Because CEI recognizes the importance of bringing businesses and people together to create change, we offer several networking opportunities for the businesses with whom we work.
General Business-to-Business Networking
Using goods and services from Maine helps to boost the economy and fosters business growth statewide. Working as an intermediary, we can help connect you with other companies that have received either financing or general assistance from CEI and who can deliver the product that you need quickly and at a lower cost than an out-of-state alternative. If you are interested in learning about and networking with the Maine and New England businesses we support, please e-mail .
Women's Business Networking
The Women's Business Center at CEI offers networking opportunities for women who either own or are starting their own businesses. These are great opportunities to meet other women business owners and to share experiences and resources.
Currently, general networking meetings are held in the Portland and Farmington areas. We also host networking meetings in Freeport for Bed and Breakfast Owners. If you are interested in getting more information about the next networking meetings, please e-mail .
WBC staff will also work with you to organize networking groups or meetings in your community. Staff have experience with a range of program models. If you are interested, please contact .
The Maine Women Business Owners Online Directory will connect you with women business owners across the state and help you:
Find new vendors: purchasing goods and services from women-owned businesses in Maine helps support our local small business economy
Find new customers: working with other businesses in the directory may open up new market opportunities
Establish business networks: searching the directory by town will enable you to identify women business owners in your community
Learn about educational and networking events that are available to women-owned businesses throughout the state of Maine
Learn about business resources available to small business owners in Maine
Northern New England Products Trade Show
CEI and the Maine SBDC along with other organizations have partnered to bring our clients the Northern New England Products Trade Show an annual juried event featuring the finest giftware and specialty food products manufactured in Northern New England. This nationally recognized trade show provides Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont small manufacturers the opportunity to reach larger markets, increase sales and gain valuable trade show experience. Held in Portland, Maine, with over 3,000 wholesale buyers shopping at the show each year, the Northern New England Products Trade Show facilitates in excess of $3 million of sales each year.
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.
Testimonials
My business is in its 5th year, in part due to the programs at CEI. The
contacts and resulting relationships made at the Women's Networking
Business Meetings have had a significant impact on the growth of Maine
Warmers over the past three years.
Thank you,
Betsy Hanscom
I love networking with the women at the meetings. You never know who
you will meet in extending your network. The women are so talented,
interesting and I love hearing their stories. The support from all is
uplifting. What a wonderful connection!!! Thank you all for your hard
work. It is not only the support from this group but the friendships
that we develop to enrich our lives.
Thanks to all.
Sincerely,
Connie deBrun
Maine Women Business Owners Online Directory
Visit the Maine Women's Business Owners Online Directory to meet other women business owners in the State of Maine and to promote your products and services on the Internet. http://www.wbcmaine.org/
Learn more about CEI's Business Development Philosophy!
Business Advice and Training 
Because CEI recognizes the importance of bringing businesses and people together to create change, we offer several networking opportunities for the businesses with whom we work. 