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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!

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.

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