BANGOR — Eastern Maine Development Corporation’s Maine APEX, in collaboration with Maine’s Department of Economic and Community Development is announcing a commitment of $309,736 in Domestic Trade grants through the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan to 26 Maine businesses. The Domestic Trade Initiative is designed to help Maine’s pandemic-impacted businesses sell more goods and services within the United States and supports Maine’s entrepreneurs in accessing or expanding into new markets across the country.
The grants, awarded to selected businesses through a rigorous application and review process, are aimed towards assisting businesses with projects intended to increase state to state sales. Activities include but are not limited to enhancing digital marketing efforts, securing updated process improvement plans and facilitating industry connections through networking events and opportunities.
While each of the grant recipients is deserving of recognition, let’s spotlight a few of the businesses receiving awards:
The Good Crust, Canaan
“Scaling a food manufacturing business with local agricultural products is an expensive endeavor, and The Good Crust is thrilled to have been awarded Domestic Trade funding from EMDC’s Maine APEX. The funding is critical to our continued growth and will allow us to enhance digital marketing efforts, increase our commitment to food safety practices, and improve production efficiency. The Good Crust manufactures the only pizza dough made from 100% Maine Grains and is based in Canaan, ME,” said Nick Rimsa, The Good Crust marketing exec.
Visit their website at https://www.thegoodcrust.com/.
Courtney Bed, Brewer
“Courtney Bed manufactures a high-sided safety bed. We provide a solution for safety and protection for individuals with cognitive impairments or disabilities. This grant will help us raise awareness of our products availability to our suppliers and most importantly, to the families who are in need of a bed like ours,” said Erin MacArthur, CEO Courtney Bed.
Visit their website at https://courtneybed.com/.
Salmonics, Brunswick
“While we have made great progress during Salmonics’ first few years, we have lacked the resources needed to effectively promote our products. The EMDC APEX Domestic Trade Grant we have been awarded provides us the means to start carrying out delayed marketing work and generate revenues to fund our sales plan. We appreciate the rapid turn-around APEX was able to provide and for the timely opportunity to address a critical need,” said Cem Giray, CEO Salmonics.
Visit their website at https://www.salmonics.co/.
Lee Umphrey, EMDC president and CEO says, “With federal American Rescue Plan funds, Governor Mills established the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan, which included this Domestic Trade pilot program to support entrepreneurship, boost the Maine economy and create jobs. This program, supporting our statewide APEX client base, has made a profound impact helping pandemic-impacted businesses initiate and accelerate business within the United States. We expect the same result in our second round of grants.”
For more information about Eastern Maine Development Corporation, the grant, and EMDC’s commitment to supporting local businesses, please visit emdc.org.
