Businesses with five or fewer employees and gross sales under $250,000 can apply for mini grants of up to $1,000. Deadline to apply is November 6.

New Ventures Maine (NVME) awards cash mini-grants to small businesses through a competitive application process to support a variety of marketing projects. A total of $1,000 is available for businesses in Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox, and Waldo counties and in the towns of Brunswick and Harpswell.

NVME marketing mini-grant program strengthens access to markets for entrepreneurs by supporting the development of professional, well-planned marketing tools, materials, and activities, according to NVME, in a news release. NVME’s mini-grants support new or expanded business marketing and promotion, not the production of your product or purchase of equipment, tools, furnishings, or other fixed assets.

Nonprofits are not eligible.

The most recent mini-grant was awarded to Cece Camacho and her business, prune, which is located in Brunswick. 

Applications may be submitted online at bit.ly/NVMEminigrants

More information on marketing mini-grants as well as other programs, classes, and resources for small businesses can be found at newventuresmaine.org.

A statewide organization serving all sixteen Maine counties from nine centers and outreach sites, New Ventures Maine offers skills development and support in the areas of career planning, entrepreneurship and financial management. Training is currently offered online.