MTI April Webinars and May Workshops
Calling all Entrepreneurs!
Entrepreneurs interested in applying for funding to support business planning, market research, intellectual property filing, prototype development or later-stage R&D are invited to apply for funding.
Maine entrepreneurs are invited to attend any of the upcoming Maine Technology Institute (MTI) workshops for information on funding business planning, market research, intellectual property filing, prototype development or later-stage R&D activities for their technology-based business ventures. At each workshop, MTI program specialists will lead participants through the application writing process to learn what is required to successfully assemble competitive Seed Grant, SBIR Grant and Development Award applications. Come learn tips that will allow you to make your application clear, focused, complete and compelling. There is no charge.
MTI Seed Grants of up to $12,500 are offered on a competitive basis six times per year to support early activities for product development, commercialization or business planning. A company can be awarded up to a total of $25,000 in Seed Grants for a specific technology.
MTI Phase O SBIR/STTR Grants of up to $5,000 are offered to foster and support competitive federal Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) proposal submissions. Funds can be used for direct costs associated with preparing an SBIR/STTR proposal like market research, consultant services, proposal preparation and review.
MTI Development Awards of up to $500,000 are offered three times a year on a competitive basis to support early activities for product development, commercialization, technology transfer and business planning and development.
Each award requires a 1:1 dollar match consisting of actual cash, salaries, staff time or equipment and in-kind contributions directly attributable to the proposed project.
The Maine Technology Institute (MTI) is a state-funded nonprofit corporation that offers early-stage capital and commercialization assistance for the research and development of innovative technology-based projects that create new products, processes and services, generating high-quality jobs across Maine.
Spring 2011 MTI Workshop and Webinar Detail:
WORKSHOPS INCLUDE SEED GRANT, DEVELOPMENT AWARD AND SBIR GRANT APPLICATION
Date: Tuesday, May 3
Time: 1-4pm
Location: Target Technology Center, 20 Godfrey Drive, Orono
Date: Wednesday, May 4
Time: 10am-noon
Location: Maine Boat School, Deep Cove Road, Eastport
Date: Wednesday, May 25
Time: 9am-noon
Location: Maine International Trade Center, 511 Congress Street, Portland
Date: Wednesday, May 25
Time: 2-4pm
Location: The Mills at Pepperell, Two Main Street, Biddeford
Date: Wednesday, June 1
Time: 10am-noon
Location: Rockland Public Library, 80 Union Street, Rockland
WEBINAR DETAIL:
SBIR/STTR (Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer)
Date: Wednesday, April 20
Time: 10-11am
SEED GRANT
Date: Wednesday, April 27
Time: 10-11am
DEVELOPMENT AWARD
Date: Wednesday, April 27
Time: 1-2pm
To register, please contact Linda Adams, Program Assistant atladams@mainetechnology.org or 207-582-4790 x206. Reservations are strongly encouraged to help MTI assure adequate space and seating. Walk-ins are welcome, space permitting.
What’s Happening at MAMe?
The MAMe Health Insurance Plan will be announced at the Manufacturing Summit on May 5th! Plan to send an HR staff or person in charge of benefits to the Summit to learn about the partial self-funded health care plan.
We are keeping up with a number of legislative activities regarding the business community and manufacturing including tax policies, the Chemical bill and other relevant legislative bills. Check out http://www.maine.gov/legis/ for the list of bills, hearings and status that pertain to the business and manufacturing community.
MAMe would like to offer our sincere thanks to the following:
-To the MAMe board of directors for all the hard work in chairing MAMe committees that help grow our association—education, insurance, summit, business services, annual meeting, golf/scholarship. It’s lots of work and we couldn’t do it with the board and volunteer members!
-And the following organizations for agreeing to partner with MAMe at the Manufacturing Summit on May 5th!
* Bioplastics Council of Maine
* Bioscience Assoc. of Maine
* Maine Food Producers Alliance
* Maine Composites Alliance
* Maine Marine Trades Assoc.
* Maine Pulp and Paper Assoc.
* Maine Wind Industry Initiative
* Maine Wood Products Assoc.
Registration for the 2011 Manufacturing Summit
“Maine Ingenuity: Manufacturing the Future” is now live on our website,
www.mainemfg.com.
Be sure to reserve your spot today!
MEAA News
Rich Grich attended the opening of the Brunswick Executive Airport (BEX) on April 2nd. Our MEAA information was personally passed on to Senators Snow and Collins and Congresspersons Michaud and Pingree. He will be working with the Mid Coast Regional Redevelopment Association to promote our manufacturing capabilities at the MRO Show in Florida April 11th thru April 14th and to participate in attracting new businesses to relocate to BEX. The show has 561 registered exhibitors and which should produce business opportunities for our members. I will work with you to refine these opportunities when I return. I will be at the show from Sunday April 10th thru Thursday April 14th and checking my e-mail via Blackberry. You can also reach me on my cell phone if needed.
We are in the early planning stages of an MEAA members forum for mid May in the Lewiston/Auburn area to review the show data, focus on opportunities and decide our direction for the last half of 2011. Please contact Marion with any ideas for the event.
