Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $750,000 to Support Growth of Maine’s Manufacturing Sector

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $750,000 grant to the University of Maine to purchase and install new, state-of-the-art equipment for the Advanced Manufacturing Center to help support the growth of manufacturing businesses in the region. This EDA grant will be matched with $750,000 in local investment.

“Helping our communities by investing in the tools for economic and business success is a top priority for President Trump,” said U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Dr. John Fleming. “This EDA investment will help obtain vital supplies needed to serve Maine’s manufacturing industry and accommodate its future growth.”

This project will help purchase and install new metal manufacturing equipment to replace obsolete tools that are no longer serviceable or relevant to the current manufacturing technology. Specifically, the new equipment will enable the University of Maine’s Advanced Manufacturing Center to continue providing impactful technical assistance to manufacturing businesses, including project design, prototyping, testing and production.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.