SACO — Small businesses in York and Southern Oxford Counties are urged to take advantage of a new Economic Recovery HUB Program launched by Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission (SMPDC) and the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development that aims to help new businesses that were not eligible for pandemic funding relief. 

The program will offer financial assistance grants, free business counseling, classes, as well as technical assistance grants. A portion of the funding will be set aside specifically to support businesses owned and operated by racial, ethnic, and linguistic minorities within the SMPDC service region, who were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. The $450,000 program is funded by the federal American Rescue Plan. The deadline for applying is Thursday, Dec. 7; there is a potential for future rounds of funding.

The financial assistance grants of up to $20,000 will be available to businesses with 25 or fewer employees that opened between Jan. 1, 2020 and May 11, 2023. The businesses need to demonstrate negative impacts due to the COVID pandemic. In addition, applicants cannot have already received substantial COVID grants. Small businesses can use the grants for rent, utilities, inventory, equipment, insurance, payroll (excluding owner), and other working capital needs.

Small business owners can also take advantage of technical assistance grants in the form of bookkeeping, web design and social media planning/implementation services; free training, which includes banking/finance workshops offered by Kennebunk Savings Bank, and free workshops by SCORE, Small Business Development Center, and New Ventures Maine. In addition, there is access to workshops and classes at collaborators York County Community College and York County Adult Education.

“It is exciting to be launching this new program because it offers hands-on technical assistance and grants to help grow and strengthen small businesses in York and Southern Oxford Counties, especially those that fell through the cracks during prior pandemic-related funding. The application is easy; we urge businesses to apply by the December 7 deadline,” said SMPDC Program Coordinator Nelle Hanig.

Online applications are available at SMPDC.org or contact Program Coordinator Nelle Hanig at nellerh@gmail.com.