Central Maine Growth Council

06/10/2026

Join us for the 2026 Federal Funding Summit, an introduction to the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.

Attendees will learn how to:
• Identify the right agency for their technology or idea
• Navigate program requirements and develop competitive applications
• Understand agency priorities, topics, and proposal expectations
• Access Maine assistance, research partners, and commercialization resources
• Connect with agency representatives through 1:1 discussions

📅 Thursday, July 16, 2026
⏰ 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
📍 Greene Block + Studios, Waterville

This free event is presented by Central Maine Growth Council, Dirigo Labs , Maine Technology Institute , and Maine APEX Accelerator. Attendees will also hear from a variety of federal agencies and innovation ecosystem partners. Stay tuned for the full agenda and speaker lineup.

Register today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-federal-funding-summit-tickets-1988643999736?aff=oddtdtcreator

05/28/2026

🚀 TODAY’S THE DAY! 🚀
After months of preparation, tonight 12 innovative Maine startups take the stage at the 2026 Dirigo Labs Pitch Competition to compete for $25,000 in prizes sponsored by Skowhegan Savings Bank .
Join us at Greene Block + Studios in downtown Waterville for an exciting evening of entrepreneurship, innovation, and live startup pitches.
🎟️ FREE to attend
📍 Greene Block + Studios | 18 Main St, Waterville
⏰ 5:00–8:20 PM
⚠️ RSVP required
Don’t miss your chance to see Maine innovation in action.
Learn more: www.dirigolabs.org/2026-pitch-competition
Reserve your spot: www.eventbrite.com/e/1987069884515

🚀 TODAY’S THE DAY! 🚀

After months of preparation, tonight 12 innovative Maine startups take the stage at the 2026 Dirigo Labs Pitch Competition to compete for $25,000 in prizes sponsored by Skowhegan Savings Bank .

Join us at Greene Block + Studios in downtown Waterville for an exciting evening of entrepreneurship, innovation, and live startup pitches.

🎟️ FREE to attend
📍 Greene Block + Studios | 18 Main St, Waterville
⏰ 5:00–8:20 PM
⚠️ RSVP required

Don’t miss your chance to see Maine innovation in action.

Learn more: www.dirigolabs.org/2026-pitch-competition
Reserve your spot: www.eventbrite.com/e/1987069884515

05/21/2026

Email from Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce Twelve founders will compete live in Waterville for $25,000 in prizes.     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   Dirigo Labs to Host Fifth Annual Pitch Competition on May 28

05/21/2026

Members of our team attended the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones 's (NAFTZ) Spring Seminar in Portland, ME. Information covered how to effectively support FTZ operators and the latest trade regulations. Government officials also spoke about the current trade landscape including tariffs.

If you frequently import goods and/or pay significant duties, let’s talk about FTZ 186 can streamline your operations and simplify your cash flow.

For more information on how we may be able to help you,:
https://www.centralmaine.org/foreign-trade-zone/

05/13/2026

SBA’s participation in this activity is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products or services of any other person or entity. All SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

05/11/2026

Clean tech, innovation, investment, and opportunity all in one conversation!

Join us this Thursday for the May diriGO Speaker Series featuring Mike Jackson, Managing Director of Earthshot Ventures , for a discussion on clean tech investing, emerging opportunities, and the future of innovation-driven impact.

This is a free event hosted at Bricks Coworking + Innovation Space in Waterville, but we do ask that attendees RSVP to help us plan food and refreshments.

🗓 Thursday, May 14
🕠 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
📍 Bricks Coworking + Innovation Space

Reserve your spot here: https://www.facebook.com/share/18erUgEL3W/

We’re looking forward to another great evening of conversation and connection with Maine’s innovation community.

05/07/2026

Sunshine, fresh air, and local food, spring has officially arrived!

The outdoor Downtown Waterville Farmers Market opens TODAY at Head of Falls Park, running every Thursday from 2–6pm.

Support small, local businesses while shopping fresh produce, baked goods, handmade items, and more.

🛍️ Payment options:
💳 Most vendors accept cards and Venmo
💵 Some vendors are cash-only
🥕 EBT/SNAP is accepted by all vendors for eligible items
🌱 SNAP shoppers receive bonus “Maine Harvest Bucks” for fruits, vegetables, and seedlings
🥓 Bumper Crop can be used with any food vendor

Outdoor market opens this week! Here’s what you should know:

📆 Every Thursday, rain or shine, 2pm - 6pm through November!
📍Head of Falls park by the Two Cent Bridge. Loads of parking, flat paved surface.
👩🏻‍🌾We are a producer-only market: we only sell things we grow and make ourselves! Come get to know your farmers!
❤️We are proud to offer a huge variety of real local food and goods. Fresh vegetables, fruit, meat, eggs, dairy, flowers, maple syrup, honey, bread, baked goods, seedlings for your garden, wool yarn, sheepskins, natural skincare, and more.
🎂It’s our 20th anniversary! Our market started in 2006.

PAYMENT OPTIONS
💵Most vendors take cards or Venmo, some are cash-only.
🥓Spend your Bumper Crop on any food with any vendor!
🫜Every vendor in the market accepts EBT for eligible items, and when you shop with SNAP/EBT, you earn bonus bucks for fruit, veggies, and seedlings that grow food! This program is called Maine Harvest Bucks.
🥬Starting in June, senior shoppers can sign up for a free Maine Senior FarmShare! Stay tuned for more info!

(Bumper Crop, Maine Harvest Bucks, and SeniorFarmShare are all programs of Maine Federation of Farmers' Markets - check them out!)

Find out more info about our vendors and our market on our website: watervillefarmersmarket.org

05/05/2026

Shape the Future of Head of Falls Village!

Interested in learning more about the Head of Falls Village project in downtown Waterville? Join the City of Waterville, Maine for a public hearing and City Council Meeting to discuss the site's future.

The city and development teams will review a prospective grant opportunity to support local housing and vital infrastructure, gathering your input as the city reviews and finalizes a Community Development Block Grant - Housing Assistance program application for the upcoming May 15th deadline.

When: City Council Meeting, Tuesday, May 5th at 6:00 pm
Where: City Hall Annex, 46 Front Street, Waterville, ME
Learn more: https://towncloud.io/go/waterville-me/agendas/289

05/04/2026

We’re proud to work alongside many of the businesses and leaders recognized at the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Ceremony.

Congratulations to this year’s recipients, your work continues to strengthen and shape the Central Maine community in meaningful ways!

04/29/2026

Historic spaces. New opportunities. Stronger communities.
We were thrilled to join the ribbon cutting celebration for Phase I of Lockwood Mills in downtown Waterville! This is a major investment bringing new housing and commercial space to the heart of the city.
This project reflects the kind of smart, community-centered development that helps our region thrive, and we're proud to be part of that momentum.
Congratulations to North River Company and everyone involved!