September 30, 2019 – Brunswick, Maine – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Community and Economic Development (CED) program today awarded $400,000 to CEI for the first year of a five-year initiative to expand access to child care in rural Maine’s economically distressed “Rim Counties,” where there are a limited number of child care providers. The discretionary award, which includes funds that CEI will deploy as loans, will support the startup and operation of new child care enterprises. In the first year of the initiative, CEI’s goal is to help launch up to five quality child care businesses prioritizing 40% of the newly created child care spots for families with low incomes.
Category: Press Release
CEI Adds Three to Team to Amplify Its Community Impact
Culture Fresh Foods Closes on $11 Million of Early Stage Venture Capital
CEI Ventures participates in financing to restart former Danone factory as a new plant-based dairy
Maine Poised for Big Boost in Clean Energy
Broad Coalition of Businesses, Towns, and Advocates Praise Progress Augusta, ME – Bipartisan majorities in the Maine Senate and House have given final approval to a historic solar energy bill that would give residents, businesses, and towns more opportunities to invest in affordable solar power. LD 1711, sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Dana Dow (R-Lincoln), is awaiting the signature of Governor Janet Mills, who has signaled she intends to sign it into law after campaigning on the need for more solar power in Maine.
Bipartisan Bill Would Accelerate Investment in Solar Energy Across Maine
Augusta, Maine – For the last five years Maine has ranked last in New England for solar energy generation and number of solar jobs per capita. A new bipartisan bill that received a public hearing today aims to reverse that trend by accelerating the development of more than 400 megawatts of solar power to serve residents, businesses, and towns across the state.
Our Katahdin Partners with CEI to Launch Baxter Business Works
10 Business Owners Make up Entrepreneurship Class in Katahdin Region
Windham Organic Farmer Joins National Fly-In to Protect Farm Program Funding
Melissa Law of Bumbleroot Organic Farm asks congressional appropriators to support conservation, local/regional food, and beginning farmer programs that help producers thrive
Earning Top Honors: SBA Awards Four CEI Clients as Entrepreneurial Leaders
Of the eleven winners of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2019 Maine Small Business Awards, four worked with CEI to plan and finance their growing enterprises. They are Ahmed Abbas of Ameera Bread in Portland, Rebecca and Troy Delano of Alfred’s Upholstery & Co. in Alfred, Kathleen O’Heron of Jynx Productions in Yarmouth and Amber Elliott of Alternative Wellness Services in Biddeford.
CEI Names Ruth Feldman to Women’s Business Center Post for Rural Maine
Machias, Maine- Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) has named Ruth Feldman as Program Director of the Women’s Business Center at CEI with a focus on rural Maine. She joins a team providing advice to women entrepreneurs across the state since 1995, when the Women’s Business Center at CEI was founded.
CEI Joins Diversity of Mainers in Support of Climate Action Bill
Augusta, ME – From shellfish growers and farmers to doctors and home-grown clean energy businesses, a wide range of Mainers testified today in support of a bipartisan bill to spark action on climate change.