Maine Entrepreneurial Resource Corps (MERC)
MERC provides Maine small businesses in tech sectors with subsidized consulting, technical assistance, and free AI training to foster innovation and competitiveness.
Funder: Maine Technology Institute
Due Dates: Rolling (first-come, first-served)
Funding Amounts: Up to $15,000/year (50% of project costs) | $30,000 lifetime cap per business | Free AI training (4 months per license, up to 3 licenses)
Summary: Subsidized consulting and technical assistance, plus free AI training, for Maine-based small businesses in targeted technology sectors.
Key Information: Matching funds required; limited licenses/funding; eligibility restricted to Maine-based businesses under $5M revenue in MTI tech sectors.
Description
The Maine Entrepreneurial Resource Corps (MERC) supports Maine-based small businesses by providing subsidized consulting services and technical assistance tailored to business needs, as well as free, self-paced AI training through Coursera. MERC aims to help businesses grow, adapt, and stay competitive by facilitating access to vetted, Maine-based consultants for short-term projects in areas such as marketing, finance, legal, and custom software development. The program also offers AI training licenses to help businesses build foundational knowledge and practical skills for leveraging AI in their operations.
