Maine grants

Maine Small Business Grants 2026

Browse open Maine grant programs for small businesses, nonprofits, and founders in 2026, sorted by award size with deadlines and eligibility.

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Forrest Grants

Funding is hiding in plain sight.

From Portland, Bangor, and Lewiston to rural Maine, Forrest Grants tracks state, county, city, and foundation programs so you can shortlist the ones worth a real application.

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Forrest Grant keeps the list clean, relevant, and pointed at programs worth a real application.

Open grants

246

Average award

$409

Top eligibility tags

small_businessmaine_businessmanufacturercapital_investment

Featured grants

High-intent funding opportunities

Grants in ME

Where to focus first

Browse open Maine grant programs for small businesses, nonprofits, and founders in 2026, sorted by award size with deadlines and eligibility. Use this page as your shortlist, then jump into the intake wizard so Forrest can narrow the list to the programs you are most likely to win.

MERolling

CDBG Micro-Enterprise Assistance Grant Program

Grantor

Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD)

Award Amount

$5,000

fewer than 5 employeeslow to moderate income owner

Maine Small Business Grants 2026

Funding is hiding in plain sight.

High-intent funding opportunities

Where to focus first

CDBG Micro-Enterprise Assistance Grant Program

Downtown Bangor Glow Up Grants

Maine Arts Commission — Artist Springboard Grant

Portland Artist Relief Fund

Portland Affordable Housing Tax Increment Financing

Maine Linked Investment Program for Commercial Enterprises

Maine Municipal Tax Increment Financing

Maine Dirigo Business Incentives - Lewiston

Maine SBDC at Eastern Maine Development Corporation

Efficiency Maine Commercial and Industrial Incentives

Portland Community Development Block Grant

Maine Dirigo Business Incentives - Bangor

Maine Business Equipment Tax Reimbursement

Maine Community Foundation Competitive Grants

Maine Seed Capital Tax Credit Program - Bangor

Portland Tax Increment Financing Credit Enhancement Agreements

Grow Maine Equity Investment Program

Maine Linked Investment Program for Commercial Enterprises - Lewiston

Maine Business Equipment Tax Exemption

Maine Seed Capital Tax Credit Program - Lewiston

Dirigo Business Incentives

Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber Business Resources

Maine Arts Commission — Organization Operations Grant

Maine Community Foundation — Investing in Leaders of Color Grant

Maine SSBCI

Maine Agricultural Development Grant

Maine Sales & Use Tax Exemption – Manufacturing Machinery and Equipment

Maine State Cannabis Tax Deduction (280E Bypass) – Licensed Cannabis Businesses

Maine Technology Institute (MTI) – Manufacturing R&D and Innovation Grants

Lewiston Auburn Small Business Support Layer

SBA Boots to Business Reboot – Maine (VBOC of New England)

Maine APEX Accelerator — Procurement Technical Assistance (Transportation)

Maine Apprenticeship Program – Construction Sector Expansion

Maine Business Equipment Tax Exemption (BETE) – 100% Personal Property Tax Exemption

SCORE Central Maine – Encore (50+) Entrepreneur Mentoring (Auburn/Lewiston Region)

Efficiency Maine — Medium and Heavy-Duty EV Fleet Demonstration Grants

Maine Municipal Tax Increment Financing (TIF) – Manufacturing Projects

CEI – Small Business Lending for Women-Owned Businesses (Maine Statewide)

WBENC WBE Certification via Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE) – Maine

Maine Community Foundation — Community Building Grant

Maine DACF — Maine Farmer Drought Relief Program

Maine Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Pilot Program

SCSEP Maine – Associates for Training & Development (ATD) / Maine DHHS OADS

Maine APEX Accelerator (Procurement Technical Assistance)

Maine 4-H Egg Business Project (Hancock & Washington Counties)

MTI Maine Entrepreneurial Resource Corps (MERC)

NMSDC MBE Certification – Native American Track (Maine, via NMSDC Hub)

Maine Property Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Installations

MaineDOT DBE Certification – Disability Track (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise)

USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (Maine DACF)

MaineDOT DBE Certification – Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (Minority & Women-Owned)

Maine Rural Health Transformation Program

Four Directions Development Corporation – Native Entrepreneur Business Loans & Technical Assistance

Maine FBLA – Entrepreneurship Competitive Events (High School & Middle Level)

CEI – Small Business Lending for Maine Manufacturers

Maine SBDC Free Business Advising (Health and Wellness Businesses)

SCORE Southern Maine – Encore (50+) Entrepreneur Mentoring (Portland Region)

Bangor Small Business Development Layer

Maine STEP Grant

Maine Community Foundation — Community Building Grant (Arts)

Grants by business type

Other states

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