Community Investment Fund
Good ideas, funded close to home.
Franklin County doesn’t lack ambition. What it lacks is the first $10,000 — the money that turns a plan into a payroll line, a pilot into a program, an idea into something the whole county can use.
We looked hard at what’s actually available to a small operator here. Block grants go to towns. County TIF dollars are restricted to the unorganized territories. Innovation funding wants a patentable product. If you’re a six-person business or a nonprofit running an after-school program, you fall through every one of them.
So we built the thing that was missing. The Community Investment Fund, created by the Greater Franklin Development Council and made possible through our funding accord with the NECEC transmission line, awards grants of $5,000 to $15,000 to nonprofit and for-profit enterprises building something that benefits this community.
Download the application (PDF) → Download a Budget Template (xlsx)→ Talk to our staff →
Who can apply
- For-profit businesses operating in Franklin County
- Nonprofit organizations serving Franklin County
- Individuals — entrepreneurs and residents with a project that meets the fund’s purpose
You’ll need to show proof of Franklin County residency or operation.
What we fund
Your project should advance at least one of these areas:
Focus area | What that can look like |
|---|---|
| Workforce development | Training, credentialing, apprenticeships, recruitment and retention efforts |
| Business expansion / creation | Equipment, buildout, new product lines, new locations, new hires |
| Organizational programming | New or expanded programs that serve county residents |
| Entrepreneurial support | Coaching, shared space, startup services, technical assistance |
| Community development | Projects that make the county a better place to live and work |
| Services for low-income residents | Direct services that reduce cost, remove barriers, or expand access |
The two threads running through all of it: innovative programming and job creation.
What we’re looking for
We fund projects that can tell us what success looks like — and then prove it.
A real match.
You must document matching funds. Personal funds, in-kind contributions, and other grants all count. Scoring value increases as your match percentage increases, so a stronger match makes a stronger application.
A defined return.
Tell us your projected ROI with data estimates: margin increase, sales increase, volume increase, people served, jobs created. Estimates are fine. Vagueness isn’t.
An honest look at the risks.
We ask you to describe the barriers to your success. Applications that name real obstacles read as more credible, not less.
A twelve-month horizon.
Projects run twelve months or fewer. You’ll submit a progress report at six months and a final report at twelve.
How to apply
- Read the guidelines and confirm your project fits one or more focus areas.
- Build your budget — a simple sources-and-uses sheet covering all funding sources and anticipated project expenses. Download a Budget Template (xlsx)→
- Complete the application, including your project summary (100 words), your alignment narrative (300 words), and your impact and measurement narrative (300 words).
- Gather your attachments: project budget, letters of support, proof of Franklin County residency, and documentation of your matching funds.
- Compile all your attachments into one PDF and submit to info@greaterfranklin.org
- Submit by March 1. We’re glad to review a draft beforehand — just ask.
Grant decisions are made by GFDC following review. Funding is not guaranteed; all grants are subject to review and approval.
Key details at a glance
Detail | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Award range | $5,000 – $15,000 |
| Match required | Yes — a higher match percentage scores higher |
| Project length | 12 months maximum |
| Reporting | 6-month progress report, 12-month final report |
| Eligible applicants | For-profit, nonprofit, individual |
| Geography | Franklin County, Maine |
| Applications open | January 15 |
| Deadline | March 1 |
Questions?
Email us at info@greaterfranklin.org, with questions or to set up an appointment. We’d rather talk through an idea early than read a rushed application late.
Where the money comes from
The Community Investment Fund is funded through GFDC’s funding accord with the NECEC transmission line. A share of the benefits negotiated for the communities the line passes through is being reinvested here — in local businesses, local organizations, and local jobs.
See the fund in action
We selected the Farmington Food Co-op bulk bins as a pilot project for the program. Read the news story.
