nonprofit supporting Maine entrepreneurs and small business owners

Sat, 07/11/2026 - 9:00am

The TD Charitable Foundation, "the charitable giving arm of TD," according to a news release, has awarded $20,000 to MaineStream Finance to expand support for Maine entrepreneurs and small business owners. MaineStream Finance is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution and subsidiary of Penquis.

The funding will support MaineStream Finance's Maine Micro and Small Business Program, which provides training and one-to-one technical assistance to aspiring entrepreneurs, self-employed individuals, and sole proprietors of businesses with fewer than five employees. Topics include business plan development, financial management, marketing, and accessing capital and grants.

The program is designed to help entrepreneurs start, strengthen, and grow their businesses. During the funding period, MaineStream Finance expects to serve 40 entrepreneurs, who are projected to create or retain a total of 30 jobs through self-employment and establish an additional 6 to 10 permanent positions.

"Maine's micro and small businesses are vital to the strength of our communities, particularly in rural areas where they create jobs, support families, and help local economies thrive," said Kara Hay, president of MaineStream Finance, in the Penquis news release. "We are grateful to the TD Charitable Foundation for investing in Maine entrepreneurs and helping expand access to the training and support they need to succeed."

About MaineStream Finance

MaineStream Finance, a subsidiary of Penquis, is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides home loans, small business loans, and financial coaching services to help individuals, families, and entrepreneurs across Maine pursue financial growth and opportunity.

About the TD Charitable Foundation

The TD Charitable Foundation is the giving arm of TD Bank U.S., one of the largest banks in the U.S. by assets. TD Bank U.S. has more than 10 million clients, operates approximately 1,050 convenient locations across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Carolinas, and Florida, and offers a full range of retail, small business, and commercial banking products and services. Since its inception in 2002, the Foundation has distributed over $386 million through donations to local nonprofits from Maine to Florida. More information on the TD Charitable Foundation is available here.