Code of Maine Rules › 19 - DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT › 499 - OFFICE OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT › Chapter 302 - RULES FOR THE MAINE MICROENTERPRISE INITIATIVE › Section 499-302-1 - PURPOSE AND DEFINITIONS

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
Purpose
The Maine Microenterprise Initiative is a program designed to
				  provide grants for community-based non-profit organizations to provide Training
				  and/or Technical Assistance to Microenterprises. The purpose of the rule is to
				  define the criteria and proposal process for applications to the Fund.
B.
Definitions
Areas of High Unemployment:
"Areas of High
				  Unemployment" shall mean Labor Market Areas with greater than the State average
				  unemployment.
Commissioner:
"Commissioner" shall mean the
				  Commissioner of the Department.
Community-based Organization:
"Community-based
				  Organization" shall mean a non-profit organization in Maine that has
				  broad-based support from the community they serve; a viable plan for provide
				  Training and/or Technical Assistance to Microenterprises; an adequate source of
				  funding; and a demonstrated need for funding to provide Training and/or
				  Technical assistance to Microenterprises.
Community-based Partnerships:
"Community-based
				  Partnerships" shall mean partnerships between two or more community-based
				  organizations in Maine seeking to receive grants from the fund.
Department:
"Department" shall mean the
				  Department of Economic and Community Development.
Fund:
"Fund" shall mean the Microenterprise
				  Initiative Fund established in 5 MSRA § 13063-E.
Grantee:
"Grantee" shall mean Community-based
				  Organization or Community-based Partnerships awarded a grant from the
				  fund.
Grant Selection Committee:
"Grant selection
				  committee" shall mean a committee designated by the Commissioner to review and
				  make recommendations regarding proposals.
Leveraged Match:
"Leveraged Match" shall mean
				  services leveraged through Community-based Partnerships or Community-based
				  Organizations. The match may be in the form of cash, staff time and overhead
				  expense directly attributable to microenterprise training and technical
				  assistance. Grant funds cannot be used to supplant existing organizational
				  funds, and can only be used to supplement funds leveraged for the program
				  purposes.
Microenterprises:
"Microenterprise" shall mean
				  an existing or start-up business employing 10 or fewer full time equivalent
				  employees.
Report:
"Report" shall mean a written
				  evaluation of grant funds expended, and the uses and outcomes of those
				  expenditures by the grantee.
Targeted Industries:
"Targeted Industries"
				  shall mean the industries targeted by the State of Maine's Economic Development
				  Strategy, prepared annually by the Department, including microenterprise
				  support and development.
Technical Assistance:
"Technical Assistance"
				  shall mean consultation, counseling, mentoring, and other forms of assistance
				  that address the specific concerns of microenterprises.
Training Program:
"Training Program" shall mean
				  a classroom based or other structured learning program designed to impart
				  knowledge and build skills necessary for small business start-up, growth and
				  stabilization.
Under served Areas:
"Under served Areas" shall
				  mean areas of the state that have no regular, convenient, consistent access to
				  training, technical assistance or other business support services.