Maine Domestic Trade Expansion Program (DTEP)

Maine Domestic Trade Expansion Program (DTEP)

Funder: Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan (MJRP) through Maine Department of Economic & Community Development (DECD), administered by Maine International Trade Center (MITC)

Status: Program appears to have completed pilot phase; final emphasis on industry association projects and digital marketing

Program Overview

DTEP provides financial support to help Maine companies diversify and grow markets within the United States (domestic market expansion). The program has shifted from individual company grants to focus on:
• Industry association MOU projects
• Digital marketing programs for domestic sales development

Target Beneficiaries

• Organized projects benefit at least 5 eligible Maine businesses each
• Focus on internationally competitive Maine industries:
- Seafood - Agriculture - Manufacturing - Outdoor recreation

Funding Approaches Supported

• Digital marketing assistance
• Trade show participation
• Market research and data access
• Sales strategy development
• Government contract preparation (NIST certifications)
• Brand development and expansion into new regions

Program Philosophy

Building domestic sales serves as:
• Springboard for future international market success
• Market diversification to weather global economic uncertainty
• Smart business strategy for post-pandemic recovery

Contact Information

Address: Maine International Trade Center, 2 Portland Fish Pier, Suite 204, Portland, ME 04101

Notable Supported Activities

Program has funded:
• Digital advertising campaigns (achieving 4x+ return on ad spend)
• Trade show participation (Modern Day Marine Expo, etc.)
• SPINS data access for retail analytics
• Market research and competitor analysis
• Licensing and certification courses
• Government contracting preparation

Resources Available

• National market data
• Industry profiles
• Domestic trade shows list