Resources for Entrepreneurs and Business Owners

Entrepreneur and Small Business Support

• Business Development Services | Northern Maine Development Commission
• Business Development Services | Southern Aroostook Development Corporation
• Businesses for Sale | BizBuySell
• Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce
• Fort Kent Chamber of Commerce
• Ignite Presque Isle
• Maine Center for Entrepreneurs
• St. John Valley Chamber of Commerce

Reach out to Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC) for tailored support:

• Phone: 207-493-5752
• Website: www.nmdc.org
• Email: jdinsmore@nmdc.org
• Address: 11 West Presque Isle Rd, PO Box 779, Caribou, ME 04736

Incentives

Empowerment Zone
The Federal Empowerment Zone (FEZ) tax credit is a general business tax credit available to employers with employees who both live and work in the zones. This tax credit is limited to for-profit organizations. The credit is equal to 20% of the wages paid up to $15,000 per calendar year, for a maximum annual per employee credit of $3,000.

For more information contact:

Jon Gulliver

Director of Economic and Community Development

jgulliver@nmdc.org

Business Equipment Tax Reimbursement
Businesses can receive reimbursements for local property taxes paid on eligible business property for up to 12 years. This program helps reduce the cost of doing business in the county.

Dirigo Business Incentives
The Dirigo Business Incentives program offers eligible businesses the opportunity to greatly reduce state taxes for up to 5 years when they make significant capital investments or provide qualified employee training in certain business sectors. Eligible sectors are:

Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
Municipalities in Aroostook County can use TIF to support businesses making significant capital investments. TIF is a local financing tool that permits a municipality to use some or all of the new property taxes that result from an investment project within a designated district to assist in that project’s expenses. The municipality may disburse the tax increment directly to the investing business to help pay project costs, use it to retire bonds it issues as part of the project, or retain it for allowable economic development purposes.

For more information about financial incentives offered through the state of Maine, please visit: https://www.maine.gov/decd/business-development/financial-incentives-resources/incentives