Recent News

Claim Your Future® – Engaging Students in Financial Education

Educators from Maine, Massachusetts and Illinois are giving their students’ future success a boost with Claim Your Future (CYF) – a financial literacy program that helps increase knowledge about higher education, careers, and money management.

FAME Approves Financing for Three Important Projects

At its December 13, 2018 board meeting, the members of the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) approved financing for three separate projects that collectively are expected to help create and retain at least 700 Maine jobs. The projects range from renewable energy at Brunswick Landing to public infrastructure improvements in Westbrook to the re-start of the shuttered Old Town mill.

FAME Celebrates 35th Anniversary at “Showcase Maine” Event

Center for Generational Kinetics’ Alicia Rainwater Speaks The Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) celebrated thirty-five years of successful business and educational partnerships at its annual meeting and awards event, Showcase Maine, held this year on Thursday, November 15, 2018 at Portland’s Holiday Inn By The Bay. Showcase Maine is FAME’s annual celebration of its successful […]

FAME Board Visits Midcoast Businesses

The Board of Directors and staff of the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) recently visited Front Street Shipyard in Belfast, a customer that has grown rapidly in recent years. The group later toured other customers at the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority (MRRA) in Brunswick, which is located on the former Brunswick Naval Air Station base. […]

FAME and the Alfond Scholarship Foundation Launch Invest in ME Kindergarten Program

This year’s entering kindergarten class is special, most have received a $500 Alfond Grant for higher education. So FAME and Alfond Scholarship Foundation started the Invest in ME Kindergarten program which is designed to inspire Maine families to prepare early for future higher education, including saving. Over 50 schools are participating, including 11 school champions around the state. BrightFutureforME.com

FAME Approves Financing for Thompson’s Point Project

At its August 16 board meeting, the members of the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) approved a direct loan totaling $495,000 to Forefront Commons I, LLC, to help renovate an historic former rail building as part of a larger construction project at Thompson’s Point in Portland. FAME’s action is expected to help create and retain […]

FAME Recognized for Fourth Straight Year as a Best Place to Work in Maine

For the fourth year in a row, the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) has been named as one of the Best Places to Work in Maine. The awards program, created in 2006, is a project of the Society for Human Resource Management–Maine State Council (MESHRM) and Best Companies Group. Partners endorsing the program include: Mainebiz, […]

FAME Approves Financing for Aroostook Lumber Mill

FAME has approved 90% loan insurance on a loan by TD Bank totaling $944,000 to Maibec USA LLC. Funds will be used for the purchase of a feed conveyor deck and de-barker machine for mill operations in the town of Masardis. The venture is expected to help retain 145 Maine jobs and bring operational efficiencies to the mill.

FAME Celebrates Another Successful Year at “Showcase Maine” Event

The Finance Authority of Maine celebrated another year of successful partnerships with Maine’s business, lending, governmental, and higher education communities at its annual event, “Showcase Maine.” The evening featured a reception, including a showcase of exhibits by Maine businesses and educational organizations that partner with FAME; a dinner and awards presentation; and a keynote speech by former United States Senator George Mitchell.

Harold Alfond Foundation & FAME Announce Inaugural Alfond Leaders

The Harold Alfond Foundation and the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) have announced the first cycle of Alfond Leader awardees, who collectively will be awarded up to $685,000 in student loan debt relief. The competitive program provides student loan repayment assistance to people who live and work in Maine in a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)- designated occupation at a Maine-based employer. The selected Alfond Leaders may receive up to half of their outstanding student loan balance, not to exceed $60,000, as a loan repayment on their outstanding student loans.

FAME Recognized for Third Straight Year as a “Best Place to Work in Maine”

For the third year in a row, the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) has been named as one of the Best Places to Work in Maine. The awards program, created in 2006, is a project of the Society for Human Resource Management–Maine State Council and Best Companies Group. Partners endorsing the program include: Mainebiz, the […]

FAME Approves Financing for Belfast Boat Manufacturer

FAME approves loan insurance for Dubba, LLC for land purchase and construction of new boat manufacturing and maintenance facility located at 101 Front Street, Belfast. The company has plans to engage in new technology and enter new markets as it expands. The proposed expansion is expected to create forty new jobs and retain an additional eighty-four jobs.

FAME Announces Expanded Online Insurance

Beginning April 1, 2017, FAME lender partners can opt for up to $750,000 in loan insurance through FAME’s OnLine Answer (OLA). Lenders can process applications for loan insurance on OLA, FAME’s secure web application, and receive a decision in seconds. This expansion allows lenders to use the OLA system instead of applying for larger exposure loans through FAME’s traditional paper application. This is the fourth and largest loan insurance enhancement FAME has launched in the past six months in response to extensive customer feedback actively sought by the agency.

FAME Approves Financing for Beal College Nursing Program

At its March 16, 2017 monthly board meeting, the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) approved direct loan financing for Beal College of Bangor to help the institution establish a new school of nursing. Scheduled to begin in the Fall of 2017, the new program seeks to address the expected workforce shortage of nurses in Maine in the coming years. In a strategic partnership with the college, Eastern Maine Medical Center will donate the equipment necessary to set up a nursing lab at the school, and will provide clinical rotations for students and classroom space as needed.

Harold Alfond Foundation Unveils Statewide Student Loan Debt Reduction Program

The Harold Alfond Foundation has unveiled “Alfond Leaders,” a statewide student loan debt relief program for Maine residents working in the STEM-related fields of science, technology, engineering and math and employed by a Maine-based business. The program offers up to $60,000 of debt relief per recipient and will be awarded through a competitive application process to approximately 150 Alfond Leaders over the next three years.

FAME Approves Financing for Maine Schools and Businesses

At its monthly meeting on January 19, 2017, the FAME Board approved financing for Husson University; Thornton Academy; MaineHealth; and LifeFlight of Maine, LLC. The move will help to improve the general health and well-being of Maine students and businesses.

FAME Approves Financing for Casco Bay Vending

The Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) recently approved financing for Casco Bay Vending of Lewiston to acquire the two largest vending operations in Maine, Canteen Service Company of Bangor, and the vending division of Pine State Trading Company of Gardiner. The acquisition will help to retain 115 existing jobs in Maine and will make Casco Bay Vending the largest vending operation in the state.

For Educators

Check out FAME’s free training opportunities such as webinars and training events for school counselors, college access advisors, financial aid counselors and administrators.