ATTENTION! MERC Is No Longer Funded Through The Domestic Trade Pilot Program
MERC Update!
The MERC program has expended all of its Domestic Trade Funding, which has supported the program to date. Moving forward, MERC will transition to a fully MTI-funded program. As part of this transition, the program’s eligibility criteria will now align with MTI’s standard funding guidelines (linked here).
During this restructuring phase, MERC will only accept projects from:
- Businesses referred by an MTI Investment Officer (IO) who has assessed them as a good fit for MTI.
- Businesses with prior Core MTI funding, such as a Range 1, Range 2, or Range 3 award. (Please note: Past MERC or ARPA awards do not qualify.)
If your business does not meet these criteria, we ask that you wait until MERC relaunches under its new funding model. We anticipate sharing updates about the relaunch in December 2024.
To stay informed, please subscribe to MTI’s newsletter or reach out to Emily Braley, MERC Program Coordinator, at [email protected].
What Is The Domestic Trade Pilot Program?
Thanks to a significant funding opportunity with the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan, the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) launched a pilot program to help Maine’s pandemic-impacted businesses sell more goods and services within the United States. The Domestic Trade Pilot Program (DTPP) advances the state’s 10-year economic development plan and helps Maine entrepreneurs’ access or expand into new markets.
What Is Domestic Trade?
Domestic Trade refers to businesses identifying, pursuing, and securing markets for goods and services within the United States.
How Is MERC Involved?
As a strategic partner of the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), MTI was given $1 million from the Domestic Trade Pilot Program (DTPP) to support MERC. Through MERC, these funds will be used to provide technical assistance to businesses expanding into new US domestic markets.
Who Is Eligible?
To be eligible for Domestic Trade Pilot Program funding through MERC, businesses must meet ALL of the following criteria:
- Maine-based
- Under $5M in annual revenue
- Able to articulate how the MERC project will help increase domestic sales
- Part of a “pandemic-impacted” industry
What Is A Pandemic-Impacted Industry?
In Maine, pandemic-impacted industries include the following:
- Construction
- Trades
- Logistics
- Manufacturing
- Agriculture
- Fishing and Forestry
- Information
- Clean Energy
- Retail (including wholesale)
What Is The Application Process?
The application to receive DTPP funding is identical to the standard MERC application. To begin the application process, please follow the instructions listed on our MERC Clients webpage.