Program Focus

This year's funding focus supports emerging entrepreneurs and small business owners alike. Mini-grants of $1,000 were available for start-up or expansion projects to help entrepreneurs and support economic opportunities in the city of Ellsworth. All downtown Ellsworth business owners and area entrepreneurs were eligible to apply. 

Click HERE to read the 2021 article and HERE to read the 2023 article in Maine Biz about our grants program.

To bolster our business community, four Ellsworth area banks, Bangor Federal Credit Union, Camden National Bank, First National Bank, Franklin Savings Bank, and Machias Savings Bank with support from Bar Harbor Bank & Trust have generously sponsored our third rendition of the Downtown Grants Program. A foundational component of our entrepreneurial ecosystem work, this program aims to connect entrepreneurs, small businesses, innovators, and start up’s to resources and opportunities to advance their growth. Applications closed on February 17, 2023 @ 5:00pm. By investing in our Main Street community we are supporting the future of small businesses.

Application Agenda:

All supporting documents (P&L or income statement, balance sheet or 2020 or 2021 tax returns) business plan and any other information you feel would be helpful for your funding request should be emailed separately to Heart of Ellsworth’s Executive Director, Cara Romano, at cara@heartofellsworth.org with "Downtown Grants 2023" in the subject line. This information will be kept confidential and only used to determine grant recipients. If you received funding in 2021 and did NOT submit the exit report you are not eligible for this round of funding. Only one (1) proposal per business will be considered in the 2021 funding cycle.

Possible Funding Proposal Ideas:  

• Development of alternative revenue streams

• Hiring a consultant or advisor

• Marketing/logo/brand development

• Website creation

• Attending a workshop or mentoring opportunity

• Hiring an architect, engineer, or other specialists

• Purchase of up-date of technology-related tool  

• Legal support

• Other start-up needs

HOW TO APPLY:

Please use the application (button above) to submit a funding proposal, business plan (if you have one), and any other information you feel would be helpful to support your funding request. Proposals should specify area of need, project proposal, or general description for which you are requesting funding. Applicants will be scored using a rubric system with a maximum possible 45 points. Point breakdown: Overall Project 5, Goals /Objectives 10, Overall Plan 20, Budget 5, Impact, Innovation, and Resilience 5. All information will be kept confidential and only used to determine grant recipients.