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Small Business
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Rockland to close Main Street to traffic to spur shopping
Maureen Milliken May 12, 2020Main Street will be closed in some form between June 1 and June 30 to help support businesses in a city expected to lose thousands of tourist visits this year. Some hope the closure will be a model other municipalities can learn from.
Maureen Milliken May 12, 2020
Maine banks handling smaller loans in 2nd bailout round, as policy debate rages
Renee Cordes May 8, 2020Maine banks say loans are smaller and more manageable in the second round of the SBA's Paycheck Protection Program — and there's money still available. But some officials express long-term concerns with the program.
Renee Cordes May 8, 2020Portland council approves business assistance programs
Staff Updated: May 6, 2020The city is launching three business loan and grant programs for Portland small businesses and microenterprises that have been hurt by the coronavirus crisis. The programs are expected to begin accepting applications in two weeks.
Staff Updated: May 6, 2020
Maine chambers gather business input on safely reopening state's economy
Maureen Milliken May 5, 2020A 20-question survey compiled by the Maine Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives is being sent to chamber members and other businesses and organizations across the state, and aims to provide input into the state's reopening plan.
Maureen Milliken May 5, 2020
$317M awarded to small Maine businesses in 2nd bailout round
Renee Cordes May 4, 2020The Paycheck Protection Program, which provides forgivable loans to small businesses hurt by the ongoing crisis, was quickly depleted in its first round of funding. But the second round assisted over 9,000 Maine businesses in its first week.
Renee Cordes May 4, 2020
Creative Portland raises $75K for local artists hit by crisis
Renee Cordes Updated: May 4, 2020After exceeding its fundraising goal for the Portland Artist Relief Fund by 25%, Creative Portland plans to send out the first checks later this week.
Renee Cordes Updated: May 4, 2020
Poland Spring, trade group launch $100K relief fund for small tourism businesses
Staff May 1, 2020Coordinated by the Maine Tourism Association, the new fund will award mini-grants to small businesses and employees affected by the pandemic.
Staff May 1, 2020
Mills unveils plan to reopen Maine economy in stages, but not 'flipping a switch'
Renee Cordes Updated: April 29, 2020The governor on Monday announced a four-staged strategy to allow many types of business to resume operations. The phase-in targets the next three months, with the timing of a final stage still to be determined.
Renee Cordes Updated: April 29, 2020
Maine family biz nonprofit takes care of its own during crisis
Renee Cordes Updated: April 28, 2020The Portland-based Institute for Family-Owned Business has waived membership fees for the rest of the year, as the executive director expresses concern about the fate of restaurants, retailers and other sectors during the crisis.
Renee Cordes Updated: April 28, 2020
Emergency grants created for Maine farmers, food producers affected by COVID-19
Staff April 23, 2020Maine Farmland Trust and the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association have partnered on an emergency grant program for farmers and food producers, who can get up to $2,000 for support and adapting their business model.
Staff April 23, 2020
SBA names owners of Hiram-based GrandyOats small-biz persons of the year
Staff Updated: April 22, 2020The owners of GrandyOats in Hiram were named the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2020 Small Business Persons of the Year for Maine. The selection was one of 10 honors given to Maine businesspeople by the SBA.
Staff Updated: April 22, 2020
Maine small-biz funding roundup: more loans, fintech and options for self-employed
Renee Cordes Updated: April 22, 2020A second round of emergency federal funding may soon bring relief to Maine businesses, and lenders are preparing for another wave of loan applications. There are other options available as well.
Renee Cordes Updated: April 22, 2020
As businesses try to stay afloat, Portland loosens rules, Bangor and L-A add resources
Maureen Milliken April 21, 2020Portland is allowing nonessential businesses to ship items ordered by phone or online, and offer non-contact delivery and curbside pickup, after a clarification of city rules last week caused an uproar from small businesses.
Maureen Milliken April 21, 2020
During COVID-19, some Maine lawyers are writing more wills
Renee Cordes Updated: April 17, 2020As the coronavirus crisis spurs people to arrange their estates and to make other end-of-life preparations, Maine lawyers are seeing an increase in business.
Renee Cordes Updated: April 17, 2020
Augusta, Gardiner downtown associations partner on emergency business grants
Maureen Milliken April 14, 2020Grants of up to $3,000 will be awarded weekly through April to small businesses affected by the COVID-19 crisis in the downtowns of the two Kennebec River cities.
Maureen Milliken April 14, 2020
Economic damage to small businesses continues to skyrocket, NFIB says
Maureen Milliken April 6, 2020A National Federation of Independent Business survey found that 92% of small-business owners are being negatively affected by COVID-19, as opposed to 76% when surveyed two weeks ago.
Maureen Milliken April 6, 2020
Today's Poll
Sponsored by Kennebunk Savings Bank
Maine's cruise ship season is in full swing, running from late September through early November. Thousands of passengers are expected to visit Portland, Bar Harbor, Eastport or Rockland.
This week alone, Portland is set to welcome around 16,000 cruise ship passengers.
But as the season ramps up, it's bringing mixed reviews. Some locals brace for the crowds and many business owners say cruise ship visitors don't spend much while in the port. Other business owners argue that, even if cruise ships don't benefit their own coffers, they still benefit the overall economy.
When we asked this question in 2023, Mainebiz respondents, 21% said the visits bring customers and revenue, while only 18% said the visits don't help their business.
More than half of the respondents, 53%, said cruise ships benefit the overall economy.
The Giving Guide
The 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.
Learn More
Work for ME
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.
Learn More
Groundbreaking Maine
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.
Learn more-
The Giving Guide
The 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
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.
-
Groundbreaking Maine
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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