Have a new product, business order or company event that you want to tell members? Any member can submit a news item for MEAA publication. Please forward items for our news letter to Marion at admin@mainemfg.com.
What's Happening in BGS?
Maine Ingenuity Summit – A give & take discussion no manufacturer should miss!
This summit is our opportunity to bring as many Maine manufacturing sectors together as possible. The broader our representation – the more credible will be our collective voice and the greater our opportunity to share ideas. As MAMe members we need you, but this summit is also a great opportunity to invite a non member company along. Why not car pool to Rockland? No question - you will all go home with more than your money’s worth of insight and ideas.
• Hear how Maine Ingenuity supported Howe & Howe entrepreneurs in building a vibrant defense supply business from the ground up.
• Network with manufacturing managers to learn what is driving growth in other sectors and how it can be applied at your company.
• Be counted - Add your experience and ideas to sector specific strategies for growing manufacturing in Maine.
• Understand if manufacturing productivity gains and increased export competiveness are sustainable trends.
• Question why the Wisconsin experience in manufacturing growth and public finance might be applicable to Maine.
• Choose your track to learn from experts about invention, innovation, leadership, logistics, supply chain management, industry clusters, and a new health care cost containment option available to MAMe members.
• Be proactive by promoting manufacturing to Governor LePage as critical to the future of our Maine state economy.
A. Neal Prescott
Managing Director
Novatec Braids Ltd.
prescott@novabraid.com
Barber Foods Tour
On Thursday March 24, 2011 MAMe and JMQC hosted a tour of the Barber Foods manufacturing facility. We had nearly 40 participants attend this educational tour.
David Barber, President and Chief Executive Officer of Barber Foods started the evening with an overview of the beginnings of Barber Foods. His father, Gus Barber, began the company in 1955 and it remains an independently, family owned company to this day.
Jim Lowe, Maintenance and TPM Manager discussed Total Productive Maintenance and how Barber Foods uses the Autonomous Maintenance Pillar to increase production and reduce down machine time on the floor.
After a tour of the production floor, tour goers were treated to a generous buffet of Barber Foods products. Dinner also served as a question and answer forum for anyone who wanted further information on the facility or the TPM training. Jim Lowe; Rik Glover, Senior VP of Barber Foods and Sead Dedovic, Manufacturing Process Engineer were on hand to answer these questions.
We ended the evening with update on the exciting events happening at MAMe and MEAA given by Lisa Martin, Executive Director of MAMe.
Thank you to all everyone Barber Foods for a fantastic tour!
MEMBER NEWS
We are pleased to announce Eastern Bearings Inc. new name: Eastern Industrial Automation (EIA).
The name change will help us communicate/market to our customers the broad range of products and services that we are capable of providing. Our product lines include; power transmission, electrical drives, motion & linear motion control components, pneumatics (FESTO), and auto-lubrication systems. In addition, the Engineering Services Division of EIA provides the following services; vibration analysis, balancing, gearbox repairs, pump repairs, cooling tower repairs, fan repairs, design and installation of auto-lubrication systems, sub-assembly, and much more.
Please visit our website – www.easternia.com to download the product line card. An ECOMMERCE site is coming soon!
Please contact our local branch:
Eastern Industrial Automation
30 Thomas Drive
Westbrook, ME 04092
207.780.6610 (office)
207.780.6624 (fax)
ME00@ebearings.com
Thank you for your continued support!
Identity Theft Top Consumer Complaint in 2010
Recently, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced the Top Consumer Complaints the agency received in 2010. For the 11th year in a row, identity theft topped the category at 19%.
That means 250,854 of the 1,339,265 complaints received, were related to identity theft.
Also noted in the report:
• The most common form of reported identity theft was documents/benefits fraud (19%). Credit card fraud (15%) was second, followed by phone utilities fraud (14%), and employment fraud (11%).
• Since calendar year 2008, the FTC reported that government documents/benefits fraud increased 4%.
• The state with the highest per capita rate of identity theft complaints is Florida, followed by Arizona and California.
Identity theft is a serious GLOBAL crime that affects business & consumers each year. Only you can be "pro-active" to protect your good name.
To learn more about protecting your business and employees, contact us today:
Maine Business & Employee Solutions
Regina Krause-Managing Partner
207-504-2990-direct
maineemployeesolutions@yahoo.com
"Maine Ingenuity- Manufacturing the Future"
The Manufacturers Association of Maine, in partnership with Maine International Trade Center and Maine Technology Institute is proud to present:
“Maine Ingenuity-Manufacturing the Future”
Manufacturing Summit
Featuring Governor Paul LePage and
special guests Howe & Howe
May 5, 2011
REGISTER HERE
Owls Head Transportation Museum, Owls Head, ME 8:30AM-4:30PM
Partners include Bioplastics Council of Maine, Bioscience Association of Maine, Maine Aerospace Alliance, Maine Food Producers Alliance, Maine Composites Alliance, Maine Marine Trades Association, Maine Pulp and Paper Association, Maine Wind Industry Initiative and Maine Wood Products Association.
SPONSORSHIPS STILL AVAILABLE!
Click here for sponsorship form.
