The 2026-27 NVME Marketing Mini-grant Call for Applications is open!

Background

Many small businesses have benefited from the NVME marketing mini-grant program since its launch in 2010. NVME marketing mini-grants are awarded annually through a competitive application process and support the development of marketing tools, materials, and activities. NVME awards cash mini-grants of $1,000 per region in six regions to small businesses for current marketing projects.

Eligibility

Applicants can include individual small business owners, partners, or co-owners. Nonprofit organizations are not eligible. Businesses apply for the region in which they are based.

Contest Criteria

– five or fewer full-time equivalent employees

– gross annual sales of no more than $150,000 in the previous calendar year

– sales within the last 12 months

Use of Funds

New Ventures Maine’s mini-grants support new or expanded business marketing and promotion.

More Information

View the rubric our panel of judges will use to review and score applications.

Apply

The application is open! The deadline to apply is January 15, 2027 at noon.

Contacts

If you have questions, please contact the NVME microenterprise staff person in your area:

• Aroostook County – Alicia LaFosse, 207-621-7457, alicia.lafosse@maine.edu

• Kennebec & Somerset Counties – Vien Dobui, 207-621-3486, vien.dobui@maine.edu

• Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox & Waldo Counties, including the towns of Brunwick and Harpswell – Alicia LaFosse, 207-621-7457, alicia.lafosse@maine.edu

• Penobscot, Piscataquis, Hancock & Washington Counties – Banjo Ogunlela, 207-262-7842,
oyebanjo.ogunlela@maine.edu

• Cumberland & York Counties – Martha Leonard, 207-245-3663, martha.leonard@maine.edu

• Androscoggin, Oxford & Franklin Counties – Gina Platt, 207-753-6581, gina.platt@maine.edu