The Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) is administering the Domestic Trade Grant Program on behalf of the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD).

The program, geared toward assisting Maine businesses sell more goods and services throughout the U.S., will award roughly $6 million in grants through two competitive rounds. Depending on the size of the business or the level of collaboration being proposed in the application, grants will range from $10,000 to $250,000.

Funding for the program is limited to businesses and industries that were impacted by the pandemic and for activities that will increase access to markets and expand sales. Categories of businesses eligible for funding include: 1.) agriculture; 2.) clean energy; 3.) construction; 4.) seafood and aquaculture; 5.) forestry and forest products; 6.) information services; 7.) logistics, including transportation and warehousing; 8.) manufacturing; and 9.) retail, including wholesale.

The deadline for applying for the first round is 11:59 p.m. on December 15, 2023. However, businesses will have a second opportunity to apply in early 2024.

For more information on the project, please visit this DECD’s website: https://www.maine.gov/decd/domestic-trade/grants.

Additionally, technical assistance is available by emailing domestictrade@gpcog.org or by calling (207) 387-2919.

Any Wiscasset business wishing to apply, and needing assistance, please contact the Economic Development Director at (207) 882-8200 Ext. 8 or economicdeveloper@wiscasset.org.