Hello. This is Governor Janet Mills. Thank you for listening.
You know, two years ago, my administration created the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan, approved by the legislature, which is our roadmap for investing nearly $1 billion sent to us by President Biden and the Congress to improve the lives of many people and families, to support businesses, and to create good paying jobs.
One of the programs we created was a Domestic Trade Program to help local people sell their services and products in other states. The goal was to improve domestic trade across key industries like construction, the trades, manufacturing, agriculture and outdoor recreation. That will strengthen our economy and solidify Maine’s leadership of those industries nationwide.
The Department of Economic and Community Development began distributing Domestic Trade Program funding earlier this year. Other organizations like the Maine International Trade Center, Maine Technology Institute, the Maine APEX Accelerator, and Maine Made are also distributing this funding. Earlier this year, we awarded the first round of these grants to 40 Maine businesses who use the money to expand their sales of everything from blueberries and oysters to forest products and medical supplies.
Earlier this month, I announced the second round of Domestic Trade grants to another 46 Maine businesses. This second investment of nearly $3 million will help local producers of everything from soap to surfboards share their Maine-made story across the country and boost their sales.
Raye’s Mustard in Eastport, for instance, will use its grant to develop single-serve mustard packets. As co-owner Karen Raye said, “It’s something we had thought about doing for years and just never had the capital to do that. Now we’re ready to rock and roll.”
A business called Dooryard Development will use its grant funds to market the development of modular homes to address the lack of affordable housing here and elsewhere in the United States.
And Seafood producer Luke’s Lobster will use its grant to better understand where and what their customers want to eat and to better target their sales and to open new locations.
I’m very proud that we’re able to help businesses and good employers like Raye’s Mustard, Dooryard Development, and Luke’s Lobster tell their story to the rest of the country and showcase their entrepreneurial spirit – a spirit which clearly is at the heart of Maine.
Folks across America will learn what Maine people have known for years: that Maine-made products are the best in the world.
My Administration will continue to invest in programs like the Domestic Trade Program – with help from the Biden Administration and the Congress – programs that strengthen our businesses and support our state’s record economic growth.
This is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.