More than 50 small business owners in York County and Southern Oxford County were awarded grants from a new Economic Recovery Hub Program launched by the Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission and the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development. The program offers new businesses—that were not eligible for previous pandemic funding relief—financial assistance grants, technical assistance grants (for bookkeeping, web design, and social media planning), business counseling, and classes. The $450,000 program was funded by the federal American Rescue Plan. “Fifty-four recipients of the first round of grants have been notified of the financial boost, with the average financial assistance grant being $10,000 and the average technical assistance grant at $1,500,” said SMPDC Program Coordinator Nelle Hanig. A second round of funding is coming up in early spring, but dates have not yet been finalized. Online applications will eventually be available at www.smpdc.org.