information necessary to develop a business plan and apply for a loan. StartSmart staff can help you with the following:
Develop a business plan
Assess your personal finances, including your financial history
Repair your credit history
Create an ‘informal' credit history when no formal credit history exists
Address necessary licenses and regulations.
For more information on this service or to get help financing your business please contact:
StartSmart 2 Portland Fish Pier, Suite 201, Portland 04101 Telephone: 207/775-1984; FAX: 207/772-5503
U.S. Finance Expert Encourages Banking Investment in Maine Communities At CEI's 32nd Annual Meeting, Ellen Seidman, Exec. VP of ShoreBank in Chicago, and Sr. Research Fellow with the New America Foundation in Washington, DC, urged Maine bankers and community activists to consider “greater community investment…meeting the actual needs of the community, not just counting dollars invested.” See full speech.
See annual meeting remarks by Ron Phillips, CEO, on triple bottom line investing and the next 5 years for CEI…
See the 12/14/09 article on CEI and the state of investing in communities. It’s where mission happens…
CEI Receives $125 Million in NMTC Through its subsidiary, CEI Capital Management LLC, CEI will use the allocation to attract private capital investments for primarily rural economic development projects. See press release here.
CEI Receives Investment Funds In partnership with Manufacturers Association of Maine, CEI will receive $765,000 over from the Federal Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Community Services (OCS), to finance several job-generating small-to-medium enterprises. This funding will create 78 full-time, year-round jobs. Read press release here.
Bangor Savings Bank and CEI offer low-interest loans to small and medium-sized enterprises in disadvantaged areas in Maine. Read more here.
Building Bridges of Understanding through Business Development
When Roda Abdi first came to Lewiston, she dreamed of a store that
would provide other African immigrants in her community with products
that linked them to their heritage and homelands. Through her selection
of food, clothing, and household goods, Roda wanted to make A&R
Halal Market a place where people could gather and learn about each
other's cultures.
As a new arrival in Maine, Roda had few places to turn to help
her accomplish her goal. Fortunately, in her search for resources and
support, Roda found StartSmart, a CEI business development program for
immigrants and refugees. Working with StartSmart staff, Roda received
the management assistance she needed to understand American business
practices and to work through the complexities of starting a business,
from financial planning and marketing to dealing with licenses and
regulations. StartSmart also connected Roda to CEI's Individual
Development Account Program (IDA), to help her save for the expansion
of her business.
IDAs provide a dollar for dollar match for people who want to save to buy a house, get a degree, or finance a business.
36 Water Street, PO Box 268, Wiscasset, ME 04578; Telephone: 207/882-7552; FAX: 207/882-7308; E-mail: cei@ceimaine.org
Finance Your Business 
