New Ventures Maine’s (NVME) marketing mini-grant program continues to help small businesses put their best foot forward through the funding of professional, effective marketing materials and projects. This year, NVME made mini-grants of up to $1000 across the state to help entrepreneurs promote their businesses through targeted marketing projects. 

In our last funding cycle in the Southern Region (Cumberland and York Counties) Rachel Knight, owner of Destination Occupation and Molly Thompson, owner of Pretty Flours will each receive $500 for their marketing projects. Knight and Thompson were each chosen out of 19 applications. Knight will use the funds for Facebook and Instagram ads to market her next class. Thompson plans to use her grant to revise her existing website to include an e-commerce platform. 

Review committee members were Janice de Lima, Vice President and Community Reinvestment Act Officer at Norway Savings Bank; Dan Philbrick, Director at UMA Saco Center; and Alison Nason, Marketing / Operations Director at Mainebiz. The judges look for the following qualities in the grant applications: Clarity, specificity, benefit and impact the grant will make on the business, and the strength of the application. 

Applications for fall can be submitted starting on September 1, 2020. The call for applications is open to entrepreneurs throughout Cumberland and York counties. Applications are welcomed from individual entrepreneurs and small businesses as well as business partnerships. Nonprofit groups are not eligible for the mini-grant program. Successful proposals will focus on marketing, branding, and access to markets. For more information or to request a mini-grant application for your business marketing project, contact New Ventures Maine at 207-799-5025 or gigi.guyton@maine.edu.