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.

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.

🐻

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

Open grants

246

Average award

$3,338

Top eligibility tags

small_businessmaine_businessstartupMaine based

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

Lewiston Microenterprise Assistance Grant Program

Grantor

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Award Amount

$10,000

microenterprisesmall_business
View Grant
MERolling

EMDC Economic Recovery Hub Program

Grantor

Eastern Maine Development Corporation

Award Amount

$10,000

small_businesstechnical_assistance
View Grant
MERolling

Maine Community Foundation — Maine Expansion Arts Grant

Grantor

Maine Community Foundation

Award Amount

$10,000

Maine basednonprofit arts organization
View Grant
MERolling

Maine Humanities Council Grants

Grantor

Maine Humanities Council

Award Amount

$10,000

nonprofithumanities
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MERolling

Maine Domestic Trade Grants

Grantor

Maine Department of Economic and Community Development

Award Amount

$10,000

small_businessexporter
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MERolling

Maine Arts Commission — Organization Operations Grant

Grantor

Maine Arts Commission

Award Amount

$7,500

501(c)(3) arts organizationMaine based
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MERolling

Maine EV Accelerator — Business Purchase Rebates

Grantor

Efficiency Maine Trust

Award Amount

$7,500

Maine businessEV or PHEV purchase or lease
View Grant
MERolling

Maine Arts Commission Project Grants

Grantor

Maine Arts Commission

Award Amount

$7,500

artistnonprofit
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MERolling

Efficiency Maine EV Accelerator — Business EV Purchase Rebates

Grantor

Efficiency Maine Trust

Award Amount

$7,500

Maine businessEV or PHEV purchase or lease
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MERolling

Maine Arts Commission — Creative Communities Grant

Grantor

Maine Arts Commission

Award Amount

$7,000

cultural organizationschool
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MERolling

HospitalityMaine Education Foundation — Maine Restaurant Relief Fund

Grantor

HospitalityMaine Education Foundation

Award Amount

$5,000

Maine restauranthospitality industry
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MERolling

Portland Hummingbird Grant

Grantor

City of Portland

Award Amount

$5,000

small_businessstartup
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MERolling

CDBG Micro-Enterprise Assistance Grant (Restaurants)

Grantor

Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD)

Award Amount

$5,000

fewer than 5 employeeslow to moderate income owner
View Grant
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
View Grant
MERolling

Maine Arts Commission — Artist Project Grant

Grantor

Maine Arts Commission

Award Amount

$2,500

Maine residentindividual artist
View Grant
MERolling

Downtown Bangor Glow Up Grants

Grantor

Downtown Bangor Partnership

Award Amount

$2,000

small_businessdowntown
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MERolling

Maine Arts Commission — Artist Springboard Grant

Grantor

Maine Arts Commission

Award Amount

$1,500

Maine residentfirst time MAC grantee
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MERolling

Portland Artist Relief Fund

Grantor

City of Portland

Award Amount

$500

artistcreative_worker
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MERolling

Portland Affordable Housing Tax Increment Financing

Grantor

City of Portland

Award Amount

Varies

affordable_housingtax_increment_financing
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MERolling

Maine Linked Investment Program for Commercial Enterprises

Grantor

Finance Authority of Maine

Award Amount

Varies

small_businesslender_referred
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MERolling

Maine Municipal Tax Increment Financing

Grantor

Maine Municipalities

Award Amount

Varies

developerproperty_owner
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MERolling

Maine Dirigo Business Incentives - Lewiston

Grantor

State of Maine

Award Amount

Varies

business_expansiontax_credit
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MERolling

Maine SBDC at Eastern Maine Development Corporation

Grantor

U.S. Small Business Administration

Award Amount

Varies

small_businesstechnical_assistance
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MERolling

Portland Community Development Block Grant

Grantor

City of Portland

Award Amount

Varies

nonprofitcdbg
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MERolling

Maine Dirigo Business Incentives - Bangor

Grantor

State of Maine

Award Amount

Varies

business_expansiontax_credit
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MERolling

Maine Business Equipment Tax Reimbursement

Grantor

State of Maine

Award Amount

Varies

tax_reimbursementequipment
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MERolling

Maine Community Foundation Competitive Grants

Grantor

Maine Community Foundation

Award Amount

Varies

nonprofitfoundation
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MERolling

Maine Seed Capital Tax Credit Program - Bangor

Grantor

State of Maine

Award Amount

Varies

startupinvestor_tax_credit
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MERolling

Portland Tax Increment Financing Credit Enhancement Agreements

Grantor

City of Portland

Award Amount

Varies

tax_increment_financingdevelopment
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MERolling

Maine Linked Investment Program for Commercial Enterprises - Lewiston

Grantor

State of Maine

Award Amount

Varies

small_businessinterest_rate_reduction
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MERolling

Maine Business Equipment Tax Exemption

Grantor

State of Maine

Award Amount

Varies

tax_exemptionequipment
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MERolling

