The Northern Maine Development Commission has received USDA Rural Development grant funding to initiate a small manufacturers “operational improvement” program. The primary focus of this program is to increase efficiency and competitiveness through analysis and training in the targeted manufacturing group. The Small Manufacturers Industry Effectiveness Program (SMIEP) will provide matching grants to small (50 employees or less) existing manufacturing firms located in the NMDC service area.
Contributed photo
Brian Sutherland, left, MEP program manager, at NMDC is shown with Charlie Beck of Northern Maine Bottling Co. Beck recently passed the International Bottled Water Assoc. Plant Operation exam, allowing Northern Maine Bottling Co. to expand their marketing opportunities. Beck was able to acheive this in part through funds procured through NMDC’s Small Manufacturers Industry Effectiveness Program.
Program requirements are as follows:
• Qualifying businesses must provide a minimum one to one dollar match for any grant funds awarded.
• The program is only available to businesses that have been operational for a year or more as evidenced by copies of their tax forms to verify this status.
• Grant funds cannot be paid directly to the grantee. Grant fund payments will be made only to third party service providers. For example if a LEAN training event were held, payment would be to that training provider.
• Grant funds cannot be used to pay for past projects and cannot be used for reimbursement to the grantee.
Projects with training components will be eligible to receive a maximum amount of $5,000; all others will have a maximum of $2,500 available to them. Grants will be awarded based on the company’s commitment to business growth through analysis, planning, training and implementation that supports success in their markets.
One local company, which has benefited from this program, has been the Northern Maine Bottling Company, NMBC, located in West Chapman.
Charlie Beck, of NMBC used grant funds to get his International Bottled Water Association, IBWA, Plant Operation certification. This certification will allow NMBC to become a certified IBWA plant, which will greatly expand their market opportunities.
For more information about the Small Manufacturers Industry Effectiveness Program call Brian Sutherland at 498-8736.
