Amy Bassett

Diane Sturgeon started her new job this week after nine years with the SBA's Maine District Office, most recently as deputy district director.

Maine's office will be overseen by Diane Sturgeon, deputy district director, after Amy Bassett left to take the job of district director of the New Hampshire office.

The Paycheck Protection Program, which provides forgivable loans to small businesses hurt by the ongoing crisis, was quickly depleted in its first round of funding. But the second round assisted over 9,000 Maine businesses in its first week.

The owners of GrandyOats in Hiram were named the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2020 Small Business Persons of the Year for Maine. The selection was one of 10 honors given to Maine businesspeople by the SBA.

The Maine Technology Institute was named the “2019 Financial Services Champion of the Year” by the Maine District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration. The honor was presented during Wednesday night’s SBA Small Business Awards Celebration in Freeport, which recognized individuals and businesses making a positive economic impact in Maine.