Funding

Funding

MITC provides financial support to Maine companies for activities to improve global competitiveness and develop international markets with funding available through a grant from the US Small Business Administration.

“The STEP program was instrumental in allowing us to take the first step in exploring our international marketing. We now have the capability to ship and sell online to international customers and have a beta advertising pilot completed, which opens up many possibilities for future advertising campaigns.”
Rebecca McKinnell, Owner, Wildwood Oyster Co.(Portland, ME)
“NaviTour has experienced transformative growth thanks to the support from Maine International Trade Center's STEP Financial Assistance Award. The program not only expanded our reach into international markets but also strengthened our ability to showcase the unique allure of Maine and New England, making it an indispensable part of our marketing strategy.”
Shay Bellas, CEO, NaviTour(South Portland, ME)
“MITC’s continued support has been a huge benefit to our internal business growth targets. Our brand is rising in European markets thanks to MITC assistance.”
Jonathan Wilcox, Marketing Manager, Montalvo Corporation(Gorham, ME)
“The resources provided by MITC will enable our business to reach farther than we anticipated.”
Lauren Henkin, CEO, The Humane Space(Rockland, ME)
“MITC's STEP grant support over the years has been a critical component of our development in a growing global industry, helping Maine to stay at the forefront of biotech and a robust and healthy aquaculture economy.”
William Keleher, President/CEO, Kennebec River Biosciences (Richmond, ME)
“Our STEP funding allowed us to develop an optimized website that was specific to our foreign countries of interest. Through the use of the specific IP addresses, we are now able to track advertising specific to the needs of the foreign customers. This will change our ability to not only understand and advertise to our direct markets, but to sell to them as well. We are grateful for the continued support from MITC…They consistently help us understand how to leverage today’s challenges into tomorrow’s success!”
Tom Fox, Founder/Owner, Fox Forestry(Orland,ME)
“Without the ongoing financial, marketing, and R&D support of MITC, we at Caron Engineering would be struggling to build our international markets. MITC is always asking, 'What can we do to help you and your Maine-based products succeed outside the USA?' That is just the constant push we, and all of Maine, need to get to the next level of success. Thank you!”
Jeffrey Witham, Program Manager, Caron Engineering, Inc.(Wells, ME)
“MITC through its logistical support and available funding support made it possible for Prapela to attend MEDICA. Our NIH SBIR grant does not allow grant proceeds to support commercialization efforts. As a result, the funds Prapela has available to attend any tradeshow or meeting are very limited. Simply put, we would not have attended MEDICA in 2022 without MITC support.”
John Konsin, Co-Founder & CEO, Prapela(Biddeford, ME)
“This funding was very helpful in reestablishing our international market connections after the COVID-related downturn and opened up connections in the Middle East which we previously did not have.”
Anderson Griffin, Corporate Controller, Montalvo Corporation (Gorham, ME)
Anderson Griffin, Corporate Controller, Montalvo Corporation
"MITC enabled Defendify to take a measured risk in extending our marketing efforts beyond our traditional, US-based market, gaining insights about the Canadian customer and market demand for our products and services. It was an invaluable experience to invest in a test market and learn more about our target audience."
Emily Carville, Chief Marketing Officer, Defendify(Portland, ME)
"Fantastic help - thank you! As a small business, this [financial assistance] was so critical to helping us land on our feet."
Dave Rosin, Vice President of Sales & Business Development, ElleVet Sciences(South Portland, ME)
“We love the fact that MITC is always there to help with the direct costs of international marketing and sales. In addition, their list of on-staff and consultant experts for all matters is fantastic. We really hope to use MITC in the near future for website SEO improvements, once the additional funding arrives!”
Robert Caron, CEO, Caron Engineering, Inc.(Wells, ME)
“This support was exactly what we needed. We need to make potential clients and partners overseas aware of our capabilities, but until now it was difficult to dedicate the funding required to put together a website that had the desired effect. With this STEP funding and with the support of MITC's staff, we were able to get over that hump.”
Tobias Dewhurst, CEO, Kelson Marine Co. (Scarborough, ME)
Tobias Dewhurst, CEO, Kelson Marine Co.
"MITC is both a lifeline when we're challenged and a springboard for our company's growth. Thank you!"
Seth Berry, VP International Business Development, Kennebec River Biosciences, Inc.(Richmond, ME)
"MITC’s market assistance has enabled ORPC to attain positive visibility in international markets and help grow our company and its footprint in Maine."
Morgan Welton, Grant and Technical Writer, Ocean Renewable Power Company, Inc.(Portland, ME)
"Thank you, MITC. These grants are invaluable. "
Patrick Sweeney, CFO, Lanco Integrated(Westbrook, ME)
"MITC has been a great help in our export business. This aid in funding activities has been a real boon to our business."
Dan Cote, Sales Manager, DeepWater Buoyancy, Inc.(Biddeford, ME)
"I want to thank MITC for their support of companies like OSS, and specifically on behalf of OSS a big thank you for this international marketing support. This support is critical as we struggle with developing materials for international business development, which is a difficult task in normal times, but is even more challenging in the age of COVID-19. I can’t help but believe that this support will be a key factor in helping OSS achieve success."
Roland Sirois, CEO, Orono Spectral Solutions (OSS) Inc. (Hermon, ME)
Roland Sirois, CEO, Orono Spectral Solutions (OSS) Inc.
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MITC Organized Activities

MITC conducts ExporTech Maine training at a significantly reduced cost for SBA-eligible Maine companies. During the last three years, 14 Maine businesses completed this 10-week national export assistance program to develop a strategic export plan.

Through our partnership with one of Canada’s leading accounting and tax firms, Welch LLP in Ottawa, MITC offers one-on-one consultation services for SBA-eligible Maine companies to assist with questions on GST/HST, business registration numbers, and business operations in Canada. LEARN MORE>>

MITC partners with Prime Target to offer the IBG Global export market entry solution, which combines export market selection delivered by Prime Target with in-country B2B matchmaking delivered by IBG Global’s network covering 100+ countries. As a pilot project, three Maine small businesses completed this program so far.

STEP Financial Assistance Awards

MITC provides funding to SBA-eligible Maine companies to support activities to seek new international sales. Financial support can be used for export skills training, compliance testing or certification for export market entry, or international trade show participation.

  • Award amounts will range from $5,000 – $10,000.
  • Awards will be determined through a competitive review process that will consider several factors including project description, company location, and past funding received under this program.
  • Awards are reimbursements with a match requirement, which means that the company must cover 100% of activity costs up front.
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Funded in part through a grant with the U.S. Small Business Administration

The State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grant initiative of the U.S. Small Business Administration provides funding to increase the number of businesses that export. Administered by Maine International Trade Center (MITC), the objective of the STEP Financial Assistance Award is to encourage Maine companies to seek new international sales through financial support for costs associated with such export growth activities.

Maine Domestic Trade Expansion Program (DTEP)
Growing domestic sales is a smart business strategy…
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