Coastal Enterprises Inc. (CEI) — Small Business Loans and Equity
Coastal Enterprises Inc. (CEI)
$5,000–$5,000,000
CDFI capital for rural New England and natural resources SMBs
Coastal Enterprises Inc. (CEI) is a Maine-headquartered CDFI that provides loans of $5,000 to $5,000,000 and equity investments to small businesses and community enterprises primarily in rural New England and select national markets. CEI focuses on businesses that create quality jobs, support environmental stewardship, and build sustainable communities — particularly in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and nationally for fisheries, natural resources, and food system businesses. CEI has deployed over $1.6 billion in financing since 1977.
- Funding type
- Loan
- Level
- Private
- Amount range
- $5,000 – $5,000,000
- Realistic amount
- Most small business borrowers receive loans of $25,000–$500,000. Microloans under $50,000 are available for early-stage…
- Deadline
- Rolling — applications accepted year-round. No intake cycles for standard small business loans.
- Status
- active
- States
- ME, NH, VT, MA, CT, RI
- Payment model
- loan
Who qualifies
- Business must be located in or primarily serving New England (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island)
- National eligibility for commercial fishing, aquaculture, seafood processing, and natural resources businesses
- For-profit businesses, nonprofits, and cooperatives all eligible
- Business must demonstrate capacity to create or retain quality jobs in the local community
- Business should have a positive environmental or community development impact (core CEI mission criterion)
- No minimum credit score published; CEI uses mission-aligned underwriting — business viability and community impact are weighted alongside financial metrics
- Both startups and established businesses eligible, though larger loans require demonstrated revenue
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Equipment, vessels, and fishing gear
- Real estate and facility improvements
- Working capital for seasonal businesses
- Inventory and raw materials
- Acquisition of business or assets
- Technology and processing equipment
- Energy efficiency improvements
Ineligible expenses
- Personal expenses unrelated to the business
- Speculative real estate investments
- Refinancing of existing CEI debt (without significant new capital component)
How to apply
-
1
Contact a CEI loan officer for initial conversation
Call or email CEI's capital solutions team at ceimaine.org/contact. CEI is highly relationship-oriented — a 30-minute introductory call helps determine fit and loan type before formal application. Loan officers cover specific sectors (fisheries, food, microenterprise, community facilities) and can route you to the right product.
~1 hrs
-
2
Submit formal loan application and business plan
CEI provides a loan application form. Larger loans require a business plan or narrative describing the business, market, competitive position, management team, and how the loan will be used. Microloans require a simpler one-page business description. CEI loan officers provide coaching during this process.
~8 hrs
-
3
Provide financial documentation
3 years of business federal tax returns (or YTD financials for newer businesses), personal financial statement for owners with 20%+ ownership, current accounts receivable and payable aging reports, and existing loan/debt schedule. Fisheries businesses may also need to provide vessel and permit documentation.
~5 hrs
-
4
Loan committee review and approval
CEI's loan committee meets regularly to review applications. Turnaround time: microloans 2–4 weeks, standard loans 4–8 weeks, complex transactions 8–16 weeks. Loan officers present deals to committee and communicate decisions promptly.
~1 hrs
-
5
Close loan and access business support services
Closing requires standard business loan documentation. CEI also provides access to business advising, networks, and connections to its technical assistance partners — particularly valuable for fisheries and food system businesses.
~3 hrs
Industry & certifications
NAICS codes: 114111, 114112, 114119, 311, 445, 722
CEI is one of the only CDFI lenders in the country with deep expertise in commercial fishing and aquaculture finance — if you're in the New England seafood industry and banks have passed on you, CEI is likely the right lender. Lead with your vessel's economic productivity and permit values, not just revenue.
Deadline & timing
CEI accepts business loan applications on a rolling basis. Turnaround time varies by loan size: microloans ($5K–$50K) typically 2–4 weeks; mid-size loans ($50K–$500K) 4–8 weeks; larger complex transactions 8–16 weeks. CEI's team is based in Maine and is highly relationship-oriented — contact a loan officer early to discuss fit.
Programs that stack well
Related programs
Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.