Making a big impact one small business at a time.
Each day, we strive to create positive impacts that move us closer to our vision of a just, vibrant and climate resilient future for people and communities in Maine and rural regions.
Since CEI’s founding in 1977, the CEI family of organizations has invested $1.53 billion in 3,222 businesses and projects that are changing Maine’s employment landscape and creating positive economic ripple effects in rural regions throughout the U.S.
The following impacts below are from our most recent fiscal year (Oct 1- Sept 30) and are limited to the CEI parent organization only, for our broader impact, see our most recent impact report:
IMPACT FISCAL YEAR 2022
Lending & Investment
to 99 small businesses and projects
to women
to immigrants and/or entrepreneurs of color
to businesses that have environmentally sustainable products or services as their core business activity
to businesses with carbon-reducing features, such as increased energy efficiency or pollution/waste reduction
Business Advising
3,132 people
accessed one-on-one business advice or training
Financial Wellness Coaching
1,069 people
participated in homeownership counseling and financial education that helped them purchase homes, avoid foreclosures or build their savings
Policy Advocacy & Systems Change
30 Bills
testified on before the 130th Maine State Legislature
Impact Reports
CEI IMPACT REPORT 2022
Building a More Equitable Economy
CEI DEPLOYED $26+ MILLION TO 99 BUSINESSES AND PROJECTS mostly in Maine, in the form of loans, microloans, equity and tax credit financing. This lending and investment helped create and preserve 875 JOBS across industries that spanned sustainable agriculture and food systems, aquaculture and fisheries, renewable energy, manufacturing, community revitalization, technology solutions and health and child care.