Small Business Development Center Technical Assistance Program
This grant funds technical assistance for Maine micro-enterprises and start-ups, delivered through the Small Business Development Centers to promote local economic growth.
Funder: Maine Department of Economic and Community Development
Due Dates (Anticipated): June 2026 (application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: CDBG set-aside; typical award varies, determined by the Office of Community Development.
Summary: Supports technical assistance for Maine micro-enterprise businesses and start-ups via the Small Business Development Centers.
Key Information: Ineligible communities include Auburn, Bangor, Biddeford, Lewiston, Portland, and most of Cumberland County (except Brunswick and Frye Island).
Description
This program provides funding for the delivery of technical assistance to Maine micro-enterprise businesses and potential start-ups through a partnership with Maine’s Small Business Development Centers (SBDC). Administered as a set-aside within the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, the initiative is managed by the County of Aroostook as the lead community, which enters into a contract with the SBDC as approved by the Office of Community Development (OCD). The goal is to support the growth and sustainability of micro-enterprises and foster economic development in eligible Maine communities.
