Maine Entrepreneurial Resource Corps (MERC)
Backs Maine businesses through the MERC program with cost-sharing support for short-term expert consulting to strengthen operations.
The Maine Entrepreneurial Resource Corps (MERC) is a rolling subsidy program administered by the Maine Technology Institute (MTI) that covers 50% of fees for short-term consulting engagements at eligible Maine businesses. MTI, a publicly funded nonprofit created by the Maine Legislature, funds up to $15,000 per business per year under MERC, with a lifetime cap of $30,000 per business. Qualifying consulting projects must be completed within three months and may cover marketing, financial planning, legal services, custom software development, and other defined business support functions. MERC also includes free AI skills training for participants via a Coursera partnership.
Eligible applicants are for-profit businesses with annual revenue under $5 million that operate in Maine within one of MTI's seven target technology sectors: Aquaculture and Marine, Biotech and Life Sciences, Composites, Environmental, Forest Products and Agriculture, Information Technology, and Precision Manufacturing. Applicants must demonstrate organizational innovation, potential Maine economic impact, and access to matching funds — the company pays the other 50% of consulting fees. Nonprofits, universities, and research organizations are not eligible. Consultants are vetted by MTI, and businesses cannot engage their own consultant without MTI approval; all service delivery is performed by MTI-approved third-party consultants.
Because MERC operates on a rolling basis with no fixed deadlines, businesses can apply at any time through MTI's standard intake process, starting with an Interest Form or Assessment Questionnaire. The $15,000 annual cap and $30,000 lifetime cap mean that strategic planning of engagements across multiple years maximizes program value. Companies approaching the lifetime cap should factor this into long-term consulting budgets. MTI's office is located at 16 Middle St., Suite 201, Portland, ME 04101 and can be reached at (207) 582-4790.
Fifty-percent subsidies on short-term consulting fees — up to $15,000 per year and $30,000 lifetime — for Maine businesses under $5M revenue needing marketing, legal, financial, or technical expertise.
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