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.
MITC Organized Activities
MITC conducted ExporTech Maine training at a significantly reduced cost. During the last three years, 14 Maine small businesses completed this 10-week national export assistance program to develop a strategic export plan.
MITC partnered 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.
MITC offered one-on-one consultation services for SBA-eligible Maine companies through our partnership with one of Canada’s leading accounting and tax firms, Welch LLP in Ottawa, to assist with questions on GST/HST, business registration numbers, and business operations in Canada.
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 projects such as export skills training, compliance testing or certification for export market entry, or international trade show participation and B2B matchmaking services.
- 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.
Additional information to come in late October 2024.
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 activities.