Stories

Crafts From The Bay

A Business Born from the Heart

Mis Primeros Pasos

Taking steps to help children develop a loving connection with the natural world and diverse cultures

Crown Fried Chicken & Kebab

Elbow Grease + Expertise = An Excellent Eatery

Rhona Beauty LLC

From New Career to New Business Owner

Tubelite Inc.

Creating Good Jobs in Mesquite, Texas

Carolina’s Specialty Shop

Bringing an immigrant's perspective to supporting locally-made goods.

OurShelves

Celebrating Diverse Individuals and Families in Children's Books

American Unagi

Netting the American Eel Industry for Greater Traceability and Transparency

Zero Energy North Avenue Affordable Housing Baltimore

An Investment Helps Catalyze a Community Renaissance

Wood & Sons

Scaling up good jobs with capital, coaching and collaboration over time

CEI’s Child Care Business Lab

Creating Community-Centered Child Care

The Galvan Foundation

Building Opportunity in Hudson

Aqua ViTea

Growing a National Brand with a Commitment to Good Jobs

Rise and Shine Youth Retreat

Connecting Black, Brown and Indigenous people with each other and the outdoors

LooHoo Wool Dryer Balls

Bringing Environmental Sustainability into Everyday Life

Frenchman Bay Oyster Company

A returning veteran turns to aquaculture

Rwanda Bean Coffee

A coffee company committed to community

Little Learners Homestead

Farming + Cooking = Learning in “daycare without walls”

Falafel Time

A Second Generation of Entrepreneurship on Forest Ave

Long Shot Revival Homestead

A Veteran Farmer with a Commitment to Community

Il Leone

Approachable Farm-to-Table Dining on Peaks Island

Mosher’s Seafood

Supplying Fresh Seafood in Franklin County

Just Add Water Floating Camps

A unique eco-immersion vacation

Whole Medicine

Opening a Medical Practice in the time of COVID

Wandering Goat

Expanding in a Pandemic

Saddleback Mountain Ski Resort

Restarting an Economic Engine in Rangeley

Pieceworks, Inc.

Helping Businesses Manufacture in Maine

Maine Grains

Rebuilding Maine’s heritage grain industry, one bag of flour at a time.

Atlantic Sea Farms

Diversifying and Decarbonizing Maine's Working Waterfront

Common Wealth Poultry

Growing Meaningful Employment and the Local Food Chain

C.W. Hunt Photography

Turning a Passion into a Career

Over the Moon

A Service-Oriented Approach to Retail

Rayitos de Sol

Connecting Children and Culture

Serenity Holistic Massage

Side Hustle to Full Time Career

Little Bird Child Care

Meeting the Need for Quality Child Care in Rural Maine

Watershed Floral

Building a Business around Balance

CEI 2020 Holiday Gift Guide

Looking for something special? Our clients have you covered for the holidays!

Mary Jane’s Slice of Heaven

Serving Community

Glidden Point Oysters

Long-term planning and patient capital

The Blueberries of Welch Farm

Adjusting to the New Normal

Experience Maine

Tourism Season in the time of COVID

Lāna‘i Community Health Center

Affordable Public Health Access on Remote Island

GSD Home Improvement

Starting a New Business in Unusual Times

G-Force Adventure Center

Building on a Solid Foundation

Windham Butcher Shop

Building a Business through Expertise and Community

Henry Benner

A Helping Hand Toward Financial Wellness

The Mustard Seed Bookstore

A Successful Business Transfer

Empanada Club & Mariama’s Beauty Supply

Showing Respect for Where They Came From

Science Dogs of New England

Fetching Conservation Data

Mousam Valley Mushrooms

From the Sidelines into the Workforce

Clamar Floats

Building a Workforce from Scratch

Guru Vintage + Modern

Environmental Sustainability Meets Vintage Clothing

OurShelves

Seeing Ourselves in Our Stories

Ameera Bread

Starting Smart and Growing Wisely

Maven Seats & Maven Leather

Combining Unique Passions into a Successful Business

Black Bear Support Services

Expanding Support Services with Qualified Staff

EMPANADA CLUB

Finding the Confidence and Expertise to Go Forward

Woods + Waters Gear Exchange

Q&A with Jenna Vanni

Eighteen Twenty Wines

Hearth and Harrow

Environmentally Sustainable Screen Printing

Bangor Pet Resort & Spa

From Employee to Owner

The Village Woodworker

Keeping a Business in the Family

Equinox Guiding Service, LLC

Climbing and Collaborating in Midcoast Maine

Harvest Tide Organics

Sustaining Local Roots

Wilcox Wellness and Fitness

CEI 2018 Holiday Gift Guide

Looking for something special? Our clients have you covered for the holidays!

Taste the World Event

Supporting the New Mainer Culinary Entrepreneur Program

Farmington in the Spotlight for Upcoming Small Business Saturday

A Thriving Rural Maine Downtown

Dandelion Catering Company

Humble Beginnings Pave the Way to Success

Morano’s Authentic Pizza

Never Too Late to Rekindle Your Dreams

Carmichael Transport Inc.

Sustaining Homeownership

Housing Counseling Services Help a Family Avoid Foreclosure

Stevens School, Hallowell

A State Historic Tax Credit Renovation Project

Maine Grain Tastemakers Tour

Growing a Thriving Grain Economy in Maine

Machias Bay Wreath

Charting a New Course: A Young Entrepreneur's Story

C. Love Cookie Project

Cookies with a Purpose

’cause Digital Marketing

Helping Pet and Cause-Based Businesses Succeed

Lavender

An Eco-Friendly Salon in the Heart of Portland

Your Maine Concierge

Maine's Local Hospitality Expert

Rudman Winchell Law Firm

Serving the business community of Bangor and beyond

Fork & Spoon

Vegan Restaurant in Downtown Bangor

Children’s Odyssey

Opportunity and Hope for Kids and Families in Need

The Captain’s Catch

Castine's Newest Take-Out

Lyme Mountaineer

Mahala’s Day Spa

Changing a Business Model to Benefit Employees

Niyat Catering

Authentic Ethiopian Cuisine in Maine

Quoddy Bay Lobster

Entrepreneurship in Eastport

Sweeties Dog-O-Rama

World-Class Dog Grooming Boutique in Small-Town Maine

Eastport Family Pharmacy

Serving Downeast Maine

The Ecology School

Moving Location, Maintaining Mission

Columbia Pulp I, LLC

Greater Portland Health

Making Healthcare Available to Everyone

Seedlings to Sunflowers

Childcare Center that Meets Community Needs

Tear Cap Workshops

Hands-On Learning in Rural Maine

Kendall Community Case Management Agency

Lofts at Saco Falls (Saco-Lowell Shops), Biddeford

State Historic Tax Credit Financing

Grand Trunk Railway Company Building (Gorham Savings Bank), Portland

State Historic Tax Credit Financing

46 Lisbon Street, Lewiston

State Historic Tax Credit Financing

The Francis Hotel, Portland

State Historic Tax Credit Financing

Schlotterbeck & Foss Building, Portland

State Historic Tax Credit Financing

Plummer School, Falmouth

State Historic Tax Credit Financing

Center for Maine Contemporary Art

Financing the Construction of a Creative Economy

Pemaquid Mussel Farms

Growing Maine's Mussel Industry

Mariama’s Beauty Supply

Topsham Meineke Car Care Center

Long Time Employee Takes on Ownership

Huse Memorial School Apartments

Reuse of School Building Provides Affordable Housing

Grime Studios

Relocation for Expansion

Central Lincoln County YMCA

Reaching Community Needs

Gelato Fiasco

Growing a Workforce, One Scoop at a Time

Dog Not Gone

Niche Markets Offer New Opportunities for Maine Stitchers

Berrie’s Hearing & Optical Center

American Roots

Manufacturing Career Pathways in Portland

The Local Gear

Building on a Legacy

Maine Grains

Local Manufacturing Boosts Downtown Revitalization

Tilson Technology Management

Based in Portland, Creating Jobs Throughout the U.S.

Maine Music & Health

Award-Winning Music Therapy Business with Big Dreams

Ocean Renewable Power Company

Powering-Up Remote Communities

Goranson Farm

Innovation & Efficiency: A Family-Owned Farm becomes Energy Independent

Winterstick Snowboards

Carving Out Jobs in Carrabassett Valley

Bumbleroot Organic Farm

Establishing Roots in Southern Maine

Fork Food Lab

"Connection" is the Key Ingredient

Dove Tail Bats, LLC

Big League Manufacturing in Maine

Hyperlite Mountain Gear

Revitalizing Community and Textile Manufacturing in Biddeford

Pika Energy

Clean Energy Manufacturing

From Foreclosure to Home Recovery

CEI Housing Counseling

SunRaise, LLC

District-Wide Solar Energy Production in New Hampshire

EterNav

Solutions for Navigating one of Life's Toughest Challenges

Natural Fitness

Over 10 Years of Specialized Wellness Training in Portland

Illuminated Me by Sharon Herrick

Local Handcrafted Jewelry with a Global Connection

Tiller & Rye

Local Food Hub Serving Rural Maine

Platte Valley Distillers LLC

Vintage Maine Kitchen

Potato Chip Start-up Capitalizes on Local Ingredients & Old-Fashioned Charm

Lāna’i Community Health Center

Affordable Public Health Access on Remote Island

Native Energy

Investing in Global Sustainability

Done Roving

Locally Sourced Artisan Yarn

ARWO Learning Center

Childcare for Young Mainers in Portland

Bo’Lait Farm

Millers’ Wharf Lobster LLC

Providing Commercial Fishing Access in Rural Maine

Viracon, Inc.

Ocean Approved, LLC

All Boats Rise with Innovative Approach to Kelp Farming

Premium Peanut, LLC

The Press Hotel

Workforce Solutions and Equity Investment

Mayo Mill

Revitalization and Renewal

Blue Ox Malthouse

Local Processing for Regional Impact

Farnsworth Art Museum

Capital Benefits for Maine's Future

Lāna’i Community Health Center

Farnsworth Real Estate, Inc.

Mano en Mano

Hand in Hand Apartments

Marfa, Texas

Revitalizing a Contemporary Art Mecca

Beansprouts

Creating Opportunity for Families

Interphase Energy

Fueling Maine's Economy with Renewables

Verbena

Local Ingredients at Reasonable Prices

Island Employee Cooperative

Collaborative Financing for Small Business Ownership

GWI

Putting Infrastructure into "Place"

Bixby & Co., LLC

Winning Ingredients for Rural Business Development

Tortillería Pachanga

Sourcing locally in Maine for a taste like Mexico

Misty Brook Farm

Environmentally friendly agriculture with real horsepower