USDA Rural Development Provides $295,520 for Training and Technical Assistance to Help Maine Businesses

USDA Rural Development is investing $295,520 in Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program funds in economic development organizations across Maine to provide training and technical assistance to rural small businesses. The funding is anticipated to assist 240 small Maine businesses.

USDA Rural Development State Director Timothy P. Hobbs said, “Through programs like this that directly impact rural small businesses, the Trump Administration is ensuring a prosperous economic future for rural Maine communities. This funding enables the economic development organizations to provide assistance that can be critical to the success of Maine businesses and the jobs they support.”

In Maine, seven economic development organizations will receive a total of $295,520 in funding through the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program to provide technical assistance and training to rural small businesses:

• Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments will receive a total of $47,294 to provide business-based training and technical assistance to rural microborrowers and potential microborrowers throughout Androscoggin, Franklin, and Oxford Counties.
• Coastal Enterprises, Inc. will receive $19,204 to provide business-based training and technical assistance to rural microborrowers and potential microborrowers throughout the state of Maine.
• Eastern Maine Development Corporation will receive $53,969 to provide business-based training and technical assistance to rural microborrowers and potential microborrower throughout Hancock, Penobscot, and Piscataquis Counties as well as portions of Waldo County.
• Northern Maine Development Commission will receive $89,246 to provide business-based training and technical assistance to rural microborrowers and potential microborrowers throughout Aroostook and Washington Counties.
• Community Concepts Finance Corporation will receive $46,812 to provide business-based training and technical assistance to rural microborrowers and potential microborrowers throughout the state of Maine.
• Midcoast Council of Governments will receive $20,117 to provide business based training and technical assistance to rural microborrowers and potential microborrowers throughout Lincoln, Knox, and Sagadahoc Counties as well as Brunswick and Harpswell in Cumberland County and Searsmont, Belmont, Northport, and Lincolnville in Waldo County.
• Sunrise County Economic Council will receive $18,878 to provide business based training and technical assistance to rural microborrowers and potential microborrowers throughout Washington County.

Rural businesses that want to learn more about assistance provided by the organizations should contact them directly for more information on how they may be able to help.

USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/me.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

USDA Rural Development