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.