Area nonprofit is one of 20

selected for loan program

The Biddeford-Saco Area Economic Development Corp. is one of 20 community lending organizations selected for the new Intermediary Lending Pilot Program through the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The program will allow the organizations to loan up to $200,000 for startups, newly established and growing small businesses. The pilot program, authorized under the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, will provide direct loans up to $1 million to 20 community organizations in fiscal year 2011.

The program will fund 20 additional company lenders in fiscal year 2012.

“The Intermediary Lending Program is an important new tool to support businesses in underserved markets,” said Marie Johns, Small Business Administration deputy administrator, in a prepared statement. “Partnering with community lenders will increase points of access to capital for startups and businesses that have been disproportionately affected by the recession.”

The Biddeford-Saco Area Economic Development Corp., based in Saco, is a nonprofit partnership between the cities of Biddeford and Saco and the Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Its mission is to promote the sustainable, long-term economic prosperity of the Biddeford-Saco area. The corporation makes direct loans with state and federal funds and works closely with banks and local, regional, state and federal economic development corporations.

Fire station hopes to keep

Christmas lights tradition

 Friends of Saco Fire Department is seeking donations to outfit the new station with Christmas lights.

“It’s been a tradition for many years to decorate the station for the holidays,” said Marc Meserve of Friends of Saco Fire Department. “Fire stations are the last public buildings to be decorated for Christmas. We’d like to keep that tradition going.”

Meserve said the organization needs to raise about $14,000 to buy LED lights for the new station on North Street. Each year, the fire department is decorated with lights for a Thanksgiving evening tree lighting and visit with Santa. The group is asking community members to pitch in to keep the tradition alive.

Meserve said the station will be decorated in a traditional New England style with garlands and lights.

A plaque in the shape of a fire alarm box will be permanently displayed in the fire station to recognize people and organizations who donate at least $25. Donation levels are: “still alarm,” $25 to $100; “desk box,” $101 to $300; “second alarm,” $301 to $999; and “third alarm,” $1,000 and higher.

“We are the entrance to Saco on the North Street side. There’s no better way to highlight that than with lights,” Meserve said. “We’re very proud (of the station) and the taxpayers should be proud of it.”

Donations on any amount can be mailed to Friends of  Saco Fire Department, 19 Common St., Saco ME 04072. For more information, call 205-3444.