Maine Domestic Trade Expansion Program

Maine Domestic Trade Expansion Program

Funded by the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan (MJRP) through a contract with the Maine Department of Economic & Community Development (DECD), MITC administers the Maine Domestic Trade Expansion Program (DTEP), providing financial support to help companies diversify and grow markets within the United States.

Growing domestic sales is a smart business strategy…

Building your business domestically – through investing in market analysis, selection, and entry methods – serves as a springboard for future success in international markets.

Market diversification – the “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” approach – that includes strong domestic sales will help your business weather times of global economic uncertainty.

Eligible Maine businesses may receive reimbursements totaling up to $15,000 per year.

Under this program, MITC will reimburse 75% of total eligible costs associated with pre-approved activities in these categories:

  • Market Research and Diversification Assistance
  • Compliance and Certification Assistance
  • Training and Industry Events

This program is available to support Maine businesses engaged in one of the following three sectors:

Aerospace & Defense

Food & Beverage

Offshore Wind & Renewables

For other industry sectors, support is available through several partner organizations. Please contact MITC for more information.

Guidelines

Before submitting an application, please review the Maine DTEP Guidelines and Maine DTEP Self-Certification Form to determine your eligibility for this program and learn important details on covered vs uncovered costs and on reimbursement requirements.

NOTE: Airfare, lodging, meals, printing, personnel costs, entertainment expenses, and the purchase of capital assets are NOT eligible for reimbursement under this program.

Deadlines

Companies must apply  in advance of the project or activity. Funds may not be used to pay for activities or costs incurred prior to the approval of the activity. The typical processing time for applications is two weeks from date of submission to notification.

Applications must be received by June 17, 2024.

Funded activities must be completed before September 30, 2024.

Are you ready to apply?

To complete a Maine DTEP application, you will need to provide the following information:

  • federal EIN
  • NAICS code (6 digit)
  • brief project name (e.g., B2B Matchmaking, E-commerce Platform,  Seafood Expo North America 2024, Certification Consulting Services)
  • description of the activity
  • top target state(s) for the project
  • project start and end dates
  • estimated total project cost

Not sure if you are ready to apply?

If you have not previously applied for financial support from MITC, please use the PREVIEW APPLICATION option below. This PDF document, which you can view/download, includes all of the questions that you will need to answer on the online application form –  before you begin the application process.

  • Applications will not be considered until all supporting documentation is submitted.
  • Incomplete applications will be terminated after 30 days, which means that applicants will need to reapply.
  • Please note that you have not been awarded any funds until you receive an award notification email from MITC staff.

When in doubt, ask MITC

If you have a specific project in mind or an idea to expand your domestic sales and are not sure the activity would be covered, contact us to discuss how we may be able to provide financial support. We want to hear from you.