SCEC Awarded $541,000 to Expand Small Business Services in Washington County
Machias, ME – Sunrise County Economic Council (SCEC) has been awarded a $541,000 Congressionally Directed Spending Award through the U.S. Small Business Administration to expand its small business services and programs in Washington County. These funds were secured by Maine’s U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and will leverage $86,440 in non-federal matching funds over the two-year project, which starts next month.
Support, Advising and Learning Opportunities
The grant will fund expanded technical assistance, training, startup incubator and accelerator programs, networking events, and technology support for Washington County startups and small businesses. The SCEC Small Business & Entrepreneurship Team, which is based out of the MaineStreet Business Building in Machias, will use the funds to offer both in-person and virtual support services, advising, and learning opportunities. This approach ensures that businesses across the county can access resources, regardless of their location.
“We appreciate this investment in Washington County and the work of our Senators that made it a reality. It will provide much needed capacity to support small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs. Small businesses are the foundation of our County’s economy and have the greatest potential for growth. They are also how many families in our community get by,” said Charles Rudelitch, SCEC Executive Director.
Deepening Relationship with all Community Members
The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Team at SCEC works with over 50 partners across more than 35 business support organizations. The team consists of six individuals who seek to support community members in meaningful ways which include deepening relationships with underrepresented communities, including Latinx and Indigenous community members and individuals in recovery or community reentry.
Denise Cilley, SCEC Associate Director, shared, “We are incredibly honored and excited to receive this grant, which will be instrumental in expanding the support and resources available to Washington County’s small business community. This funding allows us to deepen our commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and economic growth while building stronger, more inclusive networks. We’re grateful for the opportunity to help our neighbors turn their business goals into reality and look forward to the positive impact this will have on our community for years to come.”
Key elements of the project include:
Technical assistance with business planning and development
Connection to funding sources
Training workshops and seminars
Sector-specific learning and networking opportunities
Annual startup incubator and accelerator programs
Technology support and best practices sharing
Professional development for the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Team
For more information about SCEC’s small business programs, visit mainestreetbusiness.org or contact Denise Cilley, Associate Director of SCEC and manager of MaineStreet Business Building and the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Team: dcilley@sunrisecounty.org or 207-259-5103.