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Photo / Courtesy Eastern Maine Development Corp.
Anik Derphilibossian, owner of Dreamer Food, specializes in authentic Armenian and Lebanese cuisine. He received a grant to help scale the business.
Since 2023, $1.4 million in economic recovery grants to 56 small businesses in eastern Maine have helped them reboot facility and operational upgrades that were stalled during the pandemic, and also provided wider economic benefit, according to a report from the Eastern Maine Development Corp.
The Bangor economic development nonprofit said the dollar total, as of July 1, reflects awards made by its Economic Recovery Implementation Hub program across the region since 2023.
“With federal funds going to the state, and then to EMDC, we identified worthy and eligible local businesses who needed a boost to soldier through the pandemic,” said Lee Umphrey, EMDC’s president and CEO,
This year’s recipients included Penobscot Bay Estate, a Winterport wedding and events venue, that faced significant disruptions during the pandemic, due to postponed events and stalled renovations. A grant helped the business finish the weatherization of its facility, reducing weather-related disruptions and drawing more visitors to the area. The project resulted in increased bookings and new business for local vendors in the hospitality and event sectors, according to a news release.
Past recipients included two childcare organizations, Mis Primeros Pasos (My First Steps) and The Clubhouse Childcare. They were similarly affected by pandemic-related closures and operational restrictions that limited enrollment and stretched staffing. Grant funding allowed both to update classroom equipment, improve safety measures and support staff retention, expanding their capacity to serve working families and strengthening the region’s childcare infrastructure.
Grants have ranged from $14,000 to $50,000.
In addition to the 56 grantees. In addition to financial support, about 175 businesses received technical assistance from EMDC and a network of partners, including Four Directions Development Corp., UpStart Maine, Maine MultiCultural Center, Northern Maine Development Commission and the Cooperative Development Institute.
The support included help with business plan development, marketing strategies, digital tools and entrepreneurial training through workshops, mentoring and one-on-one advising.
The program is made possible through a contract with the Department of Economic and Community Development and is designed for businesses established after Jan. 1, 2020. The program spanned Penobscot, Piscataquis, Waldo, Washington and Hancock counties, with a focus on underserved and rural communities.
To fully gauge the program’s impact, EMDC is conducting a grant efficiency study with data on how the money influenced business growth, job creation, infrastructure upgrades and operational stability, plus ripple effects within local economies, such as increased foot traffic and expanded access to services, as well as community-level benefits like childcare access, tourism development and entrepreneurial mentorship.
It’s expected the report will be available on EMDC’s website by July 31.
EMDC is a nonprofit in Bangor fostering public-private partnerships and leveraging resources to help communities, businesses and individuals reach long-term goals and achieve prosperity.
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Learn moreThe Giving Guide helps nonprofits have the opportunity to showcase and differentiate their organizations so that businesses better understand how they can contribute to a nonprofit’s mission and work.
Work for ME is a workforce development tool to help Maine’s employers target Maine’s emerging workforce. Work for ME highlights each industry, its impact on Maine’s economy, the jobs available to entry-level workers, the training and education needed to get a career started.
Whether you’re a developer, financer, architect, or industry enthusiast, Groundbreaking Maine is crafted to be your go-to source for valuable insights in Maine’s real estate and construction community.
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