2026 MDC Project of the Year Nomination | Maine Development Foundation

2026 MDC Downtown Small Business of the Year Award

Please nominate a small business owner or entrepreneur who has displayed innovation, dedication, and entrepreneurial spirit in 2025-26. Has the business owner/entrepreneur increased their volume of business, expanded operations, demonstrated best in quality, or demonstrated a strong commitment to downtown revitalization/community spirit? How are they leveraging the value of being in a Main Street, Affiliate or Municipal program community? The awardee will be recognized at the Maine Development Foundation’s Annual Meeting on September 25th. Nominations must be from a current Main Street, Affiliate, or Municipal Community and can be a long-standing or new business. Businesses do not have to be in a brick-and-mortar location. We define a small business as having ~25 or less employees. Your nomination will be kept anonymous. Nominations are open until Friday, May 15th, 2026. If you have questions or need more information, please email Perri Williams.

Step 1 of 2

Nominator Information

Please share some information about yourself.

Nominator's Name(Required)

First Last

Nominator's Town(Required)

Nominator's Email(Required)

Nominator's Phone(Required)

Nominee Information

Please share some information about the small business/entrepreneur you are nominating.

Nominee Name(Required)

Business or entrepreneur name

Nominee Location(Required)

city/town *Must be an MDC community (see map)

Nominee Contact Name(Required)

First Last

Nominee Email(Required)

Nominee Phone(Required)

Business/Entrepreneur Overview(Required)

Please tell us about the nominated business/entrepreneur. What is their business? Who do they serve? Please provide a brief bio of the entrepreneur and overview of the business.

Business/Entrepreneur Achievements(Required)

Explain why the nominee deserves to win the Business/Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Highlight their achievements, innovative approaches, leadership qualities, and any other relevant information. Discuss any innovative strategies or approaches the nominee has implemented within their business. This could include the adoption of new technologies, creative marketing campaigns, unique product/service offerings, or sustainable business practices.

Downtown Involvement(Required)

Please describe the business’s history with the local Main Street program and how the nominee has positively impacted the local community, examples of its involvement in downtown revitalization and how the business exemplifies the best in quality, merchandising, and community spirit. This could involve initiatives such as job creation, supporting local charities or causes, organizing events that bring people together, etc. How are they leveraging the value of being in a Main Street, Affiliate or Municipal program community?

Additional Info

Anything else you would like to share about the business/entrepreneur? i.e. Has the nominee demonstrated resilience and adaptability? Are there examples of how the nominee has solved a problem or met a need within the community?

Please provide a high resolution photo of the nominee (in their business, if possible).(Required)

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