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CEI's mission in these cities is to become part of the fabric of the community, partnering not only on conventional economic and community development, but also cultural, civic, educational and human capital development. When community and business leaders are gathered for an event or to respond to a challenge, we are at the table. CEI maintains a Lewiston office at 415 Lisbon Street, Suite 406. We are co-located and often partner with the Lewiston Auburn Economic Growth Council on lending, community enhancement and regional economic development. Sustainable Communities staff contribute to many community efforts including Empower Lewiston, based in a HUD-designated empowerment zone consisting of the two poorest census tracts in Maine.
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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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Faithworks/Outsource Works, Lewiston |
Located within one of Maine's poorest census tracts, Faithworks is a
nonprofit, job shop assembly operation performing contract work such
as stuffing sample bags. It provides piecework employment for
welfare-dependent people not employable at traditional work places. CEI
and Faithworks are long-time partners.
CEI has provided financing for this social venture, as well as grant
dollars to support employee education and training. In turn, Faithworks
is directly meeting CEI's mission, "To help create economically and
environmentally healthy communities in which all people, especially
those with low incomes, can reach their full potential." Many of
Faithworks' employees are TANF recipients or have disabilities or are
vocational rehabilitation clients. A good number of employees live
within the census tract in which Faithworks operates and walk to work.
During 2004, Faithworks provided more than 62,143 hours of employment
for workers who earned an average hourly wage of $11.89. |
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