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Affordable Housing Development |
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CEI focuses on creating affordable housing for Maine people. Successful projects include: - A low-income housing tax credit project for mental health clients in Portland, Belfast and Orono
- A housing tax credit project of 14 new single-family homes in Damariscotta
- The conversion of an 1880s elementary school in Lewiston into 27 units of housing for seniors with very low incomes. Several of the first residents of the new project attended school in the historic building when they were children.
- The conversion of a 35,000 square foot former furniture warehouse into a mixed use property consisting of commercial office space and eight unique apartments in Lewiston
Greening of BuildingsThrough CEI's Solar Energy Demonstration Program, CEI-sponsored AmeriCorps and VISTA crew members have installed solar panels on several Lease-Purchase homes.
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CEI IN THE NEWS! |
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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. |
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SHALOM HOUSE - Caring and Living within a Community |
Robert Lambert's journey toward recovery began with a walk around the
block. Like other residents of a Shalom House group home in Portland,
Robert was able to work on recovering from his psychiatric disorder
because he had housing and support.
During his walks, Robert gradually began to feel more
comfortable. Slowly he expanded his activities within the Shalom House
family and the larger community. Today, with the help of the Shalom
House Peer Support Program, Robert spends his time writing, swimming,
lifting weights, hiking, shopping, and dining in the area, as well as
attending county fairs, parties, and even high school reunions. Having
a safe, comfortable place to live was crucial to Robert's recovery.
In partnership with the Maine State Housing Authority and the
Genesis Fund, the Maine Community Reinvestment Corporation (MCRC), a
bank consortium managed by CEI, helped Shalom House, Inc. to finance
the renovation of a third group home in Portland, providing a stable
home and access to mental health services for seven people with mental
disabilities.
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Philosophy and Programs 
