Maine Micro-Enterprise Assistance Grant (MEA)
Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), Office of Community Development
Up to $10,000 per business
Up to $10,000 grant for Maine micro-enterprises with five or fewer employees and a low/moderate-income owner.
The Maine Micro-Enterprise Assistance (MEA) Grant provides grant funds to micro-enterprise businesses in eligible Maine communities for working capital, interior renovations, exterior improvements, signage, and planning. The 2026 CDBG Program Statement caps assistance at $10,000 per individual business. To qualify, a business must have five or fewer employees, one of whom owns the enterprise, and the owner must meet low/moderate-income guidelines. Applications are submitted through local Small Business Development Center advisors.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- State
- Amount range
- $10,000
- Realistic amount
- $5,000–$10,000 per micro-enterprise
- Deadline
- Letters of Intent for Economic Development/Micro-Enterprise due the first Friday of each month starting July 3, 2026; full applications by invitation only
- Status
- active
- States
- ME
Who qualifies
- Business must be a for-profit micro-enterprise with five or fewer employees (including owner)
- Owner of the enterprise must be low/moderate income as defined by HUD
- Business must be located in an eligible Maine community (non-entitlement areas; entitlement communities excluded)
- Existing businesses must provide previous year’s personal income tax return to verify income eligibility
- Cannabis-related businesses are not eligible
Who is not eligible
- Businesses with more than five employees
- Owners who do not meet low/moderate-income guidelines
- Businesses located in entitlement communities (Auburn, Bangor, Biddeford, Lewiston, Portland, and most of Cumberland County)
- Cannabis-related businesses
- Businesses seeking assistance for residential-only buildings or public infrastructure
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Working capital
- Interior renovations
- Exterior improvements including signage, painting, siding, awnings, lighting, display windows
- Eligible planning activities
Ineligible expenses
- Sewer, water, storm drainage, parking, roads or streets
- Buildings solely for residential use
- Land purchases
- Livestock purchases
How to apply
-
1
Meet with a local Maine SBDC advisor
Contact your local Small Business Development Center advisor to review eligibility, financial statements, and project scope. The advisor determines whether the business qualifies.
~1 hrs
-
2
Prepare project description and budget
Work with the SBDC advisor and the sponsoring community to develop a project budget, scope, and required income documentation.
~3 hrs
-
3
Community submits Letter of Intent
The participating community submits a Letter of Intent to DECD by the first Friday of the month. If invited, a full application is prepared.
~0.5 hrs
-
4
Complete full application by invitation
Submit the full MEA application through the community/SBDC if invited by DECD. Include tax returns, business financials, and project details.
~2 hrs
-
5
Project implementation and reimbursement
After award and contract, carry out the project and request reimbursement for eligible expenses.
You cannot apply directly; start by contacting your local Maine SBDC advisor, who will shepherd the application through the sponsoring community.
Deadline & timing
Next Letter of Intent due September 4, 2026. The community/SBDC submits on behalf of the micro-enterprise business.
Not accepting applications right now — get one email when it reopens
GrantCompass tracks Maine Micro-Enterprise Assistance Grant (MEA)’s application windows in the live catalog. Leave an email and we’ll tell you the day the next window opens.
Free. One email when the window moves, deadline warnings on your watchlist, and the monthly closing-soon digest. Unsubscribe anytime.
Required documents
- Previous year’s personal income tax return for the owner
- Business financial statements (profit & loss, balance sheet)
- Project budget and scope description
- Proof of business registration
- Documentation of employee count
Related programs
This program is not taking applications today — these are
Alternatives computed from the live GrantCompass catalog on August 25, 2026 — all 183 open grant programs · filter the database.
Explore more funding
Last updated August 24, 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.