Marketing Mini-Grant Program

The New Ventures Maine (NVME) Marketing Mini-Grant Program is a long-standing initiative aimed at supporting small businesses across various regions of Maine. Launched in 2010, this annual, competitive funding program is designed to strengthen the marketing capacity of microbusinesses by providing small but impactful financial awards. In its Winter 2026 round, the program continues to offer targeted support through a streamlined application process and well-defined eligibility criteria. The primary objective of the NVME mini-grants is to fund current or future marketing and promotional projects that can help small businesses reach broader audiences, build brand awareness, and improve sales outcomes. The program awards a single mini-grant of up to $1,000 in each participating region, with six grants available in total. Funds must be used exclusively for marketing purposes and cannot be applied toward the production of products, equipment purchases, or furnishing costs. Proposed projects must be clearly defined, well-structured, and demonstrate strong alignment with each business's overall marketing strategy. Eligible applicants include individual microbusiness owners, business partners, or small teams operating within Maine. Specific eligibility requirements include having no more than five full-time equivalent employees, gross annual sales not exceeding $150,000 in the previous calendar year, and evidence of business activity within the last 12 months. Nonprofit organizations are not eligible for this opportunity. The competitive nature of the application process requires participants to submit comprehensive responses that clearly articulate the marketing project, anticipated benefits, project timeline, and budget. Applications must be submitted online via a Google Form, which cannot be saved mid-progress. Applicants are strongly encouraged to prepare their answers offline in advance. The application deadline is firmly set for Friday, January 30, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. noon. Each applicant must describe the proposed marketing initiative, demonstrate its relevance to their broader business goals, provide a detailed budget breakdown, and articulate expected impacts such as increased sales, expanded networks, or improved visibility. Applications will be reviewed by regional panels consisting of prior grant winners, business professionals, and bank sponsors. A formal scoring rubric is employed to ensure fairness and consistency in evaluations. Selected grantees will be notified via email around February 25, 2026, and must submit required documentation such as a W-9 form, a short questionnaire, a media release, and two photographs by March 11, 2026. Grantees are also expected to submit a brief follow-up report 12 months after receiving the award to reflect on the outcomes of their funded marketing initiative. Questions about the program or application process should be directed to the designated NVME microenterprise staff representative based on the applicant's county. A PDF FAQ document, available via the NVME website, provides detailed guidance on all aspects of the grant, including expectations for winners, scoring procedures, and contact information. Overall, the NVME Marketing Mini-Grant program continues to play a valuable role in enhancing the capacity and reach of Maine’s small business community.

Submit a clear, well-thought-out plan aligned with your business strategy; prepare answers offline; ensure eligibility criteria are met.