Manufacturers Association of Maine recognized for 'defense diversification' program
Photo / Tim Greenway
Lisa Martin is executive director of the Manufacturers Association of Maine.
A pilot program launched by the Manufacturers Association of Maine to help defense contractors find new opportunities during federal defense budget cuts has received the “Program of the Year Award” from a regional trade group.
Northeast Economic Development Association, an economic and industrial development trade group, cited the Manufacturers Association of Maine for its “organizational design that included a systems approach with unique characteristics.”
The program helps defense-dependent companies assess their current product offerings and provide technical assistance to find new and emerging markets. The manufacturers’ association helped eight Maine companies diversify their manufacturing capabilities and sell into new commercial sectors. In all, 10 companies received assessments and some technical assistance.
“The Defense Diversification Program is a model business retention and expansion program that is providing incredible opportunities to Maine manufacturing companies,” said Lisa G. Martin, executive director of Manufacturers Association of Maine, which has more than 300 members. “This is true economic development. Our team works one-on-one with companies to identify what unique services or products can be leveraged in markets outside of defense. We then provide market diversification assistance and strategies specific to each company.”
The Manufacturers Association of Maine helped secure $1.9 million in federal funding from the Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment last year through a national program intended to sustain its manufacturing supply chain during a period of budget cuts and sequestration.
The OEA program is overseen by Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, with financial support from the Pentagon’s OEA.
Diversification success story
Windham-based mWAVE Industries LLC, a global provider of custom and commercial microwave antenna solutions, is one Maine company that experienced an immediate uptick in sales leads from the Manufacturers Association of Maine’s diversification program.
Scott Knoll, partner and vice president of corporate development at Anania & Associates, parent company of mWAVE, said its OEA grant paid for a detailed review of its B2B sales strategy, which in turn fostered a strategic growth plan.
“In addition to the strategic plan, the association provided the resources for a new website to replace a non-responsive, legacy site,” Knoll said. “The new site has driven a dramatic increase in qualified incoming leads.”
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