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V O L . X X V I N O. X V I 60 Fact Book / Doing Business in Maine B U S I N E S S R E S O U R C E S T he Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership, also known as Maine MEP or MEP, is able to leverage an array of public and private resources and services available to every manufacturing enterprise in Maine. The nationwide system of MEP centers is linked through the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology with the common goal to strengthen the global com- petitiveness of U.S. manufacturers. Here is an overview of resources suggested by MEP: Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments www.maine.gov/decd/about AVOG staff provides a broad array of planning services and support for municipal officials and businesses in the development of community and eco- nomic development related projects. Central Maine Community College www.cmcc.edu CMCC's mission is to provide qual- ity, accessible college education and opportunities in career and technical education and for transfer to bacca- laureate programs. Central/Western Maine Workforce Development Board cwmwdb.org CWMWDB is the primary coordi- nator for providing comprehensive, professional and timely workforce development services for job seek- ers and employers in Androscoggin, Franklin, Kennebec, Oxford, and Somerset counties. Coastal Counties Workforce Inc. www.coastalcounties.org/us CCWI is a nonprofit founded to administer and oversee the delivery of the workforce system's services for Local Area 4, which includes Maine's six coastal counties: York, Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Waldo and Knox. Environmental & Energy Technology Council of Maine (E2 Tech Council) www.e2tech.org/about e E2Tech Council seeks to build and expand the state's environmental, energy, and clean technology sectors. Maine Bio Science - Bioscience Association of Maine www.mainebioscience.org BAM is a membership organization devoted to building and accelerating biotech and medical device industry, research and education in Maine. Maine Composite Alliance www.mainecompositesalliance.org e Maine Composites Alliance is comprised of small and mid-sized businesses who work together to rec- ognize and promote Maine's leadership in the international composite industry. Maine Department of Economic and Community Development www.maine.gov/decd/about DECD's mission is to help com- munities and businesses prosper through a variety of programs pro- viding everything from targeted tax relief to community block grants to tourism marketing. Maine Department of Labor www.maine.gov/labor/about/index.html Maine DOL is committed to provid- ing quality service and ensuring that the workforce gain the right skills to meet the needs of current and future employers. Maine International Trade Center www.mitc.com/about-mitc MITC is Maine's leading source for international business assistance. Its mission is to expand. Maine Marine Trades Association www.mainemarinetrades.com Maine Marine Trades Association's mission is to promote growth, pros- perity, and cooperation within the marine industry in Maine. Maine Ocean & Wind Industry Initiative www.mainewindindustry.com MOWII represents companies' exper- tise within the Maine ocean and wind energy supply chain, works proactively to promote the expertise of member companies, and provides solutions to local, national and international mar- ket participants. Maine State Chamber of Commerce www.mainechamber.org Maine State Chamber of Commerce works to ensure a business climate in which chamber members large and small can compete successfully in the local, regional, national and world marketplaces. Maine Technology Institute www.mainetechnology.org MTI 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 applica- tion of technologies that create new products, processes and services, gener- ating high-quality jobs across Maine. Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority mrra.us MRRA's mission is to implement the reuse master plans for Naval Air Station Brunswick and the Topsham Annex, manage the transition of base properties from military to civilian uses, redevelop base properties, and create new high- quality jobs for Maine. Manufacturers Association of Maine www.mainemfg.com/about MAMe is a nonprofit comprised of more than 300 companies and 100 stu- dents in Maine. It provides its mem- bership with education and workforce training, business growth services, clus- ter initiatives, legislative advocacy, schol- arship programs, networking opportu- nities and industry partnerships. MEP National Network www.nist.gov/public_affairs/nandyou.cfm As a NIST MEP approved center, Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership is the official representative of the MEP National Network in Maine. Northern Maine Development Commission www.nmdc.org NMDC is comprised of partici- pating communities and counties in the Northern Maine Economic Development District. Southern Maine Community College www.smccme.edu SMCC is a comprehensive com- munity college providing workforce training and non-credit workshops. It offers higher education programs and business partnerships that prepare people for high-demand and high- wage careers. TechPlace - Brunswick Landing's Technology Accelerator techplacemaine.us TechPlace supports the business development needs of early stage companies in a shared workspace. It gives entrepreneurs a place to network with others, research and develop ideas, build prototypes, test products, assemble, grow and become successful manufacturing and tech- nology companies. University of Maine Foster Center/Advanced Manufacturing Center umaine.edu/amc/about AMC is part of the University of Maine's College of Engineering. Its mission is to link the traditional University of Maine activities of education and research with the uni- versity's active industrial support and economic development programs. Manufacturing resources are abundant The Manufacturing Extension Partnership offers help Vision: In the next five years, the Maine MEP will become the primary point of con- tact for all of Maine›s small and medium enterprises service needs. By leveraging MEP's expertise, SMEs will be able to attain their business goals. Mission: The mission of the Maine MEP is to facilitate economic development in Maine by providing needed services to Maine›s SMEs.