{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-announce-microentrepreneur-grants-for-rural-maine-organizations", "Senators Collins, King Announce Microentrepreneur Grants for Rural Maine Organizations", "2017-10-23", "2017", "2017-10", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senators Collins, King Announce Microentrepreneur Grants for Rural Maine Organizations\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, October 23, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that six organizations received grants totaling $196,124 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program. These funds will be used to help microenterprises start-up and grow in Androscoggin, Franklin, Oxford, Aroostook, Cumberland, and Penobscot Counties.\u00a0\r\n\u201cThese investments will give invaluable assistance to Maine entrepreneurs by providing resources and training for new, innovative industries, particularly those located in rural areas,\u201d said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. \u201cWe are pleased that these programs continue to support local businesses and help create stable, high-paying jobs for Mainers.\u201d The USDA\u2019s Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program encourages the development, whether by start-up or expansion, of small businesses in rural areas. Funding through this program offers organizations support, guidance, and education for self-employment and small business development.  The six organizations receiving funding through these grants are below:\r\n \r\nAndroscoggin Valley Council of Governments in Auburn will receive $41,914.\r\nNorthern Maine Development Commission in Caribou will receive $49,636.\r\nCoastal Enterprises, Inc. in Brunswick will receive $31,858.\r\nCommunity Concepts Finance Corporation in South Paris will receive $35,906.\r\nEastern Maine Development Corporation in Bangor will receive $19,104.\r\nMaineStream Finance in Bangor will receive $17,706.\r\n \r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-announce-microentrepreneur-grants-for-rural-maine-organizations"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5838330145925283, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}