The awards support sustainable agriculture and new aquaculture product opportunities
Brunswick, Maine – The Maine Technology Institute (MTI) has made two new awards from its Cluster Initiative Program (CIP) for collaborative projects that boost Maine’s high-potential technology clusters. The CIP program supports the success of Maine businesses through joint work of companies, service providers, research laboratories and educational institutions by funding infrastructure or common programs that help them collectively to be more competitive, develop new products and services and reach new markets. The Cluster Initiative Program has made more than 100 awards totaling more than $15 million helping create or support a number of vibrant industry organizations and programs that are critical to Maine’s growing technology-based industries.
The Cluster Initiative Program is managed by Martha Bentley, a consultant to MTI. According to Bentley, “the CIP awards support groups of companies and organizations around common industry goals.” The program has invested in initiatives supporting all seven technology sectors and include the Environmental and Energy Technology Council of Maine (E2Tech), the Manufacturer’s Association of Maine (MEMFG), Maine Composites Alliance (MCA), the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI), as well as a number of regional economic development authority initiatives. “The Cluster program funding helps all companies or organizations in an industry to compete in the global market, and is critical to enabling Maine’s technology industries to grow,” said Bentley. The Cluster program is a competitive grant program requiring applicants to show strong economic benefits for the State of Maine. All applicants are required to provide a minimum of 1:1 matching funds to receive the grant. The total of matching funds for the two CIP awards announced today totals $1,406,692.
Cluster Initiative Program awards were granted to:
Maine Sustainable Agriculture Society
Phase II of their Sustainable Year Round Agriculture Cluster Initiative
Award: $497,280 Match: $1,312,682
The goal of this cluster initiative is to accelerate the growth of year round agriculture in Maine, and, by doing so, grow farm production and incomes, jobs and companies in related industries. The initiative will accomplish this by creating a network of experts, farmers, educators, and entrepreneurs applying new technologies for sustainable energy-efficient year-round food production, connecting Maine composites and clean energy companies with growers, bridging the funding and knowledge gaps that are holding back development of Maine’s agricultural sector, and training our agricultural workforce in skills that will improve and sustain Maine’s ability to feed our region year round.
Coastal Enterprises Inc. (CEI)
Under-Utilized Shellfish Products with Emphasis on Green Crab
Award: $38,649 Match: $94,010
This initiative is a feasibility project to explore development of a green crab management system to mitigate the extensive damage caused by their activities, and a network of businesses doing research and development to find beneficial uses for green crab.
Bob Martin, MTI President said “MTI is excited to support industry collaborations that show how Maine’s traditional economic strengths in agriculture and fishing can be enhanced through R&D and the use of new technologies and innovations.” “These awards target the building of sustainable agricultural programs around the state, and research to solve an issue of an invasive species that threatens Maine coastal fisheries in a commercially viable manner,” he said.
The Maine Technology Institute is the state’s industry-led, publicly-funded technology venture fund. MTI invests in entrepreneurs and companies engaged in developing innovative technology products, services and processes. MTI offers a variety of early-stage and mid-stage funding programs to help startup and established companies develop and commercialize innovative technologies. For more information about MTI funding programs including eligibility requirements, and about MTI business resources, please visit www.mainetechnology.org.