The Maine Technology Institute is seeking applications for the Phase 2 of the Forestry Recovery Initiative.
Donor Name: Maine Technology Institute
State: Maine
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/18/2022
Size of the Grant: $27K
Details:
Maine’s Forestry industry was awarded $20M to mitigate damage caused by the pandemic. Approximately $6M was designated for Phase 1 of the Forestry Recovery Initiative (FRI-1) which MTI administered. The remaining $14M will be distributed as part of Phase 2 of the Forestry Recovery Initiative (FRI-2) program.
- FRI-1 was designed to provide immediate relief to small businesses in the Maine Forestry industry. 219 businesses applied for and received grants as part of FRI-1, with an average grant award of over $27K.
- FRI-2 is specifically focused on either strategic projects within the state that address significant challenges and long-term threats to the industry, or projects at existing facilities which significantly improve the productivity and competitiveness of the facility. These strategic projects will tackle global market shifts in supply and demand, supply chain disruptions and new technologies that impact the growing, processing and use of natural resources from this key sector of Maine’s economy.
- FRI-2 seeks applicants from companies developing new technologies, new markets, and other innovative solutions for the Forestry industry. Companies from outside of Maine that intend to develop a significant project within the state are also eligible to apply.
- FRI-2 is a competitive application process: awards will be made to a subset of eligible applications that demonstrate satisfactory adherence to the program mission.
FRI-2 Funds For
- Funds must be used to implement the proposed Technical Plan identified in your application Word document. Your plan should incorporate response to market shifts in supply and demand brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic and other industry effects.
- Funds should be directed toward development efforts that have not yet been completed — these funds are not meant to serve as reimbursement for prior expenditures.
Eligibility Criteria
- Successful FRI-2 projects may include either projects that provide significant productivity improvements to an existing facility to make that business more competitive in a worldwide market or new projects that utilize new technology or processes that provide a new market for Maine wood resources. Approximately 20-30% of the available funds will target significant productivity improvement projects.
- Your business may be considered eligible for a FRI-2 Fund grant award if:
- You have a strategic project that incorporates response to market shifts in supply and demand brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic and other industry effects — including (but not limited to) new technologies which enhance the growing, processing, and/or use of the natural resources from this key sector of our state economy. Approximately 70-80% of the available award funding will be made to strategic projects completed in Maine.
- Successful FRI-2 strategic projects will not be incremental improvements of existing processes or products but instead, will provide new uses for Maine timber and add to the long-term prosperity of this critical Maine industry.
- They will also evaluate and make awards to projects that provide significant productivity improvements to existing plants or processes.
- Approximately 20-30% of the available funding will be awarded to productivity enhancements.
- Your business has the resources and expertise to successfully implement the project and a track record of success with similar sized projects.
- Your business has cash or other resources available to supplement the amount awarded from FRI-2.
- You are able and willing to comply with annual reporting requirements.
- Your company has a Unique Entity Identification (UEID) number.
- You may either be an existing Maine company or a company willing to build a strong presence in the state to implement the project.
- You have a strategic project that incorporates response to market shifts in supply and demand brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic and other industry effects — including (but not limited to) new technologies which enhance the growing, processing, and/or use of the natural resources from this key sector of our state economy. Approximately 70-80% of the available award funding will be made to strategic projects completed in Maine.
For more information, visit Forestry Recovery Initiative.
