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SMPDC Economic Recovery Hub Program

The goal of the Economic Recovery Hub Program to help small businesses in York and Southern Oxford Counties. Working to strengthen the regional business assistance network, the Program is intended to help those businesses that suffered hardships or losses due to the pandemic but received little, if any, government financial assistance. The Maine Department of Economic and Community Development has awarded SMPDC funding for the Program using Federal ARPA funds.

 

Congratulations to our Hub grant awardees!

After the close of the final round of the SMPDC Economic Recovery Hub Grant programs for Financial and Technical Assistance, SMPDC issued 85 awards totaling more than $500,000 to small businesses across our region! All awardees are businesses with fewer than 25 employees who opened after January 1, 2020 and experienced impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

 THE FOLLOWING HUB PROGRAM RESOURCES ARE STILL AVAILABLE:

 

Free Business Counseling

SMPDC is teaming up with experienced business counselors based in Southern Maine who provide free business counseling services. Counselors may refer a business to apply for a technical assistance grant or a financial grant and/or free training opportunities such as workshops and classes. SMPDC strongly recommends that prospective applicants seek guidance from one of the region's free business counseling services prior to applying for a Hub grant, as the counselor can assist in confirming the business’ eligibility and can advise on which service or grant to pursue.

Free collaborating counselors/mentors are listed below. Please let them know you are interested in a grant or other service offered by the SMPDC Recovery Hub Program. If they have a counseling form, please fill it out.  If they don’t have a counseling form, just request a counselor in your email. They will respond quickly either way.

 

Free Business Skills Training

SMPDC collaborators offer business skills workshops and training opportunities free of cost. Businesses may be referred by counselors for training workshops or may explore opportunities through any of the following collaborators: 


Classes & Training Scholarships 

The SMPDC Classes & Training Scholarship provides applicants with grant-funded training opportunities to develop business operation skills at York County Community College or through any York County Adult Education institution. This assistance is available to for-profits and nonprofits with 25 or fewer employees. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

 

Step One: Identify a class related to running your business that is offered by one of the following institutions. You may also wish to consult your business counselor for recommendations. 

 

 

Step Two: Tell us about the class you want to take and how it will benefit your business in the grant application below.

Step Three: Apply for a Hub Classes & Training Scholarship!