PORTLAND — The U.S. Department of Commerce will send $640,000 to spur job creation in rural Maine.

Officials with the department say the Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development in Portland will get $390,000 to support rural economic growth. The center manages the Top Gun program, which identifies potential entrepreneurs in Maine via a competitive application process.

Coastal Enterprises Inc. in Wiscasset will receive $250,000 to start a rural business development program called the Natural Resource Business Seed Capital Fund. Officials say the fund will help grow farm, food, fishery and bio-based industries.