Technical Assistance Grants – 2024 grant cycle is OPEN!
Application Deadline: April 30th
Main Street Skowhegan is thrilled to support our local entrepreneurs and Skowhegan-based business owners by offering technical assistance funding. Each year we partner with local financial institutions to pool together resources. Thanks to Skowhegan Savings Bank, Franklin Savings Bank, and New Dimensions Federal Credit Union, we are proud to award $5,000 in funding again in 2024.
How much funding is available?
- Mini-grants of $500-$2,000
Who is eligible?
- Owners looking to grow their Skowhegan-based business
- New entrepreneurs planning to start a business in Skowhegan
What can funding be used for?
- Technical assistance, including, but not limited to:
- Hiring someone to help with business planning
- Hiring a consultant or advisor
- Marketing/logo/brand development
- Website creation
- Attending a course or mentoring opportunity
- Hiring an architect, engineer, or other specialist
- Buying a needed piece of machinery
- Getting legal support
- Other potential business needs, but not hiring employees
Thank you to our 2024 TA Grant Sponsors!
2023 TA Grant Recipients:
- Clark’s Detailing & Customs, $1,000 – towards a new generator for their mobile detailing unit
- Kily Hilton – Realtor, $1,500 – towards the purchase of a new work tablet
- Skowhegan Farmers Market, $1,250 – towards the purchase of infrastructure improvements
- The Barn at Loon Cove, $1,250 – towards the restoration of a bridal suite
2022 TA Grant Recipients:
- Brick House Kitchen, $1,000 – used toward a new energy-efficient freezer
- Ken’s Restaurant, $1,000- used to purchase a steam table for their restaurant
- River Roads Artisans Gallery, $750 – used for marketing expertise to grow their business
- MXH Marketing, $600 – used to purchase a Canon Camera Stabilizer for videography work
- Island Dairy Treat, $525 – used to purchase new road sign for their business
2021 TA Grant Recipients:
- Bouncing Bubbles Child Care – to build outdoor play spaces necessary to become a certified Nature Classroom through Nature Explore
- Bigelow Brewing – to help complete a traffic study in anticipation of their new home at 7 Island Avenue
- Fat Daddy’s BBQ – to help cover the cost of refrigeration, financial software, credit card hardware, and website technical assistance for their new food truck business
- Launchpad Learning Center – to cover marketing and legal expenses for their new business venture
- Maine Stitching Specialties – towards the purchase of a screen printing press
- Stan’s French Fries – to help cover the cost of food truck repairs
- The SPACE on the River – towards the purchase of an electronic scoreboard for the gymnasium
- Trust in Us – to purchase and install a new sign
- The Good Crust – towards the marketing and branding of Skowhegan as a pizza destination
- Unwined – to help purchase a point-of-sale system
2020 TA Grant Recipients:
Bigelow Brewing Co.
“Thank you for your financial assistance that will allow Bigelow Brewing Company the ability to redesign our outdated website. This project is especially important now, more than ever, as we navigate our way through the new normal. As businesses are shuttered to customer traffic, relying on a virtual presence that will propel commerce is vital, especially for rural Maine communities.”
-Jeff Powers, Bigelow Brewing Co.
Crooked Face Creamery
“The funds helped me secure additional freezer space that allowed me to store and retail more quantities of locally raised meats. As the local grocery stores were running out of many products, including meat, it was essential that I increased my inventory and storage space to meet the demand. Without the new freezer, I wouldn’t have been able to keep up. My heartfelt thanks to Main Street for supporting local businesses like my own.”
-Amy Rowbottom, Crooked Face Creamery
TA grants are brought to you by Main Street Skowhegan’s Business Enhancement Committee and our local funding partners!