Economic Development
Our Economic Development team can lend support with an array of federal, state and local private economic development resources during every step of the process of opening your business in Auburn.
Our focus is to ensure that Auburn is recognized as a world-class community that offers a sustainable and diverse economy, employment and educational opportunities, and an unsurpassed quality of life.
Economic Development staff can assist with:
- Identifying and evaluating suitable sites for commercial activity
- Identification of potential funding sources and referrals to available local, state and federal funding partners when appropriate
- Providing guidance through local and state regulatory requirements
- Administration of municipal incentives including Community Development Block Grant Programs and municipal tax increment financing (TIF)
- Coordination with other city departments in the planning and permitting process
Economic Development Resources
Business Associations
- Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce https://lametrochamber.com/
- Maine Chamber of Commerce http://www.mainechamber.org/
- Maine Assoc of Non Profits http://www.nonprofitmaine.org/
- Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments- http://www.avcog.org/
State and Federal Information
- Doing Business in Maine https://www.maine.gov/portal/business/
- Internal Revenue Service https://www.irs.gov/
- Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce https://lametrochamber.com/business-development/
- Maine Dept of Corporations http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/corp/index.html
- Maine Dept of Economic & Community Dev. http://www.maine.gov/decd/
- Maine Dept of Labor http://www.maine.gov/labor/
- Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership http://www.mainemep.org/
- Maine Small Business Development Center http://www.mainesbdc.org/
- Maine Tax Information http://www.maine.gov/revenue/salesuse/salestax/salestax.html
- Small Business Administration https://www.sba.gov/
- US Patent and Trade Mark https://www.uspto.gov/trademark
Funding Sources and Helpful Business Assistance Sites
- Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments http://www.avcog.org/
- Community Concepts Finance Corporation https://www.ccfcmaine.org/
- Maine Small Business Development Center http://www.mainesbdc.org/
- New Ventures http://newventuresmaine.org/find-a-center-2/western/
- Small Business Administration https://www.sba.gov/
- SCORE https://androscoggincounty.score.org/
- Coastal Enterprises, Inc. - https://www.ceimaine.org/
Other Financing
- EB-5 program- https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/permanent-workers/employment-based-immigration-fifth-preference-eb-5/about-eb-5-visa-classification
- Historic tax credit and other tax credits- https://www.maine.gov/mhpc/programs/tax-incentives
- Workforce development tax credit- https://www.maine.gov/labor/workforce_dev/index.shtml
- Other state tax incentives and credits- https://www.maine.gov/decd/business-development/tax-incentives-credit