Designing a Bright and Colorful Future “Even with an award-winning business plan, banks kept saying no.” That’s when Kate Nelligan contacted Southern Maine Finance Agency (SMFA). Kate had been turned down by a number of banks as she sought to bring her design business to the village of Kennebunkport. She had even found retail space in the super competitive Dock Square area on her own, but it was SMFA that believed in her concepts and successful track record that made the financing possible. Kate, who is a Kennebunkport native, had started her own business after working for a number of corporations and…

Grandmother’s recipe creates a startup business. When Stacy Cooper, working in Boston, decided to move to Maine, she brought along her grandmother’s biscuit recipe and a desire to be an entrepreneur. After selling her biscuits at local fairs and the Kennebunk Farmers Market, her friends and partner encouraged her to apply for the 2013 Biddeford Main Street Challenge and fulfill her dream of opening a restaurant. After Stacy made it to the second round, she reached out to a small business coach to work on her business plan and design some market research. When she won the competition’s $10,000 prize,…

Prescott Metal is a metal fabrication company located in Biddeford, Maine that has been in business for almost 100 years. When they have expanded and acquired other businesses, Southern Maine Finance Agency (SMFA) has provided them with the funding to complete these projects. “Prescott Metal has approached SMFA several times with needs for gap funding to complete an acquisition or expansion. Every time we have needed financing, they have worked with us to assure that we get the money we need in a timely manner to maintain our production schedules. SMFA has really helped our business stay on track.” John…