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Services at CEI for Refugees and Immigrants PDF Print E-mail

CEI honors the talents and business experiences refugees and immigrants bring to Maine communities. We have created "StartSmart", a free business development program that assists refugees and immigrants start up or expand their businesses. StartSmart can help you:

  • Assess if a business idea is a good one.
  • Identify start-up costs for equipment, supplies and locations.
  • Get required permits and licenses specific to your business idea.
  • Help identify sources of financing.
  • Grow your business with marketing assistance.
  • Keep your business strong with ongoing support around operational issues such as bookkeeping, marketing, and other management needs.

The first step to opening or strengthening your business is to contact us for an appointment.

 

StartSmart
2 Portland Fish Pier, Suite 201, Portland, Maine 04101
Telephone: 207/775-1984; FAX: 207/772-5503
E-mail:

 

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.

A&R Halal Market
Roda Ahdi, owner A&R Halal Market, Lewiston, ME

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. DSC00417.gif
Learn more about CEI's Business Development Philosophy!

Click here to learn more about the philosophy behind our Business Development Services.

36 Water Street, PO Box 268, Wiscasset, ME 04578; Telephone: 207/882-7552; FAX: 207/882-7308; E-mail: cei@ceimaine.org