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Refugee and Immigrant Loans PDF Print E-mail


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

 

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!

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