Maine Seed Capital Tax Credit Program - Lewiston

Grantor

State of Maine

Award Amount

Varies

startupinvestor_tax_credit
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MERolling

Dirigo Business Incentives

Grantor

State of Maine

Award Amount

Varies

tax_creditjob_creation
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MERolling

Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber Business Resources

Grantor

Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce

Award Amount

Varies

small_businesstechnical_assistance
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MERolling

Maine Community Foundation — Investing in Leaders of Color Grant

Grantor

Maine Community Foundation

Award Amount

Varies

Maine nonprofit leadercommunities of color
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MERolling

Maine SSBCI

Grantor

Finance Authority of Maine

Award Amount

Varies

small_businessstartup
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MERolling

Maine Agricultural Development Grant

Grantor

Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF)

Award Amount

Varies

Maine agricultural businessmarket promotion
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MERolling

Maine Sales & Use Tax Exemption – Manufacturing Machinery and Equipment

Grantor

Maine Revenue Services

Award Amount

Varies

manufacturermaine_business
View Grant
MERolling

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

Grantor

Maine Revenue Services

Award Amount

Varies

maine_licensed_cannabis_businessregistered_caregiver
View Grant
MERolling

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

Grantor

Maine Technology Institute (MTI)

Award Amount

Varies

manufacturermaine_business
View Grant
MERolling

Lewiston Auburn Small Business Support Layer

Grantor

Lewiston Auburn Economic Growth Council / partners

Award Amount

Varies

direct to businesssmall_business
View Grant
MERolling

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

Grantor

U.S. Small Business Administration / Veterans Business Outreach Center of New England

Award Amount

Varies

veterantransitioning_service_member
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MERolling

Maine APEX Accelerator — Procurement Technical Assistance (Transportation)

Grantor

Eastern Maine Development Corporation (EMDC) / Maine APEX

Award Amount

Varies

Maine based businessgovernment procurement eligible
View Grant
MERolling

Maine Apprenticeship Program – Construction Sector Expansion

Grantor

Maine Department of Labor

Award Amount

Varies

Maine employerregistered apprenticeship sponsor
View Grant
MERolling

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

Grantor

Maine Revenue Services / Local Assessing Authorities

Award Amount

Varies

manufacturermaine_business
View Grant
MERolling

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

Grantor

SCORE Central Maine / U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA cooperative agreement)

Award Amount

Varies

age_50_plusentrepreneur
View Grant
MERolling

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

Grantor

Efficiency Maine Trust

Award Amount

Varies

Maine business500 or fewer employees
View Grant
MERolling

Maine Municipal Tax Increment Financing (TIF) – Manufacturing Projects

Grantor

Maine Municipalities / Maine DECD (approval)

Award Amount

Varies

manufacturermaine_municipality
View Grant
MERolling

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

Grantor

Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) / CDFI

Award Amount

Varies

woman_ownedmaine_business
View Grant
MERolling

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

Grantor

Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE) / Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)

Award Amount

Varies

woman_owned51_percent_owned
View Grant
MERolling

Maine Community Foundation — Community Building Grant

Grantor

Maine Community Foundation

Award Amount

Varies

Maine based nonprofitbroad interest areas
View Grant
MERolling

Maine DACF — Maine Farmer Drought Relief Program

Grantor

Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF)

Award Amount

Varies

Maine farmdrought impact
View Grant
MERolling

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

Grantor

Associates for Training & Development (ATD) / Maine DHHS Office of Aging and Disability Services / U.S. Department of Labor

Award Amount

Varies

age_55_pluslow_income
View Grant
MERolling

Maine APEX Accelerator (Procurement Technical Assistance)

Grantor

Eastern Maine Development Corporation (EMDC) / Maine APEX

Award Amount

Varies

Maine based businessgovernment procurement eligible
View Grant
MERolling

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

Grantor

UMaine Cooperative Extension 4-H / Machias Savings Bank / Hawes Family 4-H Endowment

Award Amount

Varies

maine_youthages_11_to_18
View Grant
MERolling

MTI Maine Entrepreneurial Resource Corps (MERC)

Grantor

Maine Technology Institute (MTI)

Award Amount

Varies

Maine based businessgrowth stage
View Grant
MERolling

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

Grantor

National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC)

Award Amount

Varies

native_american_owned51_percent_owned
View Grant
MERolling

Maine Property Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Installations

Grantor

Maine Revenue Services

Award Amount

Varies

Maine property ownersolar or renewable energy installation
View Grant
MERolling

MaineDOT DBE Certification – Disability Track (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise)

Grantor

Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) / U.S. Department of Transportation

Award Amount

Varies

disability_ownedsocially_economically_disadvantaged
View Grant
MERolling

USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (Maine DACF)

Grantor

Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF)

Award Amount

Varies

Maine specialty crop producermarket research or promotion
View Grant

Ready to apply?

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