Mills announces $10M in funding to buoy battered seafood industry
Courtesy / Office of Gov. Janet Mills
Gov. Janet Mills, center, at Wednesday's press conference at Luke's Lobster in Portland. Also shown, from left: Luke Holden, Luke's Lobster founder and CEO; Briana Warner, Atlantic Sea Farms CEO; Annie Tselikis, Maine Lobster Dealers Association executive director; and Pat Keliher, commissioner of the Maine Department of Marine Resources.
Gov. Janet Mills on Wednesday announced that $10 million in federal funding will go to help pandemic-battered seafood dealers and processors in Maine upgrade their buildings, equipment and utilities.
Similar to a $20 million grant program for Maine farmers and food processors unveiled earlier this week, funding for the seafood industry will come through the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan.
The new Seafood Infrastructure Investment Program will be launched early next year and administered through the Maine Department of Marine Resources.
Grants are meant to help seafood dealers and processors increase the supply of Maine-harvested seafood; strengthen their ability to deliver to markets in Maine and elsewhere; and create and sustain jobs in one of Maine's key sectors.
“Maine’s seafood industry — from our fishermen and lobstermen to our processors and our dealers — is a cornerstone of our economy, employing thousands of people up and down the coast and generating about $2 billion every year,” Mills said. “They work hard every day, and they have adapted with characteristic Maine grit and ingenuity to meet the challenges of the pandemic, but it hasn’t been easy by any means.
"Helping our dealers and processors upgrade their infrastructure will ensure the strength and vitality of this industry for years to come, will keep Maine people working in our waters and waterfronts, and will keep delivering Maine’s world-class seafood across the globe.”
Wednesday's announcement was made at the Portland waterfront facility of Luke’s Lobster, a family-owned Maine seafood business founded by CEO and third-generation lobsterman Luke Holden.
“The pandemic forced our business to pivot from production and sales tailored for the food service industry to production and sales for grocery and ecommerce channels,” said Holden, recently honored on the 2021 Mainebiz Next List for his contributions to Maine's economy.
"While we created new demand and opportunity for the Maine lobster and seafood industry, there were many costs associated with opening up these new channels and shifting production in such a dramatic way. Getting support from the State is necessary and appreciated so that we can continue to focus on ensuring a strong market for Maine's fishermen and lobstermen both here in Maine and nationwide.”
Offering an industry-wide perspective, Maine Lobster Dealers Association Executive Director Annie Tselikis said, "The pandemic tested the limits of the infrastructure, personnel, and resources in the Maine lobster supply chain ... We welcome the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan funds to support the needs of the lobster supply chain.”
The Department of Marine Resources will begin accepting applications for the grants in the coming months. A range of funding will be offered, including smaller grants for facilities improvements and larger grants for capital projects. Eligible investments include modifications to existing buildings and construction of new buildings at existing facilities, packaging and handling equipment and technology.
The $10 million in promised new grants comes on top of $17 million awarded in 2020 from the CARES Act in direct payments to Maine fishermen, aquaculturists, charter fishing operations, dealers and processors.
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