Business Assistance | Maine Aquaculture

Maine is fortunate to have a variety of public and private organizations working to assist Maine’s business community whether it be an early-stage startup or a more mature corporate enterprise. Starting a successful aquaculture business requires considerable forethought given the lead time required to both secure a site and necessary permits and then to rear your product to a marketable size. Below is a list of resources to assist you in planning, financing and managing your aquaculture business.

Coastal Enterprises Inc. provides financing and business consulting services from its principal office in Brunswick

Eastern Maine Development Corporation provides a variety of business resources in Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis and portions of Waldo County

Efficiency Maine offers a variety of business incentive programs to help reduce energy costs

Finance Authority of Maine helps businesses access capital to grow, expand and succeed

Maine & Company works to help out of state businesses to move to Maine

Maine Angels help entrepreneurs by investing in and mentoring early stage companies

Maine Aquaculture Association is a state-wide industry trade association serving businesses in the finfish, shellfish and algae sectors

Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development is a private non-profit founded in 1997 that helps Maine’s most promising entrepreneurs to grow through innovation

Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry both provides assistance in developing new markets for aquaculture products and manages several grants programs to assist aqua farmers

Maine Department of Economic and Community Development provides a variety of business development services through their Governor’s Account Executive Program

Maine Department of Marine Resources manages the aquaculture leasing program

Maine International Trade Center is Maine’s leading source for international business assistance

Maine Small Business Development Centers provide comprehensive business management advice and education services to Maine from six locations throughout the state

Maine Technology Institute is an industry-led, publicly-funded, nonprofit corporation that offers early-stage capital and commercialization assistance in the form of competitive grants, loans and equity investment for the research, development and application of technologies that create new products, processes and services

Maine Venture Fund is a professionally managed venture capital fund that invests exclusively in Maine companies that demonstrate a potential for high growth and public benefit

SBIR/STTR Programs provide federal research funding and technology transfer solutions for small businesses

SCORE Maine is a volunteer organization of retired executives providing counseling and assistance to those wishing to start or improve their business