On May 1, Coastal Enterprises (CEI) returns to Brick South, in Portland, to host an early evening program and showcase of over 60 businesses that have received advice or financing from us. These portfolio companies represent industries vital to Maine’s economy, including food and beverage, textile, renewable energy, technology, nature-based tourism, healthcare, childcare and more. We will provide a compelling presentation, refreshments, networking opportunities, and a shopping bag!
News
Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont are Poised to Spark Transformative Investments in a Clean Energy Future
New Report from The Nature Conservancy and Coastal Enterprises, Inc. Recommends Strategies to Make Renewable Energy More Available, Accessible and Affordable Across the Region
CourseStorm raises $1 Million+ of Early Stage Capital
CEI Ventures, Maine Venture Fund, and LearnLaunch fund online class registration platform
Dream Local Digital raises $725,000 of Early Stage Venture Capital
CEI Ventures, Maine Venture Fund, MTI and Bangor Angels lead Series A funding round for fast-growing digital media company
There’s No Place Like Home: CEI’s Housing Counseling Team Certified by HUD
January 28, 2019 — Brunswick, ME – Coastal Enterprises (CEI) announced today that its entire housing counseling staff is now individually certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
2018 Impact: Fueling Rural Prosperity, CEI Makes Investments, Innovates and Supports Creation of Good Jobs
Investments Create or Retain 2,026 Jobs
CEI comment on the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding the Community Reinvestment Act
Recently, the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) that laid out a series of questions about and some potentially sweeping changes to the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). The OCC is one of the three federal agencies that regulate financial institutions, including evaluating their CRA performance. CRA is a law, passed in 1977, that provides incentives to banks to provide loans and services to people and communities with low and moderate incomes. CRA has played a huge role in providing needed capital and services to low-income home buyers, small businesses, and CDFIs, which have a mission to serve these markets. CEI, along with many other CDFIs, advocates, financial institutions, and community members, responded to the ANPR with comments regarding the importance of maintaining a strong and flexible CRA, and with suggestions on some improvements, especially around how to better serve rural communities.
Our Opinion: Three Investments That Can Make Maine’s Economy Work for Everyone
By Betsy Biemann and Keith Bisson — published in the Opinion section of the Bangor Daily News, November 4, 2018
SBA Recognizes Women’s Business Centers at CEI for their Commitment to Entrepreneurs in Maine
2018 Marks the 30th Anniversary of H.R. 5050
From Nonprofit Quarterly: Growing Maine’s Rural Economy–Understanding the Coastal Enterprises Model
The following article appeared in Nonprofit Quarterly on October 16, 2